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'm sorry Albina, I couldn't save her" I whispered looking down at my hands as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. She made a sound and pulled my head up and shook her hands around as a way to say that she doesn't blame me, even though her tears were as wide as cheeks.
"Even if you don't blame me for mother's death, I blame myself," I said standing up and walked over to the mirror to prepare myself.
"Sultanim, we both know it's not your fault, Warda sultan is a snake and everyone knows that," Daphne said putting down the dress she was folding. She walked over to me and took my hands into hers rubbing circles on the back of them to reassure me.
"I must leave now, we'll end this conversation here forever," I said turning to look at my sister. She walked over and hugged me one last time before I left my chamber. I took a deep breath before walking down the harem and to the Valide's room where she stood with her daughters except Warda who was still banished in Amasya.
"Validam" I bowed to the elderly woman before taking my place in before Hatice while Leyla doesn't get to be in line anymore having no children. Yenisah gave me a small smile as she took her place before me. She was a little sad since her husband was also going to war alongside Mahmoud.
"Make way, Sultan Mahmoud Khan, His highness" A harem agha yelled. I bowed along with everyone else except the Valide as Mahmoud walked in. He went to his mother who pulled him in for a hug. I sometimes don't get why she's the Valide Sultan anymore, many bad things happened in the harem and she still hasn't done anything about it. Mustafa dies, I got poisoned and Hatice's maid was killed and we still don't know the killer.
"Neslihan" I smiled when he reached me and took his hand into mine and kissed the back of it. I couldn't help but stare into his eyes for a couple of seconds.
"May Allah returns you to us victorious, your majesty" I prayed. He patted my cheek before moving on to our sons, he kissed each and every one of them on the head.
"Validam, I want you to take extra care of the harem," Mahmoud said after he finished saying goodbye to Hatice and Nuricihan.
"Especially Neslihan," He said taking my hand into his and kissed my knuckles. I looked at him shocked and confused at the same time.
"She has been quite affected by the murder of her mother on my sister Warda's hands" He finished. I almost gasped and looked at him with slight horror, how did he find this out? The Valide seemed on the verge of a breakdown.
"What are you saying?" Valide Sultan asked stepping closer to Mahmoud who let go of my hand and placed his behind his back.
"What I'm saying is that my sister turned out to be a murderer," Mahmoud said. He patted my cheek before walking out of the room.
"What have you told him?" The Valide asked stepping closer to me with a glare on her face.
"I didn't tell your majesty. I swear I didn't tell him anything " I answered with a slight tremble in my voice.
"If you were the one that told him I will end you," she said before walking to her throne and sat down with a frown.
"Sultanim, her majesty the Valide is asking for you in her room for the weekly prayer," Daphne said. I sighed and let her help me up from the couch. Mahmoud has been gone for seven months and the campaign still hasn't ended.
"Stay with the kids" I ordered. I walked with my maids down the harem to the Valide's room. Everyone was already here waiting for me to start.
I bowed to the valide before sitting down on a pillow. I covered my hair and listened to the shakha as she prayed. I started feeling terrible pain in my stomach but tried to ignore it, we were in the middle of a prayer after all.
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"Are you okay?" Yenisah Sultan asked leaning closer to me. I nodded my head taking a deep breath.
"I can't" I whimpered before letting out a loud Yelp holding my stomach. Yenisah sultan jumped up and kneeled down beside me.
"Call a midwife" the valide ordered. Yenisah along with some maids helped me stand up. They walked me to my room and laid me down on my bed.
"Everything will be okay" Yenisah promised pulling a blanket over my body.
"Please stay with me" I begged holding her hand. She pushed some hair out of my face. The midwife ran in and went straight to work.
"He's so precious," Yenisah sultan said. I grinned watching her as she swayed the baby in her arms.
"Allah is so generous," I said. Daphne walked in with Ahmed, Suleiman, and Selim to see their new brother.
"New brother," Ahmed said happily crawling up the bed and sat down beside me. Yenisah placed the baby in my arms so Ahmed could see him. Suleiman hopped on the bed with the help of Yenisah sultan. Daphne placed Selim on the bed as he babbled.
"Mahmoud would be very happy to return to a son," Yenisah said happily clapping her hands. I grinned swaying the baby a little as he fell asleep. The doors opened and Dilruba sultan walked in with her nose high in the air.
"I am still wondering what your secret is Hatun," she said walking to stand beside the bed I laid in.
"There is no secret Sultanim, it's Allah's will," I said back bitterly. She looked down at the baby with a look of almost disgust.
"I doubt," she said stepping back as the doors opened again and the Valide's stepped into the room.
"Mash'Allah," she said grinning as she walked over to where I laid and looked down on the new baby.
