The grand introduction flowed seamlessly until the fatigued and befuddled prince, in a whimsical twist, addressed the young lady with an entirely wrong name. The irony lay in the fact that, initially, he remained oblivious to his mistake.

The lady, taken aback, found herself caught in an unexpected moment of royal confusion, but the prince's ever-watchful entourage was not about to let him navigate this social hiccup alone.

Amidst the slight chaos, Homan, suppressing a chuckle, interjected, "Um... my liege!? I believe the wind might have played tricks on your ears; it's a bit raucous today!”

Raibod, perplexed, turned to his friend, "What?"

Undeterred, Homan continued with a strained composure, "Allow me to clarify, my liege. This is Mrs. Misa, the daughter of a prominent businessman in Gilanat province. A lover of music, dance, and song. You must hear her sing..."

Anxiety crept over Raibod, who questioned, "Yes! Lady Misa! What did I say?"

Kadal, with a smirk, replied, "You said Sor or something like that!"

Frustration gripped Raibod, breaking his composed demeanor, "Ah! Lady Misa! I think your beauty has made me stutter! My sincere apologies..."

The girl, her initial surprise transforming into laughter, reassured him, "No problem, your majesty! It's not a big deal."

Regaining his confidence, Raibod, relying on his own ever-resultful charm and art of seduction, seized her dainty chin, a thought lingering in his mind, "This girl is truly exquisite. Then with a hint of mystery and seduction, he whispered, "Lady Misa, shall we acquaint ourselves better tonight?"

Misa, with a gentle touch on the prince's hand, replied, "Whatever my liege desires!"

After a while, Homan and the ladies departed, leaving their highness to prepare abruptly for the approaching feast. The sky darkened, torches flickering to life as palace servants started lightening them one by one. Kadal, offering a half-hearted bow, teased, "Your Highness! Beware not to mix up names from your past love affairs! It could complicate matters!"

Raibod, in good spirits, nodded, "You're absolutely right!"

Kadal persisted, "Though I must say, that girl must have left quite an impression if Your Majesty remembers her name!" He burst into laughter, and Raibod joined, albeit less enthusiastically, "It was nothing special, just a fleeting encounter, not worth dwelling on! not much to brag about even"

With a mischievous yet serious expression, Raibod declared, "Tonight, this maiden will help me erase all those memories, I'll say."

“You mean, the name Sor…” Prince disrupted his friend’s gesture: “Just slip of the tongue! Nothing more!”

And then, with a serious and mischievous expression, he added: "Tonight, this maiden will help me forget all about her miserable existence for good."

Then his young friend chimed in, playful yet respectful, "Ah! You're the master of seduction, my liege! Every day, you impart a new lesson! But honestly, these girls can't quench your extraordinary libido, even if they come all at once! Although..."

Kadal halted abruptly, leaving the statement hanging. Curiosity piqued, Raibod inquired, " Although what?"

Kadal, seemingly conflicted, dropped to his knees, "Nothing, my liege..."

Raibod, with urgency, pressed on, "Speak up! You know how dear you are to me, Kadal. If you have something to say, say it without fear! I'm listening."

Kadal, wrestling with indecision, hesitated, "My lord, these days you go for long walks and forest tours a lot. You suddenly disappear in the morning and there is no news of you and sometimes you don't come back until the end of the day. I know that it has nothing to do with me and that your subordinates should all be at your disposal and not disobey. But to be honest, I feel that you have changed these days...

Kadal seemed to be silent in fear, but Raibod insisted: "Well?... Go on..."

Kadal continued: "...Um... I'm not the only one saying this. Your other friends are worried as well. And some are very curious to know where you go every day, your majesty. Even the guards closest to you..."

"Enough!" The agitated prince exclaimed, but then he regretted his own initial reaction. He placed a reassuring hand on Kadal's shoulder, sensing his friend's unease.

"Don't worry, Kadal! Just harmless strolls in the woods. To tell you the truth, the celebrations held by the attendants and servants have become very repetitive for me! I’m just searching for something new and exciting. I walk about for hours in the forest and plain to maybe improve myself, and sometimes, I get tired and fall asleep in a corner! As a decent fellow, I respect the most, and my ever-righteous companion, I implore you to leave at that!"

The guilt of his half-truths painted Raibod's face red, hidden by the night's darkness. There was a draft of veracity in his word, but not the entire truth. He couldn't bring himself to reveal it, even to his closest companion of many years, not just yet. As if some invisible hand was stopping him in the exact moment. Kadal laughed, seemingly relieved, "Ah! My liege! Only this!? You truly had me worried!”

Amidst a tranquil interlude, the atmosphere took an unexpected turn, morphing into an intimate heart-to-heart exchange. "I confess, I find myself unable to grasp the intricate motives propelling your relentless pursuit. Perhaps, it's a notion too profound for one such as me, dwelling beneath your exalted station, to comprehend fully. Nevertheless, understand this, my liege: I stand ready to endorse every decision you forge, unwaveringly supporting your Highness through the ebb and flow of your endeavors. Even the most whimsical notions are not beyond the realms of acceptance if they emanate from your visionary mind!"

In the shadowy embrace of night, the youthful prince strained to discern Kadal's countenance, obscured by the darkness that voraciously swallowed the ambient light. A longing to glimpse his loyal companion's face lingered, a desire to convey the sincerity etched across his own features. Alas, the fleeting moment of candor slipped away abruptly, and Kadal seamlessly reverted to his perennially jovial, laid-back demeanor.

"But, in all honesty, my liege," he continued, his voice carrying a hint of playful reproach, "that jungle you frequent for contemplation! Why there of all places? It strikes me as an unconventional choice, you know! The forest can be treacherous, fraught with peril. Why subject yourself to such risks?"

With an imperceptible smirk playing on the prince's lips, he remarked, "Clearly, my choices are somewhat constrained, a fact you're well aware of. I prefer simplicity in this realm." Transitioning seamlessly into a cascade of mockery and jest, he continued, "Yet, if I may be blunt, the most lamentable aspect is the absence of women to think highly of. Don't misunderstand; the tranquility is enchanting, but a dash of indulgence wouldn't harm, as the mind pirouettes through the untouched splendor of the woods."

Grinning, Kadal nonchalantly interjected with a jesting philosophy, "The principle is straightforward, Your Highness – 'No women, no fun!' as they say in the courts, Your Majesty!" His words lingered in the air, wrapped in an air of carefree banter.

Raibod sensed the lifting of tension, the return to the comforting normalcy that defined their camaraderie. Although he wasn't quite prepared to unveil the depths of truth, he felt the walls of caution gradually crumbling. Perhaps, in the aftermath of caution's collapse, he might find the courage to confide in his companion. In the quietude that followed, Raibod contemplated the idea of confiding in Kadal about the absurd encounter he recently had with low-born slaves. The sheer madness of it all threatened to burst forth from within him—an abundance of confessions eager to find an audience. The irony wasn't lost on him either, the absence of women in this captivating wonderland, and the bewildering tale of a slave woman named Sor and her entourage of delusional companions.

The parallels struck him—the uncanny similarity between Sor and himself. Both rulers of their respective domains commanded their own cadre of devoted followers. The entire episode unfolded like a surreal tableau, a scene that was at once unreal and preposterous, yet tinged with a sense of irony so exorbitant it bordered on the fantastical.

He envisioned narrating the tale to Kadal, the details pouring forth like a cascading waterfall of eccentricities and unexpected camaraderie with those from the lower strata of society. The very thought of sharing this peculiar escapade, with all its quirks and nuances, felt liberating. And in this moment of contemplation, Raibod pondered whether unraveling the threads of this bizarre encounter would bring them even closer.

"Well, Your Highness!" Kadal proclaimed with a wink that sparkled exceptionally, "Rest assured, this idyllic haven boasts an abundance of gorgeous ladies just waiting to capture your attention. Count on me to be your envoy, inquiring on your behalf!"

Then, insisting on dragging the prince to the party, Kadal promised, "Your Highness, tonight's banquet will be unparalleled and unforgettable! And the girls, like peaches..." He kissed his fingertips with theatrical flair.

The two young nobles headed towards the night's festivities, with Kadal's teasing voice echoing in the distance, "Your Highness should take a bath first!"

Raibod retorted playfully, "Shut your mouth, or I'll close it for you!"

…

As the young prince stirred from his slumber, the first sight that greeted his half-awake eyes was the mesmerizing sight of her bare, bulging breasts.