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...
"Go see who came to the castle" I ordered Daphne who bowed and left the room. I heard the hooves of the horses stop before the people on them got off and walked into the castle. I hated living in this small castle that if someone sneezed you could hear it all over the place.
"Who do you think came?" Malike asked from beside me. I looked up from the crochet I was working on and shrugged not knowing the answer. My eyes trailed to the door when it opened, my mouth fell open in shock at the sight of the Sultan. I placed the crochet to the side and stood up bowing to him.
"Leave us" He ordered Malike and Daphne who was stood behind him. They both bowed and left us alone in the room.
I watched him as he stepped closer to me stopping only a hair away from me. His eyes softened when they met mine.
"I wasn't expecting you to come to visit" I admit watching his eyes look me all over like he was studying me all over again.
"Why didn't you tell me before you left?" He asked softly. I could feel my body melt at the mere sound of his voice.
"I didn't get the chance" I cleared my throat and stepped away from him but I was still facing him, I knew if he stayed this close to me I would lose all self-control.
"Tell me truthfully, Neslihan. Did you kill her or have any hand in this?" He asked pleadingly seeming exhausted from all of this.
"No, I would never hurt someone like. How can you even think of me like that?" I asked feeling betrayed. He sighed in relief and stepped closer to me pulling me closer into a hug.
"I knew it, but as a Sultan I wanted proof," He said pulling away from me and looked down at me.
"I understand Mahmoud" I smiled up at him. He leaned his forehead against mine as his hand rested on my stomach.
"MAKE WAY NESLIHAN SULTAN HAS ARRIVED"
I walked into the harem with my head held high. I stopped in front of the harem doors and watched as the girls bowed with their heads low not daring to look up at me after what they said about me.
"Welcome back Sultanim," Diana said happily stepping closer to me. I turned my attention back to her.
"Thank you, Diana" I nodded at her before my eyes trailed up to the Valide's balcony. Leyla and Hatice were stood there glaring down at me, I threw them a smirk and gave them a small wave before I continued walking towards my room.
I half-ran into my room, I turned to the couches where two maids sat beside Ahmed and Suleiman. I felt my heart swell at the sight of them after so many weeks. I walked over and picked up Ahmed making him squeal happily as I hugged him and littered him with kisses. I handed him to Daphne before pulling up Suleiman and hugged him smelling his hair before placing a kiss on his head.
"They both missed you very much, Shehzade Suleiman wouldn't stop crying," Diana said watching me with a smile on her face. I untied my cloak with one hand and handed it to Malike who took off my shawl too before I sat down with Diana and Daphne.
"Did they get to anything during the investigation?" I asked swaying Suleiman from one side to the other so he would go to sleep.
"Ali Agha himself investigated in the matter, one of the maids said that she saw you asleep in your room when she came to your room to put warm milk for Shehzade Suleiman," She said making me raise my eyebrow.
"Why didn't they bring me back immediately then?" I asked confused standing up and placing Suleiman in his crib.
"She was too scared to say anything so she didn't admit anything until recently, and at the same time came in the news of your pregnancy and I heard that the Sultan immediately left the palace to get you back himself," She said making me smile. We turned to the doors as they opened and a harem agha walked in and bowed to me.
"Your highness, the Valide wishes to see you in the private garden" He bowed before leaving again. Diana bought me my cloak and shawl helping me put them on before I left my room. I walked down the harem and out of the castle to the gardens, I saw the Valide sitting in the Sultan's tent with her three daughters that were here and Leyla and Hatice. I walked over and bowed to them.
"Neslihan, welcome back, I'm glad you were proven innocent," She said signaling me to sit down on one of the pillows like Leyla and Hatice. I gave her a smile before walking over and sitting down on the pillow to her left.
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"Thank you Validam, I'm glad to see your blessed face again" She smiled at me and turned to the children as they were bought over by Malike and Daphne.
"I'm glad you're back, Neslihan" Yenisah Sultan said leaning down from her throne and patted my shoulder. I smiled up at her gratefully which she returned with a sweet smile. I watched as Nuricihan ran around on her small feet in front of us before my gaze moved to Diana Kalfa who pointed for me to walk over to her, I stood up and walked over to her.
"What is it Kalfa?" I asked stopping in front of her. She signaled me to keep my voice down and stepped closer to me.
"I didn't get the chance to tell you but Leyla hatun and Hatice each went to the Sultan while you were away," She said making me freeze. I turned to look at Leyla who was laughing with Esmehan Sultan and Hatice who was patting her daughter's dress.
"But don't worry I've been slipping the same medicine of Hatice Sultan to Leyla hatun," She said earning my attention back. I placed my hand on my forehead feeling a headache hit me.
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" Thank you for telling me, Diana" I nodded before walking back over to the tent and sat down on the pillow much more gloomy this time. I looked up at Hatice who was scolding Nuricihan after she fell and dirtied her dress before my gaze moved to a laughing Leyla feeling so many types of aches hit me all over my body making me feel lightheaded as thought swarmed in my mind before everything turned dark.
