A-Game ✔

friend in the shadows / episode fifteen / sophia

Sophia sat quietly in the corner of the dining hall, her thoughts still spinning from the events of the day. The room buzzed with the soft chatter of the harem girls, their voices blending into a dull hum as they shared gossip, worries, and dreams of what the future might hold. Sophia wasn't interested in joining their conversations. She was too preoccupied with her upcoming dance—another chance to face Sultan Orhan.

As she absentmindedly stirred the food on her plate, a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Mind if I sit here?"

Sophia looked up to see a girl standing before her, holding a small tray of food. She had soft, brunette hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and warm brown eyes that seemed kind and genuine. Sophia recognized her from the dance—Melania Andel, the Czech girl who had caught her eye during the performance. She had danced well, but there was a sadness to her movements, something Sophia hadn't understood at the time.

"Of course," Sophia replied, offering a small smile. "Please, sit."

Melania slid into the seat across from her and placed her tray on the table. For a few moments, they ate in silence, both lost in their thoughts. But then Melania glanced at Sophia and hesitated before speaking again.

"I saw what happened with Mara earlier," she said, her voice quiet. "You handled it well. That girl is nothing but trouble."

Sophia smiled a little, but the memory of the confrontation with Mara still left her unsettled. "She's... persistent, I'll give her that."

Melania gave a small laugh, but there was a sadness behind it. She looked down at her food and sighed.

"The truth is, I don't really care about all this," Melania admitted, pushing her food around with her fork. "The dancing, the competition. I never wanted to be here."

Sophia looked at her curiously. "Why not?"

Melania sighed again, her eyes filling with a deep, weary sadness. "I had someone. Someone back home. We were supposed to be married." She swallowed hard, as if the words were difficult to say. "But then the soldiers came, and I was taken here... to this place. And now I'm dancing for the Sultan when all I want is to go home."

Sophia's heart ached for her. She knew what it felt like to have her life turned upside down, to be ripped away from everything familiar. She reached across the table and placed a hand gently on Melania's arm.

"I'm so sorry, Melania," Sophia whispered. "That must be terrible."

Melania nodded, blinking back tears. "It is. I cried after the dance. I felt so ashamed. I never thought I'd be forced to do something like this—dancing for a man I've never met, trying to catch his eye like I'm just... just a piece of property."

Sophia's chest tightened. She had felt something similar, though perhaps not as deeply. The idea of being displayed like an object, of performing for someone's approval, had gnawed at her too. But hearing Melania speak so vulnerably about it made her realize that, even though she wasn't alone in these feelings, some had suffered far worse.

"Listen," Sophia said firmly, squeezing Melania's arm. "When I get any kind of power—any amount of influence in this place—I promise I'll help you. I'll do whatever I can to get you out of here."

Melania looked at her, her eyes wide with surprise and gratitude. "You would do that for me?"

Sophia nodded, her expression determined. "I would. I know how cruel this world can be. And if there's anything I can do to help you get back to the life you deserve, I'll do it."

A small, hopeful smile crept onto Melania's face. She wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded, her voice soft. "Thank you, Sophia. You don't know how much that means to me."

They sat in silence for a while after that, a new bond forming between them. Despite the strange and dangerous world they were now part of, it felt good to have someone to trust. Someone who understood.

Melania then leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I heard about your next dance. You're to perform for the Sultan again, aren't you?"

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know that?"

Melania gave a sly smile. "I'm good at sniffing out clues. People talk, and I listen."

Sophia was taken aback but impressed. She hadn't realized how resourceful Melania was, how sharp her mind was beneath that soft, gentle exterior.

"I could help you," Melania offered. "I know what the others are saying. What they're planning. It could give you an edge."

Sophia smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, Melania. I'd appreciate that."

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: An Unlikely Friendship :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

As they finished their meal together, Sophia couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected friendship. Melania, with her sharp mind and quiet strength, would be an invaluable ally in the days to come. And though Sophia didn't know what the future held, she knew one thing for sure:

She wasn't alone anymore.

And that gave her the strength to face whatever came next.