"Saffron? Did you hear it right, woman?" the scrawny chief of the concubine association haggled, looking suspiciously at concubine Lola.

"Yes, saffron it is that's requested by His Majesty," she replied.

"Hah! Do you even know how expensive it is? It is more than gold!" she yelled.

Lola closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to wring the old hag to death. Nevertheless, she controlled herself.

"May I specify it's requested by His Majesty, Alexander. Furthermore, an equivalent price of gold would be delivered to you through one of his delegates," she finished, satisfied to see the wheels finally moving in the oldie's head.

Taking the delicate saffron, she entered the grand bathing arena where The Great awaited her.

Her eyes widened to see another lot of warriors splashing around in the bath.

It was a vast room where half of the section was divided by a short marble wall. One side was filled with water while the other had essential bathing commodities.

"What took time Lola?" Alexander tilted his head, glancing at the concubine who jolted from the sudden voice. A surprised look sitting on her face at the brimming people in the bathing arena.

"Ah, they told it was expensive than gold Your Majesty. So it was difficult to convince them," she informed, entering finally with a sweet smile.

"Did you listen Hephaestion?" Alexander chuckled, "people have started considering us rich."

"Why won't they Alex? We have enough gold to run the next few generations of our army," Hephaestion laughed, "maybe the generation of our grandchildren too," he added.

Lola's eyes shot towards the talking warrior, and she gawked in amazement.

Hephaestion, aka Alexander's best buddy.

She went to the corner of the room and pressed a thumb to her wrist,

"Hey Cors, I just spotted Alexander's Bff," she snickered.

"What? Oh that, nice to know, but hey do you know how to fix a compass?" Coretta inquired, the sound of scratching heard from her side.

Cheryl huffed, bummed to receive zero excitement.

"I left science a long time honey, maybe Aarmen can help," she replied with a sigh, mixing the saffron with water in a bowl,

"Wait, is the AI book giving second-hand products?" she snorted.

"No, actually I was- actually the compass.. fell into the waters," Coretta stuttered.

"Why do I feel like you fell in the water with it? You okay right?" she would know at once her friend was cooking something underneath.

"Yep, I fell, but I'm fine. Just the neck hurts a bit."

"You could've ordered aspirin?"

"Relax Cheryl, it's just a bite."

"Bite? Who bit you?!"

"Ju- uh I mean.. insect! A jolting insect! They were flying madly all around, hehe, and one bit me nothing much. Okay, I'll talk to Aarmen. Bye."

And she hung up.

Something was definitely up. Coretta only reacted this way when she was lying or an extremely hot guy graced her inexperienced view. Now she couldn't figure out which one was true.

"That's a lot of saffron water there. Maybe you could put it on me too," a warrior swam to the edge and grinned at her.

"It's my style, Cassander! You aren't going to copy it," Alexander sneered. "Isn't it ready yet, Lola?"

"Yes, it is your Majesty," she hurried, not before having one last peek at the warrior Cassander.

Heck, yet another notable companion of Alexander. If only I could take a groupfie. She groaned inwardly.

Bringing the tub behind Alexander's head, she began to wash his hair with the orange water.

The first thing she came to know as his concubine was,

He preferred to keep his hairs shiny and orange blonde with saffron water.

The last time she was with him, he was drunk. Way more than the Stratos guy given during her final selection. And then her thoughts drifted to a particular man.

He was the one carrying a half-drunk, half-asleep Alexander and shoved him into her room. She was open-mouthed, not because the greatest ruler of all times was a heavy drunkard, but that man.

Who looked like a very manly version of someone she knew closely.

Cassander chuckled, "You are currently ruling two million square miles, Alexander. What's the need to kill Darius?"

"Man, that King of slaves is such a thing. He literally fled the war at Issus with his chariot, while his poor army fought on," Hephaestion tched, shaking his head as a concubine applied olive oil in his hairs.

"Don't forget he's still the legitimate king of Asia," Alexander retorted.

"And to expand our territory further east, we need to kill him first."

"Not to mention his mother was so embarrassed by his coward escapade, she insisted on adopting Alexander as her son," another warrior said, amused.

Lola listened to everything in the deepest details, not missing on anything that she could write in her travelogue.

"I was wondering since I'll leave Egypt for Darius's pursuit, I want to put my mark here. More like people in future would know this beautiful desert kingdom and..."

He turned around to face Lola, running a finger gently down her cheek.

"The beautiful ladies I won here," he snickered, letting go of his hand.

Lola blushed furiously, hiding her face with the back of her hand.

"I would like to build a city here. Any names? All of you can add your views," he offered.

The second thing she got to know about him was,

He wasn't a private man. At all.

Many kings preferred a private life and didn't want to be bothered by generals or their army except on certain occasions, but Alexander was the opposite.

He ate, talked, bathed, practised and laughed with his army. This was what made him the most loved king of all times. People weren't afraid of him, but were ready to die for his sake. That was the reason his army remained bind to him.

An army of freemen, as he liked to call them.

"Lola and Alexander makes Lolander. How's that?" Cassander yowled from the corner.

"Lola and Cassander also makes Lolander buddy," someone joked as the warriors guffawed at the bizarre name. The concubines laughed softly to themselves.

"Hm, what's your take Lola?" Alexander asked with a smile.

She held her breath. This was going to be a crucial decision in history. One word by her and it could alter the existing system.

"Uh- what can a concubine like me say, Your Majesty?" she uttered.

"Now, now, I don't discriminate. You are free to give your opinion," he winked.

She was close to sweating. It didn't take long for her to understand that he was talking about the city of Alexandria. A city that would grow to become one of the most famous port city in today's world.

If she would tell the original name, it would mean she created it, not Alexander.

"You can name the kingdom on your name, Your Majesty," she told with an uneasy smile.

"Hmm, that'll be great. So... Alexander... Alexandrino?"

"I don't like that," Hephaestion spat.

"Then... Xanderasia?"

"You haven't conquered the whole of Asia yet," another responded.

"Alexanos?" Cassander asked.

"Ah, not that. It sounds like Romanos. Julian would mock the life out of me if he knows I copied his kingdom's name." Alexander shrugged.

Everyone was silent. Even the concubines were deep in thought now.

"How's Alexandria?" Alexander and Hephaestion spoke together, surprised to know they thought the same name.

Lola breathed out in relief. She wanted to collect all the flowers and herbs from the water and throw them in the air like confetti, but held herself. A concubine needed to behave.

***

"We welcome our saviour, our Honour, who freed us from a hundred years of oppression at the hands of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great!"

Drum rolls and optimistic shouts from people filled the procession that was headed to the most sacred place of the Egyptians, the Oracle of Siwa Oasis.

Alexander climbed onto the pedestal, a long rich coat covered his back as he stood atop and waved at the cheering crowd.

"Even before my arrival, all of you regarded me as your deliverer from Persian oppression. To know that your hopes lied with me is itself an honour for me!" Alexander roared, satisfied to see the crowd roaring louder.

"We Macedonians! Will continue to relive this beautiful world from slavery and make everyone their own master! Make everyone a free-living soul!"

The crowd began to shout louder. Lola immediately called the four interns in her head and hooted on top of her voice to see her dream man in all his glory.

Helaine, Jakov's fiancée, who sat beside her in the front row, gave her a sceptical look.

When she figured the concubine won't stop soon, she too began to hoot. Laughing wildly to know how free it felt to scream at the top of the voice.

The cubs bounced happily around her feet.

"We declare Alexander III of Macedon, the son of our chief God Amun! and hence, the new Pharaoh of Egypt!" the great double crown reserved for the Pharaohs was now lowered on his head, marking another milestone in his twenty-fourth year of life.

After the crowning ceremony, everyone scattered around. Especially the Greeks and Macedonians, who were invited from their homeland, decided to explore the unknown land of Egypt.

In the distance, Alexander was surrounded by his companions, who covered him with a bro hug, slapping his shoulder in appreciation. Some even took his pharaoh crown and fixed it on their head, pretending like some out of the world being.

All in all, it seemed Alexander was a football player who'd just done a headshot goal.

Lola decided to stick with Helaine afterwards because she seldom knew anyone else. With the other concubines suffocating her with death glares, it was easy with a warrior's fiancée.

"Are we going somewhere?" she asked to see the cub lady smiling widely to herself.

"On our way here, I spotted a unique place nearby. I'm so excited because it looks like a play area for my babies!" she squealed. The cubs trotted eagerly in the front.

After a short walk, they reached the area. The first thing that came into view was an enormous statue. It had a face of a cat while the body below resembled a woman in linen. Several statues of cats were spread across the region.

The crazy thing was, the place was swarming with cats. And not the normal ones. They wore gold amulets and a golden collar around their necks.

Some hopped over the gigantic statue, others drinking milk that was offered by the local people.

Cat cafe in the fourth century? Cheryl thought.

"Aww look, so many cats! I love them just like my cubs. Go baby, play with them." Helaine gently pushed her cubs forward. After giving her an adorable look, both whisked away towards one of the statues.

"What is this place all about? People seem to serve the cats here," Cheryl wondered. Helaine was about to answer when her eyes shot towards a woman, petting her cubs. She strode towards her, face turned in a fierce gaze.

"They are mine, if I may tell," she jutted out her chin to the woman, who looked up from her kneeling position.

"Ah apologies dear, this place is cat friendly, and I didn't mean any harm," she smiled, "But they look quite exotic for an ordinary cat."

"They are cubs, my dear, not cats," Helaine cooled down at the lady's genuineness and offered a smile.

"Wow! It's my first time seeing domesticated cubs and they look much more innocent than the cats here, aww," the woman giggled. "Can I have one of them?"

Helaine couldn't help noticing the woman was smitten by the cubs.

"You can take both of them since they can't live without each other. But I need to know your name first," she laughed.

"Name's Bellanca. And I'll take great care of them," she beamed.

"Is it a play area for cats?" Cheryl questioned.

"Oh no. It's a shrine," Bellanca explained. "We worship our kings and queens like Gods so it's only fair we worship their pet cats as well. This is a place where we worship cats.

"And you see this statue here. She is Bastet. A goddess known for her ferocious nature. Ever since we started domesticating cats, we worship her in the cat form."

Helaine was bubbling with happiness, "Egypt is fantastic! Never knew cats are worshipped. Just fantastic!" she clapped enthusiastically.

With many cultures considering cats to be an ill omen, this was an exceptional case to show care for a misunderstood creature. Another interesting fact to be added in the travelogue.

"You didn't give your babies just like that, right?" Cheryl asked when Bellanca was gone. She was surprised to see how this overprotective lady easily handed her cubs.

"I want my babies to be adaptable to whatever surrounding they are exposed to," she smiled,

"When they looked willing to go with Bellanca, I couldn't stop them. My happiness lies in theirs. Anyway, it won't be long when they'll be rushing back to me. Can't live without their mama," she grinned.

Suddenly, a nearby cat noticed Alexander and some warriors goofing around the area. It seemed she knew the new pharaoh and dashed towards him.

"Oh no. I won't be getting a wife anytime soon Glytus, I-" Alexander stopped laughing midway to see a cat sitting on its paws, meowing in his direction.

His breath hitched.

Gawking ahead at where he had entered, he turned green, looking at the dozen of cats sprawled across the area.

His attention shot back to the cat, who was now nearing his feet.

"Beware!" he thundered at the poor animal, sweat dripping past his temples.

"B- Be gone you wretched b- being," his hands had started shaking, looking nowhere except the cat who had started to meow louder.

The cat raised her paw and Alexander led out a shriek like never before,

"Get away!" he cried on top of his voice and sprinted in the opposite direction. His friends began roaring with laughter, some even rolling on the ground, laughing helplessly.

Cheryl couldn't control herself anymore as she burst into a fit of laughter. Clutching her stomach all while laughing her head out.

"What was that?" she asked in between sobs of laughter.

"Shh, fewer people know it. Alexander is scared of cats," Helaine whispered.

The day ended with Cheryl learning the third thing about Alexander:

He had a phobia of cats.

***

An important note for future chapters :-

• questionable beliefs

no hate.