- This is Harem, here there are special rules which you will have to listen. From now on, you are slaves in Harem of Sultan Murad Khan. - Haci-aga said to me and Vika as he took us to part of the Palace which was known as Harem.
All I could see was hundreds of girls who gathered to see who we are. They stood at the doors of Harem and curiously waited to hear who we are.
They were all dressed in beautiful dresses, I have never imagined Harem as something like this. There were their mattreses on the bed where they were sleeping.
- This is Lalezar Kalfa, she will go with you in Hamam to wash yourself, and then she will send you to Kosem Sultan who will talk with you both. - Haci-aga said and showed to us at woman in her middle ages which was probabbly Lalezar which was he talking about.
I wanted to ask him right now about Murad, but I saw he was in hurry so I decided I will have to find him later then.
- Girls, come with me. - Lalazar Kalfa showed to us and we went in Hamam together with her. For the whole way to there, she didn't say even a word to us.
- This is Imperial Harem and from now on you are concubines of Sultan Murad Khan. Maybe you will stay here as servants to someone of his family or maybe if you have luck you may become his wife and mother of his sons. - Lalezar said to us as we came into Hamam.
I didn't pay much attention to her words because I knew that this man Haci would help me find my Murad, and then I would get out of this Palace. I was just afraid of what would happen to Vika, she was still young. I was afraid of what would happen to her if she stayed in this Palace.
- Who is that woman, Kosam, we will go to? - I asked Lalezar because of curiosity.
- Its Kosem, Kosem Sultana. She is mother of our Sultan. You will adress her with Sultana. You won't look at her, you will have to have your head bowed down. - Lalezar said to us seriously.
- You won't talk until she gives you permission. My advice to you is that you don't make bad impression, because she has even the bigger power than Sultan himself. - Lalezar said to us.
After we did Hammam, she gave us some clothes. She gave us dresses which we wore, and then we followed her to Kosem Sultan's chambers.
Lalezar knocked on the doors, and after Kosem Sultan approved we came into those chambers.
Those chambers were so big, that I could say they were three times bigger than our house in Odessa. At big sofa, woman in her middle ages was sitting. I tried not to look at her, but what could I see from the egde of my eyes, she was really beautiful for her age. She looked so powerful.
- Sultana, those are new concubines from Ukraine. - Lalezar said to her as we bowed down to Kosem Sultan.
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Kosem Sultana didn't even care about us that much, because it was her time to drink coffe. We have had to wait until she drinks her coffe, so Lalezar could continue with presenting us to her.
- Those are beautiful girls, what are your names? - Kosem asked us after few minutes we were standing there, and we shouldnt even look at her in that time.
- My name is Viktoria. - Vika said to her and I could hear fear of Kosem in her voice.
- Nice, you are still young so I won't send you in harem of my son Sultan Murad. I have job for you which will Lalezar inform you later. - Kosem said to her. I could catch her eyes on me then.
- My name is Aleksandra. - I said to her and I still didn't look at her.
- You are very beautiful girl, you will be sent in harem of Sultan Murad. Unfornatley, he is going to his campagin now, but when he returns, I will send you to him. - Kosem said to me as I could hear happiness in her voice.
- Excuse me, Sultana, but that won't be possible. - I said to her and raised my head to look at her. I saw Lalezar looked shockedly at me, and Kosem was also confused at that moment.
- What do you think who you are to talk like this in front of Valide Kosem Sultan? - Lalezar yelled on me.
- Why do you think that it won't be possible? - Kosem said to me angrily. I knew I shouldn't look at her but I didn't care anymore in this moment.
- I didn't meant to be rude to you Sultana, excuse me on that. But I need to get married. - I said to her as I couldn't stand this anymore.
- Who you think you should have marry with? - Kosem asked me with poker face.
- Murad Bey, he is Ottoman officier. He had to sell us here, but he promised me he would take me from here. - I said to her no matter how that may sound stupid to her, I didn't want to be in Harem of Sultan Murad. I wanted my Murad Bey.
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- I don't know any officier Murad Bey, you should know your place. You need to be teached how to act properly. Your beautiful look won't mean anything to you, if you don't learn how to act and to learn good manners. You will be teached here of that. And you can forget about Murad Bey, because you are now property of Sultan Murad Khan. - Kosem said to me angrily, she was almost yelling at me.
She signalised Lalezar to leave her alone. It was obvious that I annoyed her with my words, but I had nothing else to do. We left her chambers and went away to Harem.
