Leonarda was then taken to the baths to be prepared. She hadn't the slightest idea why, but she could see that it must have been a matter of supreme importance. Jasmine didn't seem aware of anything, as she stood out on her balcony, looking over the city. One of her handmaids walked in. She was expecting the Kislar Aghasi. Seeing that it was not him, she turned back to the city. However, she turned around, and asked the handmaid.

"He did not ask for me?"

"No."she answered.

Jasmine sighed. Aladdin told Genie, Carpet and Abu what had happened in the haremlik. Carpet, as usual, said nothing, simply stared at Aladdin. Abu rolled his eyes, as though thinking, here we go again. Genie sat listening to Aladdin, and pretending to take notes.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."said Aladdin. "I'll probably never even win her affection, much less her love."he said. "I've tried just about everything I could think of!"

He looked around himself. He had always wanted to live in a palace, and here he was, living in a luxurious palace, and not only that, now he was Sultan, and married to Jasmine. Genie insisted that he must tell her the truth.

"Yeah, right, and then lose whatever little ground I've gained? Oh, well, I guess I just as well should make the best of things."he said. "This girl, Shula, seems beautiful. I saw her in one of the courtyards just this morning, taking a walk with the Kislar Aghasi. He said that she was captured, and she cost a lot of money. We'd better make it money well-spent."

That evening, the slaves dressed Leonarda in the best. Then she was taken to where the Kislar Aghasi was waiting for her, and then led her away from the haremlik.

"Where are we going?"she asked.

"To the Sultan."he answered her.

"Oh. Why?"she asked, confused.

"Because you are gozde."he said.

Leonarda thought about it, thinking she had heard that word somewhere before. Gozde, gozde. Then she realized that it was the term for a girl who had caught the eye of the Sultan himself.

"What must I do?"she asked.

"Why, you must simply do as he asks."said the Kislar Aghasi.

"Oh. What he asks."

The next morning, Leonarda found out that she no longer had to sleep in the dormitory, but was allowed her own rooms.

"Thanks goodness I don't have to sleep in the dormitory anymore."she thought. "Just me."

She suddenly realized that instead of feeling relieved that she now had her own rooms, what she should be doing was going to confession, and asking for forgiveness. After all, she had slept with a man without being married to him by the laws of the Church. She took out her Rosary beads, and began to pray, only realizing that perhaps there could be no forgiveness for what she had just done. Why, she was probably no better than…However she tried, she couldn't make herself feeling guilt or shame. She found herself, actually wanting another chance to sin, and kept wondering if he would send for her again. Since news traveled fast, Jasmine found out the next morning that there was a new iqbal.

"What!"she exclaimed.

"I was here, and he did not choose another girl. I would have known! He only came to see me!"she said.

"No."said Sirhane. "It looks like he saw the Gaiour, the one with the red hair, just outside here. She was sitting there, and he spotted her. Then he put his handkerchief over her shoulder, to show that he wished to sleep with her."

"But…but…"Jasmine didn't know what to say.

Sirhane shrugged.

"Perhaps I should start wondering around the courtyards."she said.

"Don't you dare!"Jasmine warned her.

"Well, she did, and look what happened to her. Iqbal! Just for wondering around."

Jasmine stamped her foot.

"Well, you know, perhaps he simply wanted another girl."

"This isn't going to stay like this! It can't!"

"Look on the bright side. If he likes her, then he will not want you. At least for awhile. You always said yourself you didn't like to see him. We both know you married him just because he was the first suitor after…"

"Well, yes but…"

Jasmine looked at her hands. It was true she had only married him for that reason, however, he was always so eager to please her, and he did please her in everything, that slowly, she had began to grow fond of him.

"I will go and see the new iqbal."she said, rising.