In your name, the family name is last because it's the family name that lasts.
But the prostitute, Shelly, wasn't Zane's family so why did she use his last name along with her first name?
"So you wrote Shelly Atlas on the handkerchief?" Zane asked.
Shelly nodded, not meeting his eyes at all.
Zane's brows quivered.
"Why? You could have simply returned my tunic."
"You are an idiot, brother." Milo chimed in, standing beside him.
"What is going on here? Why am I being insulted?"
Zane didn't understand and before he could, another woman shoved Shelly to the side.
"Now my turn."
Another woman came in front of Zane.
Zane stored the handkerchief anyway.
But not in his pockets. He kept it inside the black plastic bag that also held the empty tiffin and the idol.
He looked at the next woman who straight out held Zane's left hand.
Zane's heart flipped inside his chest as he tried to break free from her hands but he didn't want the woman to feel bad, so he remained still.
"... Yes?" He asked.
The woman came closer to Zane.
"You helped us a great deal by making that rule for us. Now we are respected."
"I am happy to know that."
"That's why I want to give you something as well."
"Actually, one handkerchief is good enough for me." Zane said, staring at the sunken cheeks and visible collarbones of the woman.
"I am not giving you a handkerchief. That's for kids."
"... Then?"
"A kiss."
Zane's eyes widened.
"My eyes are closed, brother." Milo chimed in again.
"No. Keep them open. Nothing like that is happening."
Zane looked at the woman.
"I appreciate your feelings but I don't want to do that."
"Heh."
The other prostitutes snickered and the one in front of Zane, her lips went downwards.
"Not even a little one?" She asked.
Zane felt bad seeing her sadness but he held his ground.
"No. I need to go to the Citadel. You can tell me your name though."
The prostitute's eyes teared up.
"No one ever asked me my name. You are such a good man."
Zane was out of words as the only female he had helped in stopping tears was Milo.
Still, he tried.
"Please don't cry. Everything will be fine."
He said and the prostitute wiped her eyes.
"Okay. But I will tell my name in your ears. I don't want anyone else to hear it."
"That's fine."
The woman let go of Zane's hand and the young man brought his ear towards her mouth.
The prostitute leaned closer and parted her lips.
Zane waited for the name but instead of the name…
PECK!
He felt lips on his cheek.
He jolted his head back.
The woman laughed.
"I am Milena."
Zane held his right cheek with his hand, not really registering what happened.
His Merged Skill doesn't warn him about such attacks after all.
"So cute." Milena said and went to the side.
Another woman came in front of Zane and now he won't risk anything.
He stepped back and bowed his head with full respect.
"I am sorry but I can't give all of you my time right now. We will surely meet again and then we will talk. If you have any gifts, any tangible gifts, then please place them on the ground and I will accept them. And before leaving, you all should also tell me your names."
He raised his head again and all the ten women had smiles on their faces.
Not playful smiles. Just a simple normal smile.
Zane felt at ease seeing that. No more kisses would come.
It's not that he didn't like the attention of these women, it's just that he couldn't let himself get distracted. He was going to the Citadel and if he indulged with the women, his mind would keep drifting towards them.
He needed his senses to focus only on the threats and danger he would face in the Citadel or by the Halocrats there.
He waited for the women to follow his command and they did.
Some women simply bowed and went back to their shacks after telling their names as they had nothing tangible to give.
Shelly and Milena also went to their huts as they already gave what they wanted.
Only two women were left at the moment and one of them bent down and placed a spoon on the ground.
"It's not much. But I hope it helps you in some way. I can only give this. And I don't know my name. My parents died before they could name me. People call me Cave though."
Cave smiled and turned around towards her shack.
"Wait." Zane spoke.
Cave stopped and turned around.
"Can I give you a name then? I am no one to grant you a name but I would like to—"
"Yes." Cave's eyes lit up. "You can give me a name. I'll be glad if you do that."
Zane smiled.
He looked at her naked feet and then her smile and teeth.
He didn't stare long enough to make her uncomfortable but the way the woman smiled, only one thing came to his mind.
"You smile like a flower. So your name shall be Flora."
"Flora." The woman repeated the name.
"Thank you very much. I love the name." Flora had a glowing smile on her face and Zane couldn't help but smile in return.
"Never settle for something given by others. Just because someone calls you something for long enough, it doesn't become your name." Zane said.
Flora nodded, bowed again and with a hop in her step, she went inside her shack.
Now Zane looked at the last woman present and she wasted no time to do her work.
She bent down to place her gift and Zane averted her eyes the moment she bent down. Her dress wasn't appropriate for bending.
She laughed seeing him and was done placing her gift.
It was a black bracelet of some sort.
"This is an heirloom of my family from my home. This brings good luck."
Zane frowned.
"Why are you giving me your family heirloom? Don't do this."
"Forgive me, sir. But I am not giving it to you."
"Then? And don't call me sir."
"As you say. And I have a request to make."
Zane turned serious.
"What?"
"I want you to return it to my family."
Zane's gaze softened.
"That's all? I can do that. But why return it? Use it for yourself if this brings good luck."
The woman sighed.
"I have stolen it from my family. They didn't give it to me. I wanted good luck but only after stealing it I got to know that unless the head of the family gives it with their own choice, it doesn't work. In fact, stealing it makes the thief miserable and suffer from misfortune."
Zane remained silent and the woman joined her palms in front of him.
"Please return it to my family and with their acceptance, I hope I will be able to escape this life."
Zane heard the desperation and exhaustion from her voice and nodded.
"Alright. I will return it to them. Give me that."
The woman beamed and threw the bracelet towards Zane.
Zane caught it.
"Don't wear it. It can also harm your luck. Just keep it with you and forget about it. You will stay safe from its effect. It only works best and worst for my family bloodline."
Zane nodded and shoved it inside the black bag as well.
"Okay then. I will return it to your family on the way to the Citadel."
"They don't live near the Citadel."
"Oh. They live in another city?"
The woman shook her head.
Zane frowned and ran his mind for possible places but before he could reach those places, the woman revealed it herself:
"They live on another continent. In Vaelreth."