Conqueror | Murad III

chapter two

"Of course, Hatice will be next," Nurbanu commanded, watching as the Kalfas organized the nightly visits with precision. "Then Defne, and I suppose Safiye, since it will be Thursday."

My heart pounded. It was finally happening. I felt Gülbahar's gaze on me, her subtle thumbs-up offering encouragement. She knew how much this meant to me, though I hadn't dared to tell her my full ambitions. I wanted more than Murad's attention—I wanted to belong, to have a family, and to be cherished. To never be a pawn again.

"Şemsirushar," Nurbanu addressed the girl who had briefly broken Murad's obsession with Safiye, "you will return after Safiye's night. And all of you, make sure to be examined by the midwife regularly." Her eyes rested on me, a determined glint in her gaze. "One of you will give me my next grandchild."

We bowed and followed Nurbanu's signal to leave. As we stepped out, a raised voice echoed down the hall. Safiye stood near the aghas, a stark contrast in her slightly darker dress, stripped of her usual jewellery. She loved adorning herself—rings, earrings, intricate crowns that shone like stars. Today, her appearance was bare, a reminder of the shifting tides.

When Safiye's gaze landed on us, especially on Şemsirushar, it was filled with a fit of fierce anger, as though we'd stolen something sacred. I lowered my head, hoping to avoid her wrath, but she stormed toward us, her words laced with fury. "You...you bunch of whores!" Her voice trembled with anger. "You won't get away with this!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Nurbanu's sharp voice cut through the tension as she reappeared, glaring at Safiye. "What do you think you are doing, Safiye?"

"You can't treat me like this! I am the mother of your only grandchild!" Safiye shot back, defiance filling her voice. "Did you forget her as easily as you forgot me?!"

Nurbanu's face darkened. "Everyone, out." Her tone left no room for question. We quickly obeyed, slipping away as the furious exchange continued behind closed doors.

Returning to the harem, I tried to refocus on my chores. Today, that meant ferrying laundry to and from the washers—a hefty task considering the mountains of linens. The rhythmic motions helped soothe my nerves, grounding me in the ordinary tasks of harem life.

But a faint sob interrupted my routine as I passed one of the lesser-used corridors. I followed the sound, abandoning the laundry—they were dirty anyway—to find a young girl huddled in a shadowed corner, her shoulders shaking with grief.

"Hey," I murmured, kneeling beside her. "What's wrong, sweet girl?"

Through sobs, she stammered, "They...they killed my parents. My mother, I..."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. How can I help her? "I'm so sorry, darling." I put an arm around her shoulders. "It's painful, I know. But they're your guardian angels now, watching over you always."

"But they're dead!" Her tear-streaked face turned toward me, pain radiating from her eyes.

"Love never dies," I whispered softly, hoping to comfort her. "Even if they're not here, they'll live forever through your love for them."

Her tearful gaze met mine, a flicker of hope lighting her expression. "Truly?"

"Truly." I offered a small, encouraging smile. "They're in your heart now, and no harm can touch them there. And you can make them proud by finding happiness again."

"But how could I be happy here?" She wiped her tears, looking around at the unfamiliar walls.

I gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. "I'll make sure of it. No one here will hurt you, I promise."

"What's your name?"

"Hatice," I replied, smiling gently at her.

"I'm Nadya," she sniffled. "Do you like your name?"

I laughed softly. "I don't hate it," I said, and she gave a shy smile in return, her tears beginning to fade.

‧͙⁺˚･༓☾　　☽༓･˚⁺‧͙

Hours later, I waited outside the prince's chamber, heart pounding. Gülbahar exchanged a supportive glance with me, her eyes shining with pride.

"Hatice?" The guard's voice finally called, and I nodded a bit too eagerly. "Come in."

I stepped forward, knees weakening as I entered Murad's luxurious room, its grandeur lost in the haze of my nerves. I knelt, barely able to catch my breath. I took his robe in my trembling hands and kissed it as I'd been taught. "Rise," he instructed.

I looked up, meeting his gaze, and my heart skipped a beat. He was even more striking than I remembered. "What is your name?" He asked.

"Hatice, Your Highness."

He hummed, and something like recognition sparked in his eyes. "You're my Valide's shadow, aren't you?" I bit my lip, nodding in silent acceptance of the title. Would I ever outgrow that?

"You're beautiful," he said, almost as an afterthought, and leaned in. Before I could fully comprehend, his lips brushed against mine, and my heart soared. For that brief moment, I felt like I was floating.

The rest of the night felt like a dream, even though I didn't sleep.

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