𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲- [Magnificent Century]

CHAPTER 5

               Mera was sat on her balcony outlooking the Bosphorus sea while sewing clothes she intended to give away to the Jewish orphanage through the woman merchant, Suleiman was busy at the divan and he would probably come to her chambers to see her and the kids before going to his chambers to spend his night in Halvet with his new concubine.

Emine hatun briskly knocked at the door and bowed." My sultana, I have news."

Mera sultan patted the chair next to her, Emine did as she was told."The jariye, Alexandra, was talking with her friend Maria, and told her that she will sleep with the sultan not for one night but for 1001 others and that she will make him her slave."

"Hmm...And did no one else hear her dreaming?" Asked Mera half amused with the situation.

Emine hesitated and then said."Daye hatun might have heard her say it, she entered the harem just two seconds later and yelled at her to go to the hammam."

Mera nodded happily and said." Good let's hope she did, I trust she will go running to Valide sultan and say whatever she heard, and of course, the Valide sultan loves her little harem rules, so she will act, and what better person to use besides her favourite perfect little consort?" she teased Emine happily.

"Mahidevran Sultan?" sai the hatun tentatively.

"Hmm..." affirmed the Jewish woman, "In the meantime, set your eyes on this friend of hers, Maria was it? We might have need of her in the future."

The hatun smiled, while the sultan focused on sewing children's clothes once more, Emine smiled and picked a needle to help her sultan.

On the other side of town, the Venetian ambassador was paying the Jewish jeweller a small visit to learn information on the happenings of the town and the palace, unbeknownst to the extroverted loquacious merchant and his wife who was the woman that Mera Sultan traded with, silks and jewellery.

"It's an honour, Senor Tommasso, how can I help you?" said the Jewish ma with a pleasant smile.

"How are you senor Joshua?" The ambassador said with a smile, "How is the business and the market?"

"Thank God, it is very good, the new sultan arrived and the market came to life. Gold is flying all over the place, Long live Sultan Suleiman and his wife Mera Sultan."

That seemed to pick the interest of the ambassador and he asked. "Who is Mera Sultan, the mother of the oldest prince?"

The Jewish man's smile died a bit and said."No, she is the mother of the two other shehzades Osman and Murad along with the other Sultana, she just came here for a few weeks and is already very popular among the people."

"How so? I thought concubines couldn't do charity?"

Joshua smiled."The sultan allowed her to do so, and she always gives money and clothes to my wife to give to the poor, they say she was a Jewish woman from Serbia, which must be why she is so nice to Jewish merchants, and Thank God for that!" he smiled softly at the ambassador.

The ambassador shared a look with his apprentice and nodded at the merchant."Have a good day, I will come back someday soon."

Sir Joshua nodded ad looked at the men leaving, his wife soon entered their shop and smiled softly at her husband."Joshua, good thing you're here, are the matching ruby necklaces ready? I must go to the palace soon, and we mustn't lose the Sultan as our client, she is the best one we have and will ever do."

Joshua nodded." Yes, I did, I will just put it on a box for you to take."

"Good. I must make haste."

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Mera and her children waited for Suleiman to come for hours but he did not grace them with his presence, so entranced with the woman he was going to spend the night with, The Serbian sultan knew what she had to do, she will allow him to sleep with whoever he wished, but would not let him ever love another, he must always love Mera or at the very least have his ear when it comes to important matters, she knew it had to be through his been and she was planning on doing whatever she needs, as soon as he spends the night with his ruthenian concubine and tire of her.

She had just sent the children to sleep when Emine came to her chamber to tell her the news, that Alexandra had in fact not slept with the sultan, Mahidevran beat her there, so Mera took the opportunity and sent for the girl.

Alexadra entered, followed by Sumbul agha, they both bowed, though Alexandra gave a shallow bow, her eyes scanning the fancy chambers and scanning the pretty sultana, she had heard plenty about Mera sultan, the most important consort of Suleiman and the love of his life, the mother of two shehzades and a sultana, but unlike the valide sultan or that snake Mahidevran, Mera gave her a small gentle smile, her green eyes welcoming and her clear skin making her soft red lips and blond hair shine brightly. She didn't seem to be an arrogant woman, and Alexandra found herself giving her a small smile back, despite her angry and sad mood.

"The Valide sultan tricked you, didn't she?" asked Mera sultan, her eyes shining with mirth, yet her throne was almost suggesting as if she wanted to plant the idea on the concubine's head.

Alexandra nodded."Sultan Suleiman gave me the purple handkerchief, this night was supposed to be mine, and yet that snakeMahidevran stole it from me!" She yelled outraged.

"Snake Mahidevran? I guess you met her?"

"Her dog asked me to come to her chambers today and made me sort out her clothes in some boxes."

"Dog?" asked Mera confused. Emine hatun chirped in. "She means Gulsah hatun sultana."

"Hmmm" nodded Mera sultan and looked at the new concubine, who had an ugly scowl on her face. "Smile my dear, I have seen your face smiling when I was passing by the harem, sadness doesn't suit you, I will give you a new name, would you like that?" She asked, but her tone indicated that it was more of an order than a question.

Alexandra nodded warily."Good, from now on, your name shall be Hurrem, it will be easier for everyone here to use, it means Roxalena or rather "The joyful one" in Turkish, for you are better off smiling. Now I don't want you to worry, Your turn with Suleiman will come, and then you will be the one making Mahidevran and the valide scowl." she told her with a large fake smile.

Alexandra, now Hurrem, smiled genuinely and nodded at the sultana, she liked her, she decided and she would steer away from her bad side as much and as long as she can.

Mera however, didn't bother thinking about such thoughts, anyone who takes Suleiman's interest from her and her children is not her friend and will never be.

Mera and Hurrem were fated to be enemies, it was inevitable but they were both smart enough to realise when to set their differences apart to work for their common interests. 

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I know I said the previous chapter was going to be the last this week but oh well this is me updating twice a day just because I don't want to do my homework <3. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Mera and Hurrem finally interacted, what do you guys think about Mera being the one who named Hurrem? Historically speaking, The valide sultan is the one who naled her hurrem and gifted her to Suleiman, so I wanted to change it from both the show and history!

I would love to read your feedback and opinions!