Dynasties: Mahidevran's Revenge

Price of Power

Notes:

Hi! I want before posting this chapter, i want to thank everyone who has visited, read and voted this story. Thank y'all.

For more context for this chapter, Isabella was a concubine in Suleiman's harem and existed before Milena/Mahidevran but Hürrem got rid of her like in the series before her arrival. As for Firuze, she was another concubine on his harem (and very cherished at some point), but was forgotten gradually as she only gave birth two sultanas and not princes and Hürrem entered later and gave birth to Mehmed.

Constantinople, 1521.

News of the Ottoman victory in Belgrade with minimal casualties among the army reached soon to the capital, bringing joy to everyone. Valide Ayse Hafsa, Suleiman's mother, was not an exception but she was one of the first people to know about the results of the war through of her son's most prominent pashas, Lala Pasha, who had been in charge of the Empire as Suleiman was focused on the campaign in Belgrade and Buda.

"I'm glad to hear good news of the Victory in Belgrade and Buda from you, Lala Pasha. Allah has heard my prayers and blessed my Lion with the first of many victories". Ayse Hafsa spoke, revealing her pride and joy for her son. "With Allah's guidance, more victories will come for the Empire and more lands will become Ottoman provinces".

"It was such a swift victory. Not even that scurrying infidel of Louis stood a chance against our army. He died by the hand of our Padishah". Lala Pasha explained satisfied too with the outcome of the war.

"Please inform people about the outcome. I want a good celebration for my Lion's first victory". Ayse Hafsa asked. "I will starting the preparations for a magnificent welcome when he returns. I want everything to be perfect. But I need to ask a last question before you leave, pasha".

The Pasha nodded as he awaited for Ayse Hafsa's question.

"There's a woman that my Lion met in Belgrade. He mentioned a woman maned Milena in one of the letters he sent to me because she aided him to secure the victory in Buda by telling the whereabouts of the King of Hungary". Ayse Hafsa spoke remembering the last letter Suleiman sent to her making an account of the events from the war. "Do you have any information of who this woman could be?".

"Sultanim, all the information I have about that woman is that she's a noblewoman from Belgrade and rumor has it that she's related to Mara Hatun, Fatih Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror's Valide". Lala Pasha answered as his response seemed to pick Ayse Hafsa's attention. "Our Padishah ordered explicitly to send that woman to his harem and as I far I know, Ibrahim Pasha was entrusted with the arrangements to make her travel safe to the capital".

"I want to meet that woman to assess her first by myself alone". Ayse Hafsa replied calmly as an idea crossed her mind. "Please, as soon as you have more news about her arrival to this Palace, keep me informed".

"As you wish, Sultanim". Lala Pasha spoke as he bowed before leaving.

Ayse Hafsa pondered about the last recount of events, but the woman her Suleiman mentioned on his letters intrigued her. Hürrem's influence on her son was one of the things she worried the most and she needed to counter her at any cost. That's why she wanted to assess Milena by herself first to see if she was worthy of join her son's harem and to see if she had the potential to actually challenge Hürrem's growing influence.

***

Hürrem was in her chambers getting ready with the help of her friend Gülnihal. Her current pregnancy was on her final stages and soon she would give birth again. Suleiman had ordered to both her and his mother that if the child was born before he returned from the campaign in Hungary, he wanted the baby to be named Abdullah if he was a boy. If the baby was a girl, the Valide would be free to name the girl of with any name of her liking.