ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴠᴇɪʟ - ᴍᴀɢɴɪꜰɪᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴜʀʏ

II

We all sat around the table , silence eating us from the inside as kosem sultan had just summoned all the nobles to attend the inauguration ceremony of her new charity work .

My mother was kosem sultan's treasurer and had control over all her incomes , i could definitely say she was one of the sultan's closest advisers. This is the reason why i've grown close to the royal family as i knew all of them and was invited to all their ceremonies

« It is a delight to be with you on this special occasion your majesty » one of the women on our table complimented kosem sultan who looked satisfied with her work , i admired her really much and i knew that she will go down in history .

Her daughter Atike sultan had just got married to the sultan's guard and it was a tragic day , After her sister ended her life infront of everyone , Kosem sultan opened this charity work in her daughters name .

Kösem sultan suddenly got up and made all of us stand up in unison .

"I appreciate everyone's presence here today , i would love to see you in the orphanage one day and visit all the children there" We all nodded agreeing with her , since my mother was like her shadow i would probably be one of the first ones to be there .

After her words , everyone started to leave until there was just me and my mother and her daughters that eventually left , before i could get the chance to follow them Kösem sultan called me .

" Gülcihan, you stay i have some matters to discuss with you and your mother" i looked at my mom trying to understand and she looked like she was aware and knew what Kösem sultan was about to say .

" I have reached an agreement with your mother about something that would benefit the both of us" she said offering me a seat next to her while my mother stood not far away from us .

" Mashallah , you are a very beautiful young woman . Don't you think it is time for you to have a family of yours ?" she asked while looking at my mom from time to time .

" I think it is quite early , you know i am waiting for someone that will impress me" i tried to avoid this question at all cost .

" I know your father tried to get you with some pashas but you said they were all old and grumpy" I almost laughed at her statement but i couldn't deny that she was indeed right .

"You're right sultana but i am waiting for the right one , i don't want to rush things" i tried to change this awkward conversation but it was obvious they wanted to get something out of these questions .

"Me and your mother have come to an agreement" i was already terrified , i didn't know what they have agreed on but it definitely had something to be with marriage .

" I want you to be my daughter in law" i felt like my world started spinning , i couldn't even react or say anything for that moment , i could only blink and stare at them back making them exchange looks , as if they excpected me to be happy or excited . " Sultana , i'm sorry but i think i heard you wrong" i managed to say .

" I know , this isn't something you would usually hear but i think this is right and logical .You may ask yourself why or how but i made this decision carefully and of course with your mother" She explained to me whole glancing at my mother . I was caught in between not knowing who to listen to . " You're beautiful , quick witted and highly educated and intelligent is there anything i could ask for ?"

" It's not every time that you get to marry a sultan , gulcihan think about it" My mother whispered to me trying to pressure me to say yes but i didn't , this wasn't some easy or a yes or no situation , this was a life changing situation .

" But does Sultan Murad know about this ?" i asked Kosem sultan which based on her look proved that he didn't know " He doesn't , but don't worry about that . My son listens to what tell him" I was unsure of what this meant because no matter how many influence she had on him , it's never going to happen if he says no .

" You don't have to give me an answer now but i will wait for your answer , the more sooner the better" Kosem sultan seemed like she wouldn't take no as an answer and this put me in a highly sensitive position .

my mother suddenly got up and i did right after she did . " Valide sultan , We will have to go now" My mother grabbed my arm and intertwined hers with mine trying to drag me away .

" Sultana" i bowed down to her and rushed with my mom outside , right as we were outside she glared at me " Was it that hard to say yes ?" She looked at me as if i did the biggest sin ever .

" Mom , what did you think i would say ?" i glared back " Do you think i would just say yes ? this is my life please don't force me to take a decision like this" I said walking away from the sultana's room .

my mother kept following me while i started to head outside the palace to go home " Slow down" she trailed behind me but i was too angry at her to stop or even listen to her .

I continued making my way to our carriage and sat down , few moments later my mom finally stepped inside and sat across from me.

" Why are you stubborn ? There's no harm in this" she tried to defend the idea but i snapped back at her " Do you think i don't have a dignity of my own ? that i would throw myself in the sultan's arms while we don't know each other ?"

She fell silent as she heard my question , she looked at the window as we started leaving the palace . " You think about it okay ? i know i was harsh on you but think about me and your father , you will help us secure our future"

" You're Kosem sultan's most trusted person and my father is the grand vizier what securing are you talking about ?" i asked annoyed about the nonsense she was saying . It felt like she just said whatever thing on her mind

" Storms can come, you don't know what time hides for us" she said staring deeply into my eyes . " You don't have to love him , you have to help us and maybe with time you will love him who knows" she tried to convince me but i had to think about this .

Maybe after all it wasn't a bad idea but still i want to take my time and fully grasp the situation and its outcome . This decision would either destroy me or make me strong , it would cost me my entire future .

I looked at my mother for the last time and saw the determination in her eyes , as if her whole life depended on my answer .