Muhtesem Yuzyil Imagines ♡

The Golden Age of Sultan Mustafa I: Crown Prince (Part 4) (by MillsTeeth)

Mihrisah was walking with her maids early in the morning towards her father's chambers as her father had requested the night before, when she met Miss Gülfem.

—Sultana Mihrisah. —Gülfem greeted the sultana by bowing.

"Miss Gülfem," the sultana greeted Gülfem with a smile. "How are you?"

"I'm much better, Sultana," Gülfem replied calmly. "His Majesty asked to see me this morning, and I see you too."

"I am very glad," Mihrisah said. "Yes, that is true, but I have a bad feeling that this meeting is going to be a disaster. In case Hürrem says something to you, I want you to be calm. If my father does not put her in her place, I will take care of her."

Gülfem nodded gratefully. A moment later, Mihrisah knocked on the door and waited for her father to give her permission to enter his chambers.

"Come in." Mihrisah heard her father authorize her entry. Suleiman's eldest daughter entered her father's chambers followed by Gülfem.

—Good morning, Father. —Mihrisah greeted her father with a bow.

"Your Majesty." Gulfem presented himself before the Sultan, making the same bow.

—Gülfem, Mihrisah, please come in. —The Sultan cordially invited the two women in. A few minutes passed when I introduced them and they heard the door knock again. The doors opened again, Mihrisah observed with an annoyance that she hid very well on her serious face that the one who entered was Hürrem.

"My Sultan." Hurrem greeted Suleiman by bowing to him. Suleiman simply looked back at his wife coldly, which did not go unnoticed by Mihrisah and Gülfem. "Sultana Mihrisah, Gülfem."

—Well, the reason I called and summoned the three of you is because Miss Gülfem reported serious problems regarding the management of the harem's resources. —Suleiman began the meeting by staring at Hürrem, causing her to become intimidated. —As you may know, a significant embezzlement of the harem's funds was reported and my wish is to clarify the reason for the disappearance of those resources.

"Hürrem." Suleiman addressed her without any hint of emotion. "Since the embezzlement occurred when you were in charge of the harem, I demand that you explain to me why it disappeared. I am listening."

Gülfem and Mihrisah looked at Hurrem waiting for the answer. Suleiman seemed to be getting more exasperated with each passing minute.

—My lord, I am unaware of the circumstances in which the embezzlement that is being charged to my administration was carried out. —Hurrem responded without daring to raise her voice to defend herself as she usually did when she felt attacked. —I was deceived and I am as surprised as you are, Your Majesty. Besides, you know very well that there are people here who cannot stand me and who only want to make me look bad in your eyes. —Hurrem finished with venom, looking at Mihrisah.

Gülfem and Mihrisah glanced at each other but did not say anything. The tension was palpable and the awkward silence was broken again when Suleiman spoke again. Mihrisah stared at Hürrem trying to find any hint of inconsistencies in her story.

"That is not a satisfactory answer, Hürrem. I placed my trust in you with this responsibility, I gave you the opportunity and you did not rise to the occasion." Suleiman intervened again, openly disappointed with Hürrem. "This situation is as serious or more serious than Mahidevran's incident with the Jewish moneylender. Do you know what Mahidevran's punishment was? I dismissed her from her position."

—Suleiman, please, I beg you to give me the opportunity to clarify this whole situation and prove my innocence, I had nothing to do with it. —Hürrem begged Suleiman trying to inspire pity to save her position without success.