Sultan Mahmoud was the most lustful sultan the Othman empire has ever known since it rose from nothing to the strong dynasty it is now. He was a womanizer and the whole dynasty knew that but they didn't care as long as he was leaving for campaigns t...
I looked up when the doors to my room opened and Darvis agha walked in with a sour face. He stopped in front of me and bowed keeping his eyes down low. I stood up holding Suleiman close to me as I awaited him to speak.
"His majesty decided to banish you to Aydin, Sultanim," He said finally looking up at me. I couldn't help the tear that left my eye as I lost feeling in my legs and I sat back down on the couch.
"Prepare yourself to leave in an hour" He ordered Daphne. She nodded tearfully before she and Malike started running around to pack.
I stared at myself in the mirror as they secured my shawl on my head. I dismissed them with my hand before walking over to my sons and sat down beside them waiting for them to tell us it was time to leave.
When Darvis agha walked in it was obvious without words that it was time. I picked up Suleiman as Daphne picked up Ahmed. We walked down the harem where all of the girls along with Hatice and Leyla were watching me leave, some of them had sad looks on their faces, and the others not so much. Darvis stopped us from continuing making me feel confused.
"The Shehzades must stay here per tradition, Sultanim," He said sadly. A harem agha took Ahmed Cem from Daphne as Darvis stepped closer to me trying to take Suleiman from me but I stepped away from him.
"No, they're staying with me" I hugged Suleiman closer to me feeling my heart beat faster and faster in fear.
"Sultanim, they must be in the same castle as the Sultan" He pleaded stepping closer to me. I tried to pull him away from Darvis but it was no use and he took Suleiman from me.
"Please don't take them from me" I begged trying to return him to my arms but I was held back by Diana and Daphne giving Darvis and the harem agha a chance to scramble away with them.
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"Darvis!" I screamed falling on my knees but the impact was softer since Daphne and Diana pulled some of my weight up.
"Come on, Sultanim" Daphne muttered as she and Diana pulled me back up on my feet. I tried to pull away but I didn't have any strength in me anymore and they walked me out of the harem and the castle.
"Take care of yourself, Sultanim. Allah will reveal the truth and if you're truly innocent you will return" Diana patted my shoulder. I wiped my tears and turned to look at her.
"Take care of my sons, don't let Hatice and Leyla do anything to them" She nodded her head. I stepped up into the carriage with a heavy heart as I left a huge part of me in the castle.
"Be patient Sultanim and pray" Daphne patted my hands. I sighed heavily and looked out of the window and watched as the days passed and the huge castle turned into forests then into a much smaller castle.
I stepped down the carriage and looked around the small garden we were in. I walked down the stone path towards the castle and walked into the harem where the staff was waiting for me and bowed to me.
"Welcome Sultanim, I'm Rahime Kalfa and I am in charge of the harem" A slightly elderly woman introduced bowed to me.
"Nice to meet you Rahime Kalfa, can you show me to my room? I'm tired and wish to rest" She nodded and led the way through the halls of the castle.
I walked into the room that was much smaller than the one I had in Istanbul. I untied my cloak and handed it to Daphne who watched me silently walk over to the bed and pull back the covers before laying my exhausted body down and pulling the covers over myself before I broke out crying.
"Sultanim, you must eat something" Daphne begged trying to shove the plate in my hands. I pushed the plate away from me almost throwing up at the sight.
"You haven't eaten for days, that's not good for your health" Malike pleaded. I sighed annoyed standing up and walking over to the window and looked out. My back straightened when I saw Ali agha ride into the garden, it's been over a week since I've moved here and nothing came in from the castle.
I walked over to the couch and picked up my shawl throwing it on before I ran out of my room to the main room in the castle just beside the harem. I walked in to see him waiting in the room, he bowed when he saw me.
"Is there anything new?" I asked panting slightly from the running. He shook his head regretfully making my heart sink.
"How are Ahmed and Suleiman?" I asked softly stepping closer to him fighting the urge to cry over my dear boys.
"They miss you and can't wait to see you again" He answered making me smile sadly.
Mahmoud sighed tiredly closing the book in his eyes in no mood to read anymore. He threw the book to the side on his bed before standing up and walking over to the door, he pulled it open and walked out.
He walked down the golden road and towards the harem. All of the girls jumped up and bowed to him trying to sneak looks at him but he ignored all of them and continued walking towards the nursery. He walked in to see two nurses holding his children, Ahmed seemed gloomy as he rolled around his toy horse while Suleiman was crying, the nurses stood up when they saw the Sultan and bowed to him.
"How are my children, hatun?" He asked taking Suleiman from her and held him close finally ceasing his crying feeling safe in familiar arms.
"They're both healthy but Shehzade Suleiman hasn't stopped crying at all, your majesty" She answered looking down in shame. Mahmoud nodded understanding.
"Follow me, I wish for them to sleep with me tonight" He ordered the other nurse who held Ahmed. He walked out of the nursery with Suleiman tightly in his arms after many sleepless nights he was finally lulling to sleep in his father's arms.
Mahmoud laid Suleiman down on his bed beside his brother before ordering everyone out of his room. He laid down beside them and looked over them, they each had a piece of Neslihan in them. Suleiman has her nose while Ahmed had her beautiful eyes. Mahmoud felt guilty for separating them from each other but ruled must be followed. Mahmoud had a feeling that Neslihan had nothing to do with the incident at all.
He stood up and walked over to the teras keeping the doors opened so he could still see and hear his sons. He stood at the edge leaning against the railing watching the stars shine in the night sky. His arms felt empty, she wasn't here in his arms watching the stars alongside him and it felt so wrong doing so on his own. He closed his eyes bringing up his hand rubbing his eyes to stop them from tearing up.
He froze when he looked back into the room to check up on his children. She was sat there with a soft smile on her face looking at him like he was her world. She stood up and walked closer to him like a siren trying to trick the mind of the man to get him into the water. He reached for her face but the second his skin toucher her cheek she disappeared into nothingness leaving him standing the facing nothing. He shook his head and walked back into the room and got into the bed beside his sons holding them close as he slept and dreamed of his lover.
Neslihan sighed sadly as she looked up at the night sky through the window in her room feeling cold despite the warm fire dancing in the fireplace behind her. She turned around pulling her shawl closer around her shoulders as she walked over to the fireplace and sat down in front of it on a pillow watching as the flames swayed from side to side taunting her loneliness.
She closed her eyes as she felt his warm touch on her shoulder before she felt him sit down behind her. She turned to look at him as he leaned forward with a soft smile, she leaned forward to kiss him but he disappeared from behind making her feel even colder. She turned back to the dancing flames holding back her tears as she laid down on the pillows with her hands under her head as support. She cursed the universe for separating them from each other when she needed him most. One of her hands trailed down from under her pillow to the curve of her breasts and down further stoping over the curve of her stomach where their two weeks old child laid growing with each passing second.
