"Hey, Sofia! Wow, you look stunning! When did you get that dress?" One girl exclaimed, her eyes filled with admiration.

"And your necklace is so elegant! It must have cost a fortune. Where did you get it?" Another girl inquired, unable to hide her curiosity about Sofia's jewelry.

"Oh, I didn't purchase these. They were actually birthday gifts. From someone special," Sofia explained, pointing towards me with a smile.

"Greetings, young ladies. My name is Takahiko, a humble traveling merchant," I introduced myself with a warm smile.

"Oooh, so you're the renowned Takahiko?!" the first girl exclaimed with excitement.

"Renowned?" I responded, caught off guard by the unexpected comment.

"You see, Sofia has been absolutely thrilled with the book she received from you last year," the second girl clarified.

"Oh, I wouldn't say thrilled, just genuinely appreciative..." Sofia interjected, slightly flustered and trying to downplay the situation.

"But in any case, allow me to introduce you to Guinevere and Isabelle. We've been inseparable friends since childhood," Sofia quickly shifted the conversation, eager to divert attention.

"Hello Takahiko, I'm Guinevere, but you can call me Guin," Guin introduced herself with a friendly smile.

guinevere-face-01 [https://img.wattpad.com/e59c94a2ab62671dd56de8090de37bf82811b312/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f706f616c393378756745564f49513d3d2d313335383836323739362e3137373734396538646164653365626336363630343430363635322e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"And I'm Isabelle. It's a pleasure to meet you," Isabelle nodded curtly in greeting.

Isabelle-face [https://img.wattpad.com/c0528347f5f1c3b05f89cfc4d749bf9809565549/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f306e4832464674377869426f34513d3d2d313335383836323739362e313737373439656166353862343930343438383239393737303236322e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"The pleasure is all mine, ladies," I replied, returning the friendly gesture.

"By the way, just out of curiosity, are you Sofia's boyfriend?" Guin asked mischievously.

"No, we're not in a romantic relationship. I have a close bond with her family, and Sofia is more like a little sister to me," I clarified.

"Oh, I see..." Guin and Isabelle exchanged knowing smiles, teasing the slightly flustered Sofia.

"He-hey..." Sofia protested, feeling a bit embarrassed.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"So, can I be your girlfriend then, Takahiko?" Guin playfully continued. Recognizing her playful banter, I decided to play along.

"Oh, really? Are you sure? Being the partner of a traveling merchant can be challenging, you know?" I responded with a playful tone.

"Challenging? How so?" Guin inquired, genuinely curious.

"Well, I often travel from town to town, and it could be several months before I return here. Can you handle the distance and wait for me? And there's always the temptation of being disloyal in faraway towns," I joked, playing up the dramatics.

"Is that so?" Guin replied, a twinkle in her eye.

"..." Sofia listened attentively, her expression serious, while Isabelle grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying the playful exchange.

"That's true... It sounds hard. But in that case, how about if she joins you in your travels? That way, both of you can be together most of the time, right?" Isabelle surprisingly suggested a solution.

"That's an interesting idea, Isabelle. If Guin joins me on my travels, we could be together most of the time," I responded, considering the suggestion.

"Oh, that would be amazing! I can be your assistant, Takahiko. I'm not afraid of a little danger. Plus, it'll be an adventure!" Guin exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

"Indeed, the journey can be perilous with threats like thieves, wild beasts, and natural disasters. But having a lovely and capable companion by my side would make it all worthwhile," I improvised, continuing the playful banter.

"Count me in! When do we leave, Takahiko?" Guin asked eagerly.

"I'll be departing two days after the festival ends. But before that, I'll need to seek permission from your parents and make it official that you're my bride-to-be. That way, it won't be strange for us to travel together," I added, maintaining the playful tone.

"Fantastic! Let's go to my house after the festival. We'll discuss everything with my parents!" Guin replied enthusiastically, still playing along.

"Congratulations, Guin! You'll be the first one among us to become a bride!" Isabelle chimed in, adding to the playful atmosphere.

"NO! NO! I WON'T PERMIT IT!" Sofia suddenly exploded, shocking both of us. Her outburst didn't cause too much of a scene thanks to the festive atmosphere.

"..." We were left stunned by Sofia's unexpected outburst.

"Hahahaha!" Guin and Isabelle burst into laughter. Sofia finally realized she had been played.

"Why... You..." Sofia flustered, not knowing what to say. Even in the dim light of the festival night, I could imagine her blushing heavily. I felt sorry for her, so I decided to end the playful act.

"It was just a joke, Sofia. There's no way parents would let their daughter go with an unknown guy. Please forgive me."

"...." Still flustered, Sofia took a deep breath. "I... I'll forgive you if you buy me the honey tarts."

"And I'll have butter-roasted corn!" Guin chimed in, as if I had already agreed to buy it for her. Not that I minded.

"Stuffed bread rolls!" Isabelle quickly added, not wanting to miss her chance.

"Hey, who said Takahiko will buy for you two?" Sofia protested.

"Hahaha, I don't mind. It would be my honor to treat such lovely ladies. Please, feel free to indulge yourselves."

"By the gods, Takahiko, you possess quite the charm. Have you had many encounters with the ladies?" Isabelle asked, teasingly.

"Well, not as you envision, but my travels have brought me in contact with many noble ladies and damsels. I have learned the art of conversing and accommodating their desires," I replied with a knowing smile.

"Haha, I see. It seems you've mastered the art of charm," Isabelle remarked, giving me a playful wink.

"I wouldn't say mastered, but I try my best," I responded, modestly.

The festival atmosphere truly helped lift Sofia's mood, and I found myself enjoying the moment like never before. Prior to this, my focus had always been on accumulating wealth and swiftly moving to the next destination, unwilling to waste any time. However, being accompanied by three delightful young girls during the night festival made me realize that my journey had been worthwhile. We strolled through the festival grounds, engaging in lively conversations along the way. I proudly shared tales from my travels, and the girls listened with great excitement, asking questions without hesitation. I endeavored to provide them with the best answers based on the knowledge I had acquired.