"Slavish adherence to outdated customs is a certain sign that one has little will of their own." - Saying attributed to the Silver Maiden.

"Huh. Definitely didn't expect your place to still have such customs in place." Said Aideen with some surprise after Cal laid down the situation with her and asked for advice. "You know, for a culture that had little to no taboo about nudity, that your folks had rather more conservative attitudes to sex itself is rather odd."

"Didn't expect that such customs were rare, to be honest." Cal admitted as she sipped from a mug of dwarven ale.

"Cal, my dear, customs like those has gone out in the mainlands for centuries already." Aideen explained. "You'd have an easier time finding a needle in a haystack than to find a noble who somehow remained a virgin till they hit marriageable age here."

"Really?" Cal asked with some surprise. "I mean… We have nothing against sexual relations before marriage in the empire as well, but to my knowledge, kids Xain's age or younger didn't exactly dally with that. Not that I'm any expert, mind you."

"Cal, oh Cal, when's the last time you ever got laid?" Ribbed Aideen good naturedly. "And you seriously underestimated how horny young nobles get around here, or where I'm from for that matter. They fuck around like rabid weasels, I tell you!"

"Probably more than half a century ago now." Cal said. "And as I said, I'm not exactly an expert in this matter. Halmout's a bit of an old prude, so he's useless too. Neither Mustafa nor Sada likely could help much either, they're career military through and through. Sada never even married or had a family."

"That's why you came to me for advice, ain't it?" Said Aideen with a smirk as she drained the contents of her mug. "And I reckon, if you requested the aid of any lady from your empire for this matter, that'd be a favor the crown owed to them, am I right?"

"Yes." Cal nodded. "I'd have volunteered myself if I wouldn't be the worst possible teacher for this sort of thing, just so this didn't end up biting us in the ass later."

"The solution to your problems is that you didn't think outside the box, Cal dearie." Said Aideen. "Why not just get a neutral third party to do it for you? One who wouldn't care much for a small favor owed by the empire?"

"You mean…?"

"Why, I mean, I wouldn't mind taking on that little job for a bit of fun." Aideen said shamelessly with a wink. "And I daresay you'd have a hard time finding someone more qualified to teach such things either. No guarantees though, for all I know the boy might end up having some inferiority complex when I'm done with him."

"I think that might be the best solution we heard all day so far." Cal said, as she surprisingly seemed to approve. "Let me ask the others what they think. I'll get back to you later."

***************************

"That's… an unexpected proposition." Halmout said with some obvious doubt.

"Well, it made sense to me." Mustafa said. "Paradise is a neutral party, and they really wouldn't consider such a small favor to be of much value."

"They got more archmagus here than nearly half of Alcidea combined." Added Sada. "And a good chunk of those wont die when killed either. Face it, Mansoor. We're but small fish compared to them."

"I can vouch for Aideen personally." Cal added. "And to be fair, as Sada said, Paradise has more than enough leverage that a little favor from us would not add much of anything either way."

"Would be a good thing if she's as experienced as she says." Samira added from the side. "It wouldn't do if Xain had issues performing on his wedding night. That'd drag Layla's name to the mud too at that!"

"But Samira-"

"Come on father. We know Xain needs one with how innocent he is on these matters." Samira said curtly as she cut her father off mid-sentence. "He has shown interest to the opposite sex, but that boy was too nice for his own good sometimes. The maids would have not minded one bit if he dallied with them, and we wouldn't have had this issue otherwise!"

"Samira has a point, Mansoor." Interjected Sada. "Should the emperor fail to perform on his wedding night, it might leave a shadow in his mind, and your granddaughter would be the one blamed for it."

"While with the proposed offer, we would likely snip off the issue before it can be an issue." Mustafa added. "Without political complications to boot."

"We all already talked circles of the matter at hand." Cal said. "But the one directly affected hasn't said a word yet. Layla. What do you think of these arrangements?"

"Do you remember what I said when Xain was a toddler, Cal?" Said Layla, who had stayed silent during the meeting so far.

"That you cared for him, and would like to keep him from harm. I remember." Cal replied with a nod.

"I still feel that way now. I wish the best for Xain, and when I am to be his wife, I intend to keep him from harm in that capacity as well." Elaborated the young woman. "To deny him an experience that would prepare him far better for life to come out of jealousy would be foolish and petty of me. Though I do admit to some envy at the thought of being his first woman."

"Looks like Layla took this better than you did, old prude." Cal teased at Halmout. "I guess that settles the matter then?"

Everyone in the room nodded, other than Halmout who gave an exasperated sigh.

***************************

"We entrust him to you then for the night." Cal said to Aideen as Xain nervously fidgeted besides her. Halmout, Layla, and the other high ministers had let Cal be the one to bring Xain to give the emperor some privacy. "Please do make a proper man out of him."

"No worries, Cal." Aideen replied with a wink. "You'll have your boy emperor back tomorrow, minus the boy part that is."

Xain blushed at the implication of the Unliving woman's words, and was even more nervous when gave him a little shove towards Aideen, who draped one of her arms around his shoulders.

"Should I sleep elsewhere tonight to give you two some privacy?" Asked Cal.

"Pffft, hogwash! I'll have you know each room in my tower has the best soundproofing enchantment. You ain't gonna notice a thing, dear." Replied Aideen as she walked towards her room with the nervous, but not unwilling boy emperor in tow.

"Fine with me then. Be seeing you tomorrow." Cal said as she waved her hand. "Have a good night, Xain."

*************************

The next morning, Cal had woken up early, and opened the door to Aideen's tower and she heard someone knock on the door. Gathered before the door she found Halmout, Mustafa, Sada, and Layla in wait, so she let them in.

"They should be out later." Cal said as she helped herself to some breakfast from the basket already prepared on the dining table. "Had a late night and all, I'd say."

Even with a simple glance Cal could see that her old comrades were all somewhat nervous. Halmout even gave a look that questioned her nonchalant attitude on the matter, which she simply ignored as she munched on her breakfast.

Not half an hour later they heard the sound of a door that opened from above them in the tower. Shortly after, Aideen walked down the stairs with a refreshed look, a bit of a glow visible in her pale complexion.

"Oh, here to fetch your emperor, aren't you?" She said nonchalantly as she waved back at Cal. "Well… Ta-Da~! Here's your emperor~ A boy no more~" said Aideen as she flourished one hand right as Xain descended the stairs behind her.

Xain looked a bit tired, as if he had not had enough sleep the night before - which might have very well been the case. His cheeks blushed red like a tomato when he heard Aideen's words, and the blush only deepened when he noticed the group who had came to fetch him.

He looked so adorable when he blushed that Cal couldn't resist from giving his cheek a pinch with her hand as Halmout tutted at her breach of decorum.