Conqueror | Murad III

chapter twenty-eight

It was a cold day in December when it happened. Abdullah had begun taking unsure steps, his chubby legs wobbly, while Süleyman played with his sister Hanzade, both of them giggling over a toy horse. Selim, ever the sensitive one, was glued to my side, complaining that he didn't have any brothers to play with, while Mihrimah and Rukiye amused themselves with my tiaras, rearranging them like the princesses they were in their own right.

That's when Murad entered my chambers, his face a mask of devastation. He didn't even react when the children shouted "Father!" and rushed into his arms. He stood motionless, a shadow of himself.

"Şehzadem?" I called, my voice laced with concern. Still, he was fixated on the rug beneath him, as though the very fibres held the answers to questions no one had asked. "Murad?" I repeated, my voice more insistent this time.

Raziye glanced at me, understanding my unspoken command. She gently guided the children towards the other room. "Children! Let's go see your sister Fahriye," she suggested, her voice soft, a distraction from the tension in the air.

Once we were alone, Murad finally looked at me, his eyes filled with grief. "My father," he whispered, his voice trembling, "He... slipped. He fell... and..." He took a shaky breath, clearly struggling with the weight of the words. "He's dead, Hatice'm."

"What?" My voice was barely a whisper, a sharp ache settling in my chest. Murad handed me a letter, its edges wet with tears. It was written by Nurbanu Sultan, and in it, she described the accident—a fall that had taken the Sultan's life in mere moments.

I hugged Murad fiercely, feeling his sorrow become my own. His tears fell silently, and I knew the burden of this loss was as much a personal blow as it was a political one. "We must go to the capital," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

"Will you come with me?" he asked, his eyes filled with hope and despair.

I nodded, knowing I could rely on Gülbahar and Raziye to care for the children in my absence. The urgency of the situation eclipsed everything else.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

The capital was both familiar and foreign to me now. The once-thriving city seemed cold and distant, as if it no longer recognized me for who I once was. I was no longer a simple consort; I was the Ikinci Kadin, the consort of the next Sultan.

I glanced at Murad, who now looked every bit the ruler he was destined to become. His posture was regal, his presence commanding. It was as if, in this brief moment, he had shed the man I knew for someone greater.

We snuck through hidden corridors to reach Nurbanu Sultan's chambers. There, she was, clutching several letters to her chest, tears staining her cheeks. Her eyes met Murad's, and she rushed to embrace him.

"Validem..." Murad whispered, his voice trembling with unspoken words.

"Murad, my son," Nurbanu said, squeezing him tightly. I stood back, lowering my head in respect, letting them share this moment without my intrusion. "You must take the throne. Quickly."

Murad exhaled, his voice was soft but steady. "Who knows about this?"

"No one," she replied quickly. "I had to wait for you to arrive."

"Well, we're here."

"We? Don't tell me you brought that..." She froze when she saw me. The surprise was evident in her eyes, followed by a look of relief. "Hatice!" she exclaimed, rushing to embrace me as well. "I'm so happy to see you, my darling girl."

I kissed her hand, pressing it to my forehead in respect. "My beloved teacher, I wish we had met under happier circumstances. I am so sorry for your loss."