Who is Laurent from Beauty's Release and what is their importance?

Laurent is the other main character, a naked prince serving Lady Elvera in Queen Eleanor's court. He is sentenced to the Punishment Cross in the Village when he runs away. He is kidnapped during the raid and taken to the Sultanate. To avoid being bound to a cross in the Garden of Male Delights, he taunts his Master, Lexius, who takes Laurent to his bedchamber.