Just dominate me queen

The road stretched ahead of us, a winding dirt path flanked by tall grass and rolling hills. The morning sun was warm, and the rhythmic clopping of the horse's hooves was almost soothing. Almost. Except for the fact that I was hanging on for dear life, my arms wrapped around Eris's armored waist.
"Don't squeeze so hard," she muttered without turning her head.
"Don't blame me if I fall off and break my neck," I shot back, loosening my grip slightly but not by much.
"You won't fall," she said confidently.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one riding."
Eris didn't respond to that, but I thought I saw the corners of her mouth twitch. Maybe.
After a couple of hours, we stopped at the edge of a forest to rest and eat. Eris dismounted gracefully, tying the horse's reins to a low-hanging branch. I, on the other hand, slid off like a sack of potatoes, barely managing to stay upright when my feet hit the ground.
"You're not used to riding," she observed, kneeling by her saddlebags to pull out some bread and dried meat.
"No shit," I muttered, stretching my legs. "First time on a horse. Hell, first time in a place like this."
She handed me a chunk of bread and a strip of meat, sitting down on a fallen log. I joined her, grateful for the chance to rest. The forest around us was alive with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, the kind of backdrop you only see in fantasy movies.
"So," I said between bites of bread, "mind telling me more about this place? You said we're in Valmere, but that doesn't really mean much to me."
Eris nodded, taking a bite of her own meal. "Valmere is one of five kingdoms. It's the center of the continent, known for its trade and its magic academy."
"Right. The place we're heading to," I said.
She nodded again. "The other kingdoms are Auroria in the north, Sylvanna in the west, Lapiscarra in the south, and Himorai in the east."
"Let me guess—each one has its own vibe, like icy tundras or sprawling forests or deserts or something?"
Eris raised an eyebrow. "You're not wrong."
I chuckled, leaning back against the log. "Okay, so what's the deal with the people here? Those bandits from yesterday weren't exactly human."
She gave me a curious look. "You've never seen Beastkin before?"
"Nope. Orcs, elves, dwarfs, Beastkin, whatever—they're all just myths where I'm from."
"That explains your ignorance," she said bluntly, though there was no malice in her tone. "There are many races here. Humans, elves, dwarfs, Beastkin, orcs, merfolk, dragonborne...the list goes on."
"Right. And they all just...coexist?"
"Mostly," she said with a shrug. "There are conflicts, of course, but the kingdoms maintain peace as best they can."
I nodded, taking another bite of bread. "Sounds...complicated."
"It is."
We ate in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the forest filling the gaps in our conversation. My mind was still racing with questions, but there was one thing in particular that had been bothering me since yesterday.
"Hey, Eris," I said, breaking the silence.
"Hm?"
"You said this is Valmere, and I get that it's a different world or whatever, but something feels...off. The way those bandits acted, the way people looked at me at the tavern—it's like I don't fit here."
"You don't," she said simply, brushing crumbs off her hands.
"Yeah, but it's more than that," I insisted. "It's like...I don't act how they expect me to."
Eris studied me for a moment, her piercing blue eyes unreadable. Finally, she said, "This is a matriarchal society."
I blinked. "A what now?"
"Matriarchal," she repeated. "Women hold the dominant roles—leaders, warriors, decision-makers. Men are...different."
"Different how?" I asked, frowning.
She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to find the right words. "Men are seen as...gentler. Caretakers. Supportive. It's their role to nurture, not to fight."
I stared at her, trying to wrap my head around what she was saying. "Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me this whole world is, like, the opposite of mine?"
"If your world is patriarchal, then yes," she said, her tone neutral.
"Holy shit," I muttered, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees. "That explains so much. No wonder those bandits were so fucking confident. They probably thought I'd just roll over and take it."
Eris didn't respond, but the slight twitch of her eyebrow told me she agreed.
"That's fucking wild," I said, shaking my head. "So, what? Guys here are just...expected to be submissive?"
"Submissive isn't the right word," she said. "Supportive is better. Men aren't weak, but their strength is different. It's valued in other ways."
"That's...a lot to process," I admitted, running a hand through my hair.
"You'll have to adapt," she said bluntly. "If you act the way you did in your world, people will think you're strange. Or worse, disrespectful."
"Great," I muttered. "So now I have to learn how to be a proper medieval gentleman or whatever?"
Eris gave a small shrug. "If you want to survive here, yes."
"Fucking fantastic," I said, leaning back against the log again.
She smirked, just barely, and for a moment, I thought she might actually laugh. But the moment passed, and she stood, brushing off her pants.
"Finish eating. We need to keep moving."
I nodded, still trying to process everything she'd told me. This world wasn't just different—it was upside down. And if I wanted to make it here, I'd have to figure out how to navigate its rules.
But one thing was clear: I couldn't do it alone. Eris was my best chance at figuring this shit out. And for now, that would have to be enough.
Q: What do you think of a matriarchal world?