BURNING ROSE - Mehmed the Conqueror

TWO .

MY EYES FLUTTER open and a sharp pain rushes through my head.

My surroundings in a blur but I can still tell that I am inside a rather comfortable and warm place.

So I'm not dead after all! Time to celebrate!!

My vision comes back to me and I slowly get ahold of my surroundings and what's going on.

I hear a few voices speaking and a lot of moving around and arguing. So much that almost makes me want to bang my head up again.

"Hello?" My voice croaks as I struggle to sit up. "Is someone here?" I ask sitting up fully and resting my head on the wall behind me.

"Is anyone going to–" My words are stopped with the sound of loud footsteps walking into the room.

Suddenly a beautiful-looking man walks in front of me and sits on the mattress making me raise my eyebrows in confusion.

"Glad to see you awake ma'am..." He says with the most attractive sounding voice and soft smile.

I sit staring into his eyes for about twelve seconds before snapping out of it— he is beautiful. Truly.

"M-may I know w-where am I?" I ask in a quiet voice which is something not usually something that happens with me.

The man sitting in front of me smiled and pointed out the window which made me dart my eyes over to the large window next to me— I saw a garden full of rose bushes and beautiful trees, I was in shock at how beautiful it all looked.

"The garden looks so fresh and new, completely different from my home, " I saw in awe still staring at the beautiful garden.

The man chuckles which snaps me out of the perfect moment and look back towards him.

"Have I died and been reincarnated as rich women?" I ask with a hint of joy because if I did die and if I was now in a much better life then all my problems would no longer be problems— the man smiled widely and shook his head.

"I am sorry to disappoint ma'am but you are still alive in your regular life, you bumped into me while walking around and you fall back and hit your head, I should have acted quicker and caught you and I deeply apologize for that, " he explains in a gentle tone as he nervously fiddled with his dirt-covered fingernails.

my smile widened, I could tell he was a good man and not some crazy guy faking being sincere and in some odd way I felt fine, more than fine actually, I felt safe.

"I now remember the embarrassing moment when I fell in front of the entire market full of people, " I giggle thinking of the memory— The man held a faint smile on his face before standing up and clearing his throat.

"Before you woke up I had the doctors check your head and see if everything was fine and they said you were okay but I wanted to wait till you woke up so I could personally return you to your home, " he explained with his smile becoming wider.

I looked down at my hands picking at the extra skill on my finger— the house I lived in was no home, it was surrounded by dirt and mud and bugs usually managed to get inside— I slept right next to where I went to the bathroom, I had too much embarrassment in my body to let anyone see where I lived or how I lived— I had no choice to live there anyway, after my father died I lost the house I grew up in and I only had a little sum of money to afford the place I lived in now.

I shook my head, "nonsense I can go home by myself, if the doctors say I am fine then there is no need for me to be escorted home, " I said trying to avoid the situation.

The man frowned and folded his hands across his chest, "no, I was the one who made you bump your head so will be the one to return you home to your family, " he said in a not-so-gentle voice this time.

I scoffed and also crossed my hands over my chest, "what family?" I say already feeling the tears in my eyes, "my entire family is dead, I only have me and the bugs that I live with, " I say trying to make a small joke out of the terrible situation.

The man's hands slowly drop from his chest and he sits back down on the bed looking at me with pity in his eyes— the look I was oh so used to receiving.

"You look young how could you have no family to look after you?" He asks.

A take a deep breath in preparing myself to explain the story I dread telling people— "my father died before I could be betrothed, my mother abandoned me before I was even 100 days old, I am the only child so after everyone either left or died I am all alone, " I explain with a tear forming in my eyes which I am quick to wipe away.

"It's been so long I shouldn't still be trying only this stuff, " I say forcing a pleasant smile on my face, I looked pathetic crying in front of a man I just met.

The man moved closer to me and smiled softly, his hand reached up to my cheek and he gently wipes the last bit of my tears away with his thumb.

"It's okay to feel this way, I recently lost my father, and I haven't spoken to my mother since I was taken away from her at a young age, I never show my emotions but it is okay to cry, you can cry all you want, " he said smiling.

An unexpected smile came across my face— he was oddly kind to me, something I never expected from a well-dressed man.

"How many years have you been alive, what is your age and name?" He asks me removing his hand from my cheek.

I chuckle, "you speak so formally, but I am 18 years, and my name is Isabella Amin but most call me Bella,"  I say with a grin.

The man's eyes widen, "only 18 years and having to fend for yourself? Do you know how many evil people live in the world?" He said sounding genuinely worried.

Once again I laugh, "I've been living alone for two years now, im fine with the way I live, it may not be the best and I may have to beg for spare change but it makes me a better person, I rather be poor and humble then rich and annoying."

The man smiles, "you are brave but I cannot just let you live alone especially in a bad village, I will allow you to stay here until I find another safe place for you, " he says as he reaches to my face and tucks a loose piece of hair behind my ear making my face turn bright red.

The man smiles and chuckles before standing up, "I shall return tomorrow evening, if you need anything there are two maids here willing to help you completely, " he says with a smile, "until then my lady, " he does a quick bow before heading towards the door.

Just as his hand reaches towards the handle I speak up, "wait!" I shout loud enough for him to hear, "you haven't told me your name, I told you mine so now you have to tell me yours, " I smile.

"Mehmet, Mehmet is my name, " he says before leaving the door.

That name— is he named after the new Sultan? Probably not the Sultan is too young and barely respected.

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Y'all this chapter only took me 45 minutes and it's 1329 words—
#girlboss