Caterina spent her whole life being underlooked and misunderstood.
Hatice spent her whole teenage years chasing a man who loved another.
But Hüsniye became more than a pawn. She became a queen. She conquered the heart of the Ottoman Sultan, the hear...
The gilded doors to Safiye's chambers slammed behind me, sealing me into the familiar yet suffocating atmosphere of her private quarters. She was pacing, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders in a dishevelled mess that mirrored her mood. As soon as she spotted me, she froze, her piercing eyes narrowing.
"You took your time," she said, her voice cutting like a blade. "Were you counting your precious moments with her?"
I inhaled deeply, trying to keep my composure. "I came as soon as I was able. You know my responsibilities, Safiye."
"Responsibilities," she scoffed, throwing her hands up. "To the empire, I understand. But when did she become your responsibility? Or does birthing your bastard brats earn her privileges that I don't have?"
I bristled at her words. "Mind your tongue, Safiye. Those children are my blood and deserve their father's presence."
"And what of our sons?" she shot back, her voice rising. "What of Mehmed? Mahmud? Or have you already decided they're unworthy compared to Hatice's perfect little prince?"
"That's enough!" My voice echoed through the chamber, startling even me. "Do not pit my children against each other. I will not tolerate such disrespect."
She laughed bitterly, advancing toward me with fire in her eyes. "Disrespect? Oh, forgive me, Şehzade, for daring to question your newfound fondness for playing house with that whore of a woman."
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"She is no whore," I said firmly, my jaw tightening. "Hatice is the mother of my children, and she has done nothing to warrant your scorn."
"She exists," Safiye hissed. "That's enough. She stole your attention, your time. She has turned you into a stranger in these chambers."
My patience wore thin. "You know as well as I do that a man must treat his women fairly," I said, my voice low but deliberate. "The Prophet Muhammad himself instructed this. You should know better than to question a matter of justice."
"Fairly?" she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "Do not lecture me about fairness, Murad. Was it fair when you stopped coming to me, when you left me while she basks in your affection?"
"This is not about affection," I countered, though her words cut deep. "It is about balance. You have always had my love, Safiye. But that does not give you the right to demand all of me at the expense of others."
"Your love?" She laughed again, the sound more derisive than before. "Do not insult me. Whatever love you had for me died the moment you let her worm her way into your heart."
Her accusation hung in the air, heavy and unspoken truths swirling between us. Perhaps she wasn't entirely wrong. My feelings had shifted, though I wasn't sure how much of it was love and how much was the solace Hatice provided—a solace I didn't find in Safiye's chaos.
"I came here to spend time with you, Safiye," I said finally, my voice softening despite the anger still simmering beneath. "But you make it impossible when all you do is tear others down."
"Then go," she said coldly, turning her back to me. "Go to your precious Hatice. Let her soothe your tired soul. But remember this, Murad—when she betrays you, when she fails you, don't come crawling back to me. I won't be waiting."
Her dismissal was final, her rage an impenetrable wall. I left her chambers without another word, the weight of her fury pressing down on me as I made my way back through the palace halls.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
When I arrived at Hatice's chambers, I found her sitting quietly by the window, embroidering a delicate pattern onto a pale silk cloth. The sight of her—serene, poised, yet so unassuming—was a balm to the storm Safiye had unleashed.
She looked up as I entered, her warm smile like a lantern in the dark. "Şehzadem," she greeted softly while bowing, setting aside her work.
I sat down across from her, the tension in my chest easing ever so slightly. "What are you working on?"
"A gift," she said simply, her fingers brushing over the fabric. "For Hanzade. It's a small thing, but I hope she will cherish it someday."
Her voice held no bitterness, no demand—just quiet devotion. It was a stark contrast to the fiery chaos I had just left behind, and I found myself lingering in her presence, unwilling to return to the weight of my duties just yet.
"Do you ever feel... burdened?" I asked suddenly, surprising even myself with the question.
She tilted her head, her eyes searching mine. "Burdened?"
"By this life. By its demands."
Her expression softened, and she folded her hands in her lap. "At times, yes. But I remind myself that every challenge, every sacrifice, is for our children. For their future."
Her words struck a chord deep within me. Safiye's accusations still echoed in my mind, but Hatice's quiet strength drowned them out. Here was a woman who sought not power or control, but stability—for herself, for me, and for our children.
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As the night deepened, I stayed with Hatice longer than I had intended, the conversation flowing with an ease I hadn't known in years. And yet, even as I left her chambers, my heart remained a battlefield, torn between the fiery passion of my past and the steady warmth of my present.
The balance I sought felt further away than ever.
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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 2K+ READS
Hatice and Murad are so 'Daylight' I love them sm.
