Herald of Steel

Chapter 169 Lesson In Adhanian Customs

As Alexander was racking his brain on how to respond to the peculiar circumstances that greeted him, Nanazin in the meantime had swiftly gotten the other rod out of her butthole and then rapidly proceeded to hide behind Lady Inayah, crouching and shaking in shame, as she tried to curl herself into a ball.

But the rest of the group was not interested in the queen's bashful behavior as all of them stopped what they were doing and stared pointedly at Alexander, eager to know, "What was he doing there?"

"Haha, I seemed to have gotten lost. Sorry for the intrusion!" Alexander attempted to brush off the entire thing as a minor foible and then quickly turned to leave.

"Hehe, since you got here, then stay. After all, it must have been fate that guide you here," Lady Inayah's soft, languid voice seemed to have a hypnotic effect on Alexander, as he felt spellbound to stay like he was being drawn in by an invisible magnet.

"Right, right, we will be very glad to have you join us," Mikaya chirped in a fresh voice.

Despite her mature demeanor, this lady had a very high-pitched, almost childlike voice.

But to Alexander, this seemed like the call of a siren and he felt that he would fall to his doom if he accepted it.

So, with all the willpower he could muster, he squeezed out, "I deeply apologize for any inconvenience I might have caused. Please let me close the door and let you get on with your day,"

"Hahaha," Just as Alexander finished these words, a huge roar of laughter ran across the room, as it was not just not the ladies, even the men didn't seem to be able to contain their laughter.

Alexander even spotted the shoulders of the queen who was hiding behind Lady Inayah shaking, as if she was trying very hard to stifle a burst of laughter but failing miserably.

'What's so funny?' Alexander asked himself as he failed to understand the joke.

"Ohh! What a cheery boy! We will have so much fun in Zanzan!" Mikaya lustfully sang toward Alexander as he was reminded that this promiscuous woman would be occupying his house for the next five years.

'Maybe I should allow Azira and Azura to return home,' Alexander felt a headache coming.

"Hehe, it seems Pasha Alexander is not quite yet versed in Adhanian etiquette." Lady Inayah had stood up by now as she put her left hand on her hips.

She then explained, "In Adhania, nobles usually build at least up to two floors, because the last few rooms on the left side of the second floor are usually reserved for such purposes. And to prevent anyone accidentally walking in on them, the doors are usually kept open so the sound can reach them before any awkward confrontations can occur. Like this!"

"Why not just do the thing in secret with doors closed," Alexander pointed to a much simpler solution.

"Hmph, it seems the rumors were true, you truly are a bumpkin," Mikaya taunted from behind, as she rotated her hips in a circular motion and ground against the helpless man's pelvis below.

While Lady Inayah offered some actual helpful advice.

"Haha, Pasha Alexander although it is understandable as you are a Thesian, it would be best if you could learn our ways to better fit in. And the sooner you do it, the better." She gave counsel with a sweet smile.

She then further explained, "I know in Thesos women are valued for their chastity and sole loyalty to their husband. But in Adhania, things are a bit different. Although the general populace largely follows these rules, the noble women can fraternize with men just as men do with other women!"

Lady Inayah didn't miss the shocked look on Alexander's face, as too didn't Mikaya, who chimed, "After all, if you men can do it, why can't we women?", which was a surprisingly sound and modern argument.

Yes, if Alexander can sleep with multiple women, why couldn't Cambyses do the same with other men?

"But…" Alexander blurted out.

"But what about the bloodline?" Lady Inayah helped Alexander finish his sentence with a prophetic tone.

And she gave the answer, "In Adhania, around the Life sea grows a unique plant called Legumum. I'm sure you heard of it. Its juice can prevent pregnancy with almost complete certainty. And even if one conceives, the royal family has a secret recipe using the processed juices that can induce even late-stage abortions."

The special plant only grew around the Life Sea, thriving in the unique ecosystem created by the special plankton that came to give the sea its distinctive pink color.

'So it's like the roman Silphium.' Alexander thought about the contraceptive plant Romans used to prevent their own conception, which they used so much that the plant had become extinct in Alexander's modern times.

But fortunately for this Legumum, unlike its other dimensional brother, it was zealously protected and hoarded by the royal family, as it was one of their greatest source of income, and due to the short supply, restricted its use to only among the nobility.

This had created a huge black market for the stuff, as its properties were too desirable to let go and even small vials of the stuff would go for astronomical prices as people like rich merchants, well-off artisans, and even foreign powers fought for it.

And that's also why Amenheraft was so happy to get two hundred million roplas of it in exchange for ordinary goods.

Lady Inayah still continued, "So, you see, in Adhania, women, or more specifically noblewomen have much more freedom in certain aspects of their life than in Thesos."

"Of course, there are some caveats as women are not equal to men." She then quickly stated while pointing out some examples, "For instance, the woman must ask her husband's permission before she can sleep with another man, …though this is more of a custom than a rule, for as long as she proves that she will use contraception. not granting it is seen in poor taste."

"But" Lady Inayah raised her index finger in a didactic way, "this rule doesn't apply to the slaves. For a slave is a thing and a noblewoman has the full right to relieve her sexual frustrations using that thing, as long as she does not get pregnant."

"And to make sure the child is her husband's, to show that she is using contraceptives, the noblewoman does this acts in a room with the doors open so the husband can check on her anytime. In this way, there's no snooping around in the back or cheating," Inayah gave a very pragmatic reason behind the open-door custom.

'Why not do this in the first place,' Alexander lampooned inwardly.

"Thank you, Lady Inayah, for sharing this invaluable knowledge. I will be sure to repay this kindness in the future," Outwardly, Alexander performed a small bow in gratitude and then attempted to leave.

"Hehe, then Pasha Alexander might be able to help with a little itch I have done there," The city lord immediately caught onto Alexander's perfunctory reply and made a suggestive wordplay as she flashed a sultry, lascivious smile.

'Hell no. You want dicks, pick others!' Alexander cursed in his heart at the licentious request.

He then flashed a professional, fake smile, the one where one excessively curves his lips upwards, and said, "I'm afraid I might not be the man for the job."

"See, Lady Inayah, these Thesians are such prudes!" Mikaya charmingly pouted at Alexander for his refusal.

"Hehe, the Pasha says so but his little brother seems to disagree. Men are always more honest down there," Lady Inayah tittered, showing her nice, even teeth while pointing at Alexander's bulging crotch below.

Alexander flushed a bit at this reveal, though this was only a natural reaction after witnessing the scene he was exposed to.

"Haha, it would be an insult to you three such beautiful ladies if this didn't happen," Alexander awkwardly smiled as he tried to back out.

"Hehe, I can fully understand the Pasha's shyness," But Lady Inayah's understanding smile stopped him.

Somehow that lady's voice seemed to always stop Alexander, or perhaps it was because Alexander subconsciously wanted this, but his sense of value and modesty was preventing him from outright saying it, and Lady Inayah's voice acted as an excuse for him to stay.

No one knew for sure, not even Alexander and it was unlikely anyone ever would.

The lady then went to offer, "Come, for today, we will do it the doors closed."

But Alexander had no intention to crack so easily.

"Madam, it would rude for a junior like me to join you. Please forget about this little unpleasant distraction and continue enjoying yourself!" He quickly spelled out and then determinedly turned around, swearing to himself that short of being physically restrained, he was gonna walk out of this Slaneeh's lair.

But this supposed iron will of Alexander proved to be actually a soft putty as Lady Inayah purred, "Pasha Alexander, I heard you were leaving for Zanzan soon. Are you in need of ships?"

And Alexander would have very much liked some ships.