Herald of Steel

After finishing dinner, Alexander found himself escorted to Mikaya's room, and the very first thing that the girl said after they entered was, "Well, I hope you are ready to pay my 'just' dues, lord Pasha."

The heavy euphemism was not lost on either of them, as Alexander informed her, "Like I said yesterday, I'm going to inspect the building a bit later. And if everything goes well, it could be opened this week."

This reassurance finally abated some of the acridness in the girl's heart, as she asked with a slight sparkle in her eyes, "Then take me with you today. I too want to see the arrangements for myself."

She was particularly interested in the so-called 'wallbutt'.

This excitement in her voice was palpable, as by now her pent-up desire was close to the breaking point, and could not wait to get for the opening.

Alexander consented to this, as he suggested, "Okay, then let the night darken a bit more. And we can take Nafia and Tajia too."

The delay was of course suggested to make sure that the Queen mother and her daughter would be asleep by that point, and not cause any unforeseen inquiries.

And this was also something that Alexander wanted to confirm with Mikaya as he asked, "Oh, have you made sure that the Queen mother will not look for you during the night? Because that would be trouble."

"Yes, I have," Mikaya answered affirmatively and then delineated, "After your promise forty-eight (48) days ago," Mikaya made a point to stress just how it was taking Alexander to fulfill his promise, as she then continued, "I made sure to have Nafia and Tajia reject a number of Seelima's night visits using various excuses, such as saying I was tired, sleeping or busy painting."

"And after the first few times hearing my voice from outside the door, she stopped visiting me at night altogether. So as long as one of them stays behind it will be no problem." Mikaya stated confidently.

The act of visiting others at night was a common practice, as after sundown, even nobles would find it difficult to pass the long twelve hours, or in the case of winter, almost fifteen hours of close to total darkness, save for the soft illumination of candles.

So they would try to spend this boring time with things like reading books, which were extremely expensive to procure and were even in very short supply, pursuing hobbies like painting or writing poems, or the easier activity, which was chatting and gossiping with one's friends and family.

Alexander was impressed that Mikaya took all these prudent steps on her own initiative, and thus nodded appreciatively at her.

And then to pass the remaining time, Mikaya turned to see that a brand new stack of A3 size papers had been delivered to her desk, courtesy of Alexander.

"So, this is the paper you were talking about? It's big, and thick," Those were Mikaya's first comments as she inspected the painting paint specifically made for her, picking it up by the top edges and feeling the quality of it with her fingers.

"If my lady wishes she can try using some colors on it. See how it feels. We do have got some time in our hands," Alexander offered as he took a seat on the nearby couch and enjoyed a sip of apple juice, not feeling like having wine today.

"Then I will not be polite," Mikaya readily accepted as she fixed a paper sheet on her easel stand, took out her brush, and color palates, got some water for the paints, and started trying out this new canvas.

"It feels very nice! So smooth!" She cried out in joy as the paintbrush glided over the flat surface, and then for almost the next hour busied herself with her newfound material.

While in the meantime Alexander scribbled designs on the paper to show to Mikaya for some of his wedding invitation card designs.

Off in her own world, it was only much later that Mikaya remembered that Alexander was still there, to which she inquired, "Alex, why are you still here? We can meet up later, right?" immediately after which she let out a cat-like sly smile and giggled, "Or could it be you are waiting for your reward? Hehehe, go on then, ask. Aunt will satisfy you." Mikaya always loved to present herself as the senior of the two.

'More like you will satisfy you,' Alexander rolled his eyes at Mikaya hungrily licking her lips, while thinking that her actual nephews might be in danger of losing their cherries to this lascivious aunt of theirs.

Alexander did not doubt Mikaya would be more than willing to have a tussle in the bed with him, or anywhere else for that matter, which he had no intention of taking part in.

"Actually I do have a commission for you," At last given the chance to speak, Alexander said, making Mikaya a bit surprised.

She had thought that was just Alexander's excuse said in front of everybody.

But it seemed she was wrong as Alexander got up, and showed the various wavy, spirally, and patterned embroidery sketches he had drawn on the paper and then spent some time explaining to her the concept of wedding cards and the decorations on them.

"Oh…that's quite nice!" Mikaya nodded appreciatively at this new concept, and then inquired, "Does my lord want me to use these designs, or can I make my own?"

'You won't make anything weird right?' Alexander's worry was flushed on his face, to which Mikaya heartily laughed, "Hahaha, I'm not that kind of a prankster, Alex. I know my limits after all."

Alexander was reassured by this, though he highly doubted the second statement, as he consented, "Then, I will have to impose on you."

"Good, then when do you want them by?" Mikaya asked.

"Hmmm," Alexander hummed in his thought and after a while decided to make Mikaya work a bit more to earn her rent.

So he said, "My lady, I have noticed you have very nice handwriting and a masterful grasp of the words. So might it be possible for you to design the cards and also write the invitation?"

"Ohh?" Mikaya was pleasantly surprised by this request, as after a moment she slyly giggled, "Hehehe, sure, but that will cost more."

"....." Alexander did not take the bait and only gave her a light smile, after which he spent a while explaining to her the types of information he wanted in his card and the layout and design of them.

In this way, soon the time for the inspection drew near, which was told to them by a knock on the door.

"Master, is it time yet?" Ophenia's expectant voice rang out from outside, to which Alexander quickly declared, "Yes, yes. Tell Hemicus to prepare the carriage. We are setting off right now."

And so Alexander soon put on a thick coat, and hurriedly met Ophenia at the front door accompanied by Mikaya and her two maids, all wrapped in head to toe with the finest wool, their hooded overcoat hiding almost everything.

Alexander had asked them to dress like this as their silver hair was too iconic, and soon they got into a large carriage and set off to inspect Ophenia's new business venture.

"Is that hair dye ready?" Alexander asked Ophenia while riding in the carriage, remembering that Ophenia had said that she had a hair dye that could color hair black and not be washed away with water, only with alcohol.

"Yes, it's in my room. I will deliver it to Lady Mikaya tomorrow. Ohh and also to her…umm. guests" Ophenia said, pausing a bit and creatively avoiding using the word maid to address the two baronesses.

An endeavor she did not need to do as Nafia corrected her with pride oozing out of her, "We are mistress's maids. Not guests."

'You sure are loyal considering what is about to happen to you,' Alexander felt the things Mikaya had said about Nafia might be true, that she might be the one most promiscuous of the three, as he then added to himself, 'Well, we will soon find out.'

Alexander kept these thoughts to himself, as he then asked Ophenia, "Have you chosen who will run the day-to-day operations of the brothel?"

Ophenia could not certainly look after the establishment 24/7, both because of her work as the Sacred Priestess and because a high-profile lady visiting such a place regularly would be too scandalous.

Even when nobles owned such properties, it was the custom to let 'the lesser folks' manage its activities.

"Yes, I have. She is waiting for master there," Ophenia answered affirmatively, adding, "She was introduced to me by mistress. Maybe master knows her? Her name is Kalopi."

"Ohh, her?" Alexander nodded as he recalled the name.

She was one of the slave women in Nestoras's mercenary group who used to work under Cambyses when she was made assistant quartermaster.

She seemed to be a woman in her early forties, and Alexander remembered she had two sons who were in the army, but other than that Alexander did not know much about her.

Alexander had always assumed her to be in Theocles's camp, as he was the real quartermaster of the group, but it would seem there was more to it than that.

Presumably, Cambyses found her trustworthy enough to recommend her for such an important post.

"Kalopi's good." Alexander gave a generic reply of approval, as he then spent the rest of the time in general, light-hearted conversations like talking about the weather until they finally arrived at their destination.