Zevki Sultan | 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐘

~ Chapter 24 ~

Once again I was standing before the doors of the Sultan's rooms, nervous, but I knew that I had work to be done. This wasn't the time to worry, this was the time to prepare for my next move. The purple handkerchief was in my pocket, and I slipped my hand in it to feel the delicate velvet. Royal velvet of course.

I was also holding in my other hand the big silver pitcher filled with red wine, my favorite kind of course. I inhaled it deeply, letting out a soft mmmm as the smell filled my nose and mind with the vineyards of Italy and Spain, and France and England. It was obviously rather tasty. 

It must be imported from Venice, I realized suddenly. There was a lot of trade, especially to do with the silk road, from Italy to the Ottoman Empire. Spain played some part in it as well, but Venetian merchants were known far and wide for their great trading skills and prowess.

But I was a bit frustrated the Sultan wasn't ready yet. How much longer would it take? I would eventually get bored of waiting and it would be easier to get back to my room to just go to sleep like a normal person.

Just review the plan, Francesca. 1. you come in with the pitcher. 2. you move forward, putting it down on a table. 3. Bow and Sultan or I take off the face scarf. 4. Make conversation. 5. Do halvet or at least try to be engaging in some manner.

A lot of steps in my head, but it was likely more fluid in action. The golden road that I had walked on, or so they called it, was finally having it's lamps lightened by the men with funny braids and hats, and my foot was almost tapping with impatience. 

"Are you Francesca Hatun?" A voice said from behind me. I turned around to see a bearded man of whom had a hard gaze which met my eyes.

I nodded. "Yes I am. And who might you be?"

"Pargali Ibrahim, I manage the Sultan's chambers and am his closest ally here."

I starting snorting at his sort of arrogance but disguised it into a cough.

"Pleased to meet you, Ibrahim."

"You are yet another one of the tons of women who are visiting the Sultan in the past month. Well good luck." Ibrahim turned to leave.

"Wait," I said worriedly, stopping him from leaving. "Out of how many women am I?"

I saw a flash of a cruel smile strike Ibrahim's face as his brows softened as he opened his mouth in a sad way to say, "Hürrem Sultan and Mahidevran Sultan never let anyone get past them for more than a night."

The way he was saying it made my eyes narrow a bit. It sounded like he was trying to discourage me from going down this path, the Golden Road, to seeing the Sultan. It sounded like he was siding with someone else's interests, and not that of the Sultan, or even mine.

I put on a bit of a of a sweet fake voice as I said, "Well then. I would hope that I, since I was chosen by the amazing Valide Sultan and her daughter Hatice, will succeed in my task of benefiting the dynasty and pleasing his majesties the Sultan."

"H-h-h-hatice Sultan?" Ibrahim stuttered, then shook his head. Something about the way he said it shocked me, and I realized that Pargali Ibrahim...May have feelings for the young Sultana?

But before I could inquire, he dashed off as fast as he came and I was left alone. Until a braided, tall-hat clad man came up to me.

"Francesca Hatun, Hünkarim Sultan Süleyman Khan Hazretdleri is waiting for you." I nodded, and whispered to him that he needed to open the door slowly for my presence. It was going to take a moment for the Sultan to see me.

I breathed in hard, and exhaled harshly as the two men holding both doors slowly unlatched them and the large wooden doors creaked slowly and I began, one tiny step at a time, moving towards the light at the end of the path, as I saw it. The path that would lead to greatness.