Living a normal life was now impossible to Lily after being kidnapped by the tatters. She was stolen off of the boat that was supposed to take her to England to study from the White Sea after visiting her family that lived in Egypt because of her fa...
"Did he tell you why he wanted to join me?" I asked Rosie as she helped me put on my head scarf.
"No Sultanim, Sehzade Mustafa said he wanted to see your hospice after being away for so many years" Rosie answered. I sighed and turned around to face her.
"I'll leave then" I patted her shoulder and walked out of the room where Hundi was waiting for me with Halil. They bowed to me and made way for me to walk first. I walked down the harem and to the garden where Mustafa was waiting for me.
"Sehzadim, any reason for this sudden visit?" I asked keeping a smile on my face. Faking everything, Mustafa was a grown man and could reach the throne and would definitely be chosen if something were to happen to Suleiman and I can't let that happen, I will not lose another child.
"Just curious how your hospice looks like now after so many years" he answered shrugging his shoulders. I noticed how his hand moved to his sword handle. I knew Mustafa was not stupid enough to kill me with so many witnesses and in the middle of the private garden but that made me curious what was he doing?
"Now? We've been in this palace together for the past two years and today was the day you decided to join me?" I asked crossing my arms. Mustafa's weren't on me most of the time which made me even more curious.
"I didn't have the time" Mustafa answered. His eyes turned to me for a second before moving back to look at something behind me.
"Right" I scoffed. Finally having enough so I turn around to look at what he was looking at.
"No!" Mustafa yelled but it was too late. I turned around only to be met with a man charging at me. Mustafa wrapped an arm around my waist and pushed me to the side. I fell to my side frozen a little in shock. A thud beside me made me wince. I pulled myself up on my knees and hands.
"Sultanim, are you okay?" I looked up at the sound of Mustafa's voice. He was looking down at me worriedly. He keeps making me change my mind about him, one second I want to hate him and kill him and on the other, he is so sweet and reminds me of the time when he was a small kid.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I'm alright" I answered. Mustafa held out his hand for me to take. I took his hand and let him help me back up from the ground. Behind him, Hundi and Halil were holding themselves back from running over to me.
"Thank you, Sehzade" I whispered almost ashamed of myself for the thoughts that were running through my head.
"No problem" he answered nodding at me. I took a step away from him feeling too shocked and confused to be close to anyone. I turned around and looked at the body that fell beside me earlier. A man with a dagger by his side. What caught my eye was the letter he was holding. I crouched down beside the body and took out the letter from his dead hand and opened it.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Sahihuban Sultan" was all that was written on the letter. She knew he wouldn't succeed. She wanted him to be caught to give me this message.
"What is that?" Mustafa asked. I immediately his the letter under my dress in between my breasts before standing back up and turning to face him as I fixed my dress trying not to act suspicious.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Nothing" I answered. I turned to face him and stepped closer to him. I was now wondering how he knew I was about to be attacked.
"How did you know this was going to happen?" I asked. Mustafa shifted to his feet and looked down at the body laying dead face first on the floor with Mustafa's dagger sticking out of his back.
"I received a letter from an anonymous telling me of the attack" Mustafa answered. I sighed shaking my head.
"I'm going back to the palace" I turned to walk back to the palace but guilt filled me. I turned to look at Hundi who was about to follow me.
"Go check on the people in the hospice and tell them I will visit them next week" I ordered. Hundi bowed and left to do so. I walked into the palace and to the harem. I took off my headscarf and handed it to one of the maids following me. I walked into the main area of the harem where I found Mahidevran standing in front of the harem doors with a grin on her face.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Mahidevran?" I asked confused. Since when did she stand proudly in front of the harem after what she did to all the maids. She smiled at me and nodded.
"Qamar" she repeated my greeting with very little confusion, unlike mine.
"What's going on?" I asked confused. My eyes trailed to the maids in the harem who were whispering to each other as they bowed to me.
"I was just checking to see if Firuze left for halvet" Mahidevran answered. My eyes widened for a second.
"Who do you think you are sending a concubine? Do I need to remind you that I am in charge of the harem?" I asked with anger in my voice. Mahidevran's smirk grew which stroked the fire inside of me.
"Oh, I wasn't the one who sent her," Mahidevran said crossing her arms. I raised an eyebrow confused, who could have sent her to Suleiman?
"I sent her" my heart stopped at the sound of the feminine voice. I turned around and watched as Sahihuban emerged from behind one of the pillars and over to me and Mahidevran who immediately bowed to the other woman. What brought her here? Her being away would have been easier for me to get rid of her than her being here.
"Oh, and before I forget, Elizabeth and Mary have returned to their true owner" she whispered so only I and her could hear. My heart stopped. After years of fighting, to get them I could only protect them for two years before she got her claws on them again.
"My sisters?" I asked almost confused. My brain couldn't handle it anymore.
"Why of course. Come on Mahidevran" Sahihuban called before walking deeper into the harem with Mahidevran trailing behind her with a smug look on her face. I felt almost frozen as the seconds ticked by. Why was she here? Why did she come? Unanswered questions ran through my head.
Suleiman was with another woman. I remembered. I turned around and made my way to my room. I walked up the stairs and into the Valide's chamber. I held my hand making my maids stop by the door. They bowed and closed the doors behind me. I fell on my ottoman as the tears finally left their home in my eyes and fell down my cheeks. I sobbed and sobbed on trying not to imagine what pained me the most, Suleiman's hands touching another woman's skin.
