-Behiç, my beauty. I promise that we will always be together- Sultan Osman told Behiç. But, after battling with a disease, Sultan Osman dies suddenly, leaving Behiç to figure out how to move forward with her children. MC/K.
It was our last moments together... - Behic Sultan
✧✧✧
"My love," he said softly, his thumb tracing her cheek. "You will not be alone. You are stronger than you know, and our children will need you. The empire will need you."
Behic's gaze flickered to the decree on the table, her brow furrowing slightly. "This decree... is it truly necessary? Can't you trust the empire to someone else? I don't know if I can bear the weight of this alone."
Osman shook his head. "There is no one else I trust more than you, Behic. You have wisdom, strength, and the love for our people. I have seen it in you, time and time again. You will guide Shezade Abdullah until he is ready. The empire will flourish under your care."
Behic swallowed hard, her lips trembling as she nodded, though her heart still warred against the idea of a future without him. She glanced at their children, Abdul and Sanavber, who were playing together, their laughter filling the room like music.
"Will they remember me?" Osman asked suddenly, his voice cracking with emotion as he watched his children. "Will they remember who I was, what I stood for?"
Behic's eyes widened at the raw vulnerability in his voice. She hadn't expected him to ask something so fragile, but it struck her to her core. "Of course they will," she assured him, her hand resting on his. "I will make sure they know everything about you. Your kindness, your strength, your love for them. They will carry your legacy with them, always."
Osman's eyes closed for a moment, as though overwhelmed by a flood of emotions—gratitude, sorrow, and a love so deep it felt infinite. He had ruled an empire, but nothing mattered more to him than the people in this room. His heart ached with the knowledge that his time with them was slipping away, faster than he could bear.
"Baba, look!" Abdul cried out, interrupting the heavy silence. The almost 11 year old boy held up a small toy sword, proudly showing his father the intricate carvings on its hilt. "I'll be a warrior just like you one day!"
Osman chuckled, though it was tinged with sadness. He crouched down to Abdul's height, taking the toy sword in his hands. "You will be a great warrior, my son. But remember, strength is not just in how well you fight. It's in how you protect those you love, how you rule with wisdom and mercy."
Abdul nodded eagerly, his youthful enthusiasm making Osman smile. Sanavber, still clinging to her mother's skirts, watched her father with wide eyes. Osman pulled her into his arms, holding her close as if he could shield her from the future that awaited them all.
"I wish I could stay," he whispered, his voice so low that only Behic could hear. "I wish I had more time."
Behic's tears finally broke free, spilling down her cheeks as she knelt beside him, wrapping her arms around their children and him. "We'll keep you with us, Osman. In every decision, in every moment, we will remember you."
Osman nodded, though the weight of his impending departure hung heavy in the room. He placed a kiss on each of his children's foreheads before standing slowly, his body already feeling the toll of his illness.
With the decree sealed, he placed it in Behic's hands. "This is yours now," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "The future of our family, of the empire—it's in your hands."
Behic looked down at the decree, the reality of it sinking in. She had always been strong, but this felt like a mountain too tall to climb. Yet, as she looked into Osman's eyes, she saw his unwavering faith in her, and that gave her the strength she needed.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I won't let you down," she whispered, clutching the decree to her chest.
"I know you won't," Osman replied, his voice full of love. He took one last look at his family, committing their faces to memory before the doors opened once more, summoning him back to his royal duties. Time was slipping through his fingers like sand, but for this moment, he had what mattered most.
As he turned to leave, he felt the heavy weight of destiny on his shoulders, but he also felt the warmth of the love that would carry on long after he was gone. His legacy wasn't just the empire—it was the family he was leaving behind.
And with that, Sultan Osman Khan Hazretleri left the room, knowing that whatever came next, he had done everything in his power to ensure that those he loved would be safe.
