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...
"Has it been announced yet?" I asked Daphne as she let a hairbrush run through my hair to get rid of the knots in it.
"Your marriage? It has since this morning" Daphne answered grinning brightly at me. I gave her a smile and looked back at myself in the mirror.
"No, I meant Hatice's pregnancy," I said back. She stopped brushing my hair and looked at me through the mirror but I refused to move my eyes away from myself.
"Yes along with your marriage" she answered bitterly and continued to run the brush through my hair.
"Don't think about it much, I'm sure Diana has an explanation for the slip up" Daphne reassured patting my shoulder. I nodded, I didn't know who I was trying to reassure more myself or Daphne. If Hatice has a son then I'll be ruined, that boy will be a danger to my boys. A knock on the door snapped me out of my trance.
"Come in" I called to whoever knocked. Diana stepped in and bowed to me with her head low. I signaled with my head at Daphne to leave us. Daphne bowed before leaving the room.
"I'm going to let you explain yourself and you better do it fast" I hissed standing up and turning to face the trembling Diana. Everyone will look like her soon, I am no longer a slave they can wipe their floors with, I'm a sultana now, a real sultana.
"She stopped taking her medicine, the one I slip in, her maid said that she gave up on having another child and stopped taking the medicine," Diana said. I didn't think of this, this was my slip-up, I didn't think of another solution if Hatice or Leyla stopped taking their medication then after a while they will get pregnant.
"What do you suggest I do?" I asked with a huff. I sat back down on the ottoman in front of my mirror.
"Kill her, or slip her something to make her miscarry" Diana suggested. I looked at her and her eyes were wide with a menace that I almost feared her, almost.
"What are you saying? I would never kill an innocent child, get that idea out of your head" I hissed angrily slamming my hand down on the vanity table in front of me making the products on its rattle.
"I apologize, sultana, I will not mention such things again" Diana bowed her head in shame.
"Go now and call Daphne" I ordered standing up. She bowed and left the room. I walked over to my couch and pulled my red-over dress on over my white dress. Daphne walked in and handed me a headband that will hold my veil up. I held the headband in place as Daphne and Albina placed the veil over my head. Albina had a bandage wrapped around her head to cover up her stitches.
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"You look beautiful," Daphne said with tears in her eyes. Albina nodded her agreement, I have spoken with Mahmoud to allow me to send her to the best doctors in the capital to find a solution for her to speak again, I missed her voice very dearly and I haven't heard it in many years.
"The Sultan won't be able to look at anyone else after tonight" Daphne teased nudging me.
"Daphne we both know that's untrue" I chuckled shaking my head. I walked out of my room with Daphne and Albina behind me. It was decided that Zeynep would be buried in the forest beside the palace where all of the maids were buried after their deaths. They buried her body yesterday after the sun rose and the whole capital heard the news of the attack. I mourned, I still mourn but the living is more important than the dead and we have to move on.
I walked into Mahmoud's room and bowed to him. He was wearing the exact same sleepwear he wore on our first night together many years ago. I walked closer to him and kneeled down in front of him and took the hem of his robe in between my fingers. I kissed the silk before placing it back down softly like I've done many years ago. Soft fingers reached my chin and pulled me up from the floor.
The same fingers wrapped around the red veil and pulled it off of my head along with the headband and let them fall to the floor. I looked up at Mahmoud who was watching me with heartfelt eyes, it made me melt on the inside, he still looked at me the same way even after everything we've been through.
"You look gorgeous " he muttered placing his hand on my cheek. I took his hand into mine and kissed his palm. I closed my eyes trying to picture this moment in my head and save it forever in my memory.
"I'm all yours" I whispered opening my eyes again. Mahmoud pulled me closer by the waist and leaned closer to me until I could feel his breath on my face brushing past me like a summer breeze.
"So am I. I will love you until the end of time, Haseki Neslihan Sultan" he whispered pushing some of my fierce red hair back and away from my face.
"I wish time would stop right not on this moment so I can live it forever" I wrapped my fingers around his robe and pushed it back and off his shoulders letting it fall down on the floor behind him.
"Time has stopped the moment you stepped into this room, it stopped for me to live every second of my love deepening for you by the second" he whispered leaning closer to my face. I could feel his lashes tickling my cheek as he leaned closer to my ear.
"I love you" he whispered in my ear before he started to leave kisses behind my ear and down to my neck. My heart fluttered at his confession and a zoo woke up in my stomach at his touch.
"I love you too" I whispered pulling his face away from my neck. He smiled down at me before smashing his lips to mine in a passionate kiss.
