Bab 20: In-Heat Seclusion

Venus lay panting, tired and sore all over, thinking about her three-day seclusion in this sacred room. The king beside her was exhausted as well; they had just had sex they still have four days to go. The in-heat period felt like nonstop fighting on the battlefield, and she had never felt so exhausted.

Her thoughts turned to calling other concubines or even the queen. She'd asked them to stand in for her while she took a break. But the thought of them pleasing the king made her stomach clench, and she didn't want it to see. In fact, she didn't want other women to be so close to the king.

Men were akin to beasts. It was a woman's responsibility to keep them in line and prevent misbehavior. But she knew she couldn't hold the king's behavior against him because it was against their culture. Men can do whatever they want here, while women are expected to please and reproduce.