I think this constant grace period isn't a good solution, regardless of how long it is. I think the grace period should depend on another factor. Let's call it "Fame". If the hero is very famous (he is major of the village, the goblins' king, some temple's guru, monsters' killer, giant's leader etc.), then all women are much more tolerable to his absence. And if he is nobody, then grace period should be very short. This kind of mechanism would provide several things:
- the grace period adjusted to game progress.
- a little more believable story.
- In this regard, the game would be a little harder at the beginning and much easier at the end.