Despite being preoccupied with his own troubles, the king could not help but notice an intriguing sight.
A secret door in the Sultan's palace suddenly opened and twenty women emerged, with the sultana at their center, her presence easily distinguishable by her confident bearing.
Believing that the king of Great Tartary was also out hunting, the sultana approached the windows of the king's chambers.
The king, wanting to observe her unseen, positioned himself so that he could see everything without being seen.
He noticed that the women accompanying the sultana were revealing their faces and shedding their outer garments, leaving only shorter clothes beneath.
But he was surprised to see that among this group of women, there were ten blacks, each paired with a mistress.
The sultana herself did not remain without a lover for long; she clapped her hands and called out "Masoud! Masoud!" and a black man immediately descended from a tree and ran to her with great enthusiasm.
Modesty prevents me from recounting all that happened between these women and the black men, but it is enough to say that Skagio saw enough to conclude that his brother was just as pitiable as he was.
The amorous activities of the group lasted until midnight. They all bathed together in a large pool of water, which was one of the most beautiful features of the garden.
After bathing, they dressed and returned to the palace through the secret door, while Masoud, who had come from outside over the wall of the garden, returned the same way.
As the king of Great Tartary watched these events unfold, he realized that he had been wrong to believe that his misfortune was unique.
He realized that it was the inevitable fate of all husbands, even the greatest prince in the world, his brother the sultan.
With this realization, he ceased to grieve and was able to enjoy his meal, accompanied by a pleasant concert of voices and instruments. From that moment on, the memory of this common misfortune no longer disturbed the rest of his life.
The Sultan was delighted by his brother's newfound cheerfulness and the two spent the day laughing and chatting, enjoying each other's company.
The change in the King of Great Tartary was so striking that the Sultan asked him what had caused it.
The king hesitated at first, but eventually told his brother about the scene he had witnessed in the garden. The Sultan was shocked and ashamed, apologizing profusely for his behavior and promising to reform.
From then on, the two brothers were even closer, united by their shared experience and determination to be faithful to their spouses. The King of Great Tartary returned to his kingdom, his heart at peace and his mind filled with happy memories of his time with his beloved brother.
King Skagio hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to reveal the truth to his brother. But ultimately, he knew that he could trust him completely, and so he related the entire story of his wife's infidelity and how he had witnessed the sultana's own immoral behavior.
The Sultan was shocked and saddened by his brother's tale, and vowed to be more mindful of his own actions in the future. From then on, the two brothers were even closer, united by their shared experiences and understanding of the frailties of human nature.
"Well, my brother," replied Skagio, "I must admit that the source of my newfound peace of mind may seem strange to you.
But I assure you, it is the truth. The other night, while you were away hunting, I happened to witness an event that gave me great perspective on my own situation.
I saw the Sultan of India, your own brother, engaging in activities with a group of women that were, shall we say, less than faithful to their vows.
It was a revelation to me, and made me realize that infidelity is a common fate for all men, even those as powerful as ourselves. It has allowed me to let go of my own grief and move on from the betrayal of my wife."
The Sultan was stunned by this revelation, and for a moment he was speechless. "How could this be?" he asked. "How could my own brother, whom I love and respect, be capable of such a thing?"
"I understand your shock, my brother," said Skagio. "But the truth is often difficult to accept. All we can do is learn from our experiences and try to be better in the future."
The Sultan nodded, deep in thought. "You are right, my brother," he said. "I will try to be more understanding and forgiving in the future. Thank you for opening my eyes to this truth."
The Sultan was aghast at the revelation of his brother's experience. How could the most beautiful and virtuous of women, the queen, be capable of such treachery?
The thought consumed him with anger and despair. He vowed to rid himself of all women, to never again trust in their fidelity. And so, he issued a decree that all women in his kingdom were to be put to death.
But the King of Great Tartary, having learned his lesson, begged his brother to reconsider. "Do not let the actions of one woman cloud your judgement of all.
Remember, it is not their nature to be unfaithful, but rather the influence of outside forces. Do not allow your anger to consume you and lead you down a path of destruction."
The Sultan was moved by his brother's words and, after much contemplation, decided to spare the women of his kingdom. However, he vowed to never take a wife, to never again risk his heart to the fickle nature of women.
And so, he lived out the rest of his days as a solitary ruler, the memory of his queen's infidelity forever etched in his mind.
As the sun began to set, the two brothers returned to Skagio's chambers. The king of Great Tartary led the way to a window that overlooked the sultan's palace, and the two men waited in silence for the events of the night to unfold.
As the stars shone brightly in the sky, the secret door of the palace suddenly opened and a group of women emerged, with the sultana at their center. The two brothers watched in disbelief as the sultana and her companions disrobed and took on black lovers.
Skahriat was furious at the sight, and vowed to put an end to the sultana's infidelity. But Skagio counseled caution, reminding his brother that the sultana was beloved by the people and that her downfall could have disastrous consequences.
In the end, the two brothers decided to keep the sultana's secret, but to keep a close eye on her and ensure that she did not repeat her offenses. And so, the two brothers returned to their lives, each with a newfound understanding of the complexities of love and loyalty.
The two princes left their kingdom and set out on a journey, searching for a place to hide from the cruel world that had betrayed them. They travelled through strange lands, meeting all manner of creatures and facing countless dangers, but they were united in their determination to leave their troubled past behind and start anew.
And though they could not escape the pain of their experiences, they found solace in each other's company and in the hope of a better future.