A-Game ✔

words like knives / episode fourteen / sophia

The air in the harem was heavy as Sophia made her way back to the common room where the other girls gathered after the dance. Her heart still raced from the performance, not because she'd done anything grand or remarkable, but because Sultan Orhan had been there, watching. She hadn't even dared to look at him directly, too caught up in the calm rhythm she'd chosen for her dance. Yet, the feeling of his gaze still lingered, and her pulse quickened at the thought.

I was chosen to dance for the Sultan, she reminded herself. I was seen.

But her sense of accomplishment was short-lived.

As soon as she stepped into the room, Mara Vellas-Andres was waiting, her arms crossed and an unpleasant smirk plastered across her face. The other girls milled around, either gossiping or fidgeting, but it was Mara who stalked toward Sophia like a predator sensing weakness.

"So," Mara began, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "That was your idea of a dance?"

Sophia glanced at her warily. She could feel the tension building, but she wasn't in the mood to be taunted.

Mara flicked her hair over her shoulder dramatically and sneered. "I'm not surprised you weren't picked, limping around like that. You barely moved. You're lucky they didn't make you the jester instead."

The words stung, but Sophia squared her shoulders, refusing to let Mara's insults get under her skin. She wouldn't give her the satisfaction. Besides, she hadn't expected anything from the Sultan. All she had wanted was to dance and do her best.

But then something inside her stirred—an ember of defiance she hadn't realized she'd been holding onto. Mara was so convinced of her superiority, so sure that she'd been the one to captivate Orhan.

Sophia let out a breath and met Mara's gaze, her voice calm but cutting.

➣ "Sultan Orhan ignored you the entire time anyway."

The room fell silent. Mara's face froze, her eyes widening in shock before they narrowed in rage.

"What did you just say?" Mara hissed, taking a step closer.

"You heard me," Sophia replied, her tone steady. "He didn't care about your performance. He wasn't even watching you. You danced aggressively, but it wasn't graceful. It was... desperate."

Mara's face turned red, and Sophia could see the anger bubbling inside her. She'd hit a nerve.

"You—" Mara snarled, raising her hand as if she was about to slap Sophia, her fingers trembling with fury.

But before she could strike, Imal Agha stepped into the room, his tall figure casting a shadow across the two girls. His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable authority behind it.

"Enough!" he commanded, stepping between them. He shot Mara a warning look before turning his attention to Sophia. "There will be no fighting here."

Mara stepped back, her expression twisting into a scowl, but she didn't say another word. Instead, she glared at Sophia with barely contained fury and stormed off to the other side of the room, her dress swishing behind her.

Sophia let out a slow breath, grateful for Imal's intervention, but her heart was still racing from the confrontation. She had spoken up for herself in a way she hadn't before, and though it had felt good, it had also rattled her.

Imal Agha turned to Sophia, his expression softening slightly.

"The Sultan has requested that you be prepared for another night," he said quietly, his voice low so the others wouldn't overhear. "You will have another chance to dance for him."

Sophia blinked, her mind reeling. Another night? Her? Out of all the girls?

"Why me?" she whispered, the words escaping before she could stop them. "I didn't even—"

Imal raised a hand, cutting her off gently. "Do not question the Sultan's decisions. You did well tonight. Be ready for what comes next."

And with that, he left the room, leaving Sophia standing in stunned silence.

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ Reflections ･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

As the other girls began talking again, Mara sulking in the corner, Sophia stood by herself, her mind racing. She hadn't expected this. She had come to the Empire as a captive, a girl with a limp and little value in the eyes of others. Yet here she was, chosen not once but twice. And even though she still felt out of place, the fact that Sultan Orhan had noticed her at all meant something.

He saw me.

Sophia's thoughts swirled as she sat down, wrapping her arms around herself. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, she allowed herself a small, quiet victory.

Mara could say what she wanted. But in the end, it was Sophia who would dance again.

And that was more than enough for now.