Conqueror | Murad III

chapter thirty-four

"Well, sister, you must tell me everything!" Giulia ignored all of the confused looks in the room, hugging my motionless body while speaking in Spanish. "Caterina?"

"My name is Hatice," I whispered with a shaky voice, all of my childhood memories flooding my mind. "Plase, can we do this later?"

She was confused but nodded, making me sigh in relief. "I do apologise, sultana. I was overwhelmed with emotion. Please, you were saying?"

"Yes, of course. These are my grandchildren," she pointed to the kids, who nodded their heads in recognition. Nurbanu went on to call them name by name, all thirteen of them. "And these are their mothers; Safiye, Hatice, Şah, Nazperver, and Fakriye." They all bowed when named, and I followed not soon after.

Bowing to my own sister was something I never thought I would do in this lifetime.

"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance," Giulia said, showing her dimples as she smiled. Her Turkish was very good, but with a thick accent. "Pray tell, which are your children?"

"Mine are Hümaşah Sultan," started Safiye, pride obvious in her eyes as she cut Fakriye off, "The sultan's heir, Şehzade Mehmed, Şehzade Mahmud and Ayşe Sultan."

"I am Fahriye's mother," continued Şah when she noticed I wasn't saying anything.

"Mine are Şehzade Bayezid and this future Şehzade growing in me." Cood Nazperver, caressing her heavily pregnant stomach.

"And mine is Beyhan Sultan." Finished off Fakriye, who was carrying her baby even though she should've been in the arms of a maid in the children's line.

"Hatice?"

"Yes, pardon. Mine are Mihrimah, Selim, Hanzade, Abdullah, Süleyman and Rukiye."

"How marvellous! I see the sultan has the luck of having multiple children, as did my own parents."

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

It had been two days since then, and the shock finally wore off. I never thought I would ever see my family again, and to be with my favourite person in the first twelve years of my life was a joy I never thought I would experience.

"So, you've had two sets of twins, but no twin sisters?" She asked with her usual joyfullness one afternoon over coffee in the gardens, overlooking my children. "How odd! Well, never say never."

"They are my pride and joy, I don't care about their gender."

"You seem happy."

"I am," I stopped looking at them and turned to look at her. "What about you Duchess?"

She laughed, "Oh, not the titles, Kadın," she teases me back. "I am content. Haven't had much luck with kids though."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"I can find happiness without them, I have plenty of nephews—but the Duke is getting restless. I can't help if they don't want to..." She shakes her head. "So, which is your favourite kid?"

I laughed and playfully smacked her arm. "A mother does not pick favourites."

"Oh, come on!" she teased, her dimples flashing.

Before I could answer, a shadow fell over us. Safiye stood nearby, her face neutral but her eyes alight with suspicion. "Hatice, the Sultan wishes to see you."

I rose immediately, smoothing my skirts. "Of course. Giulia, we'll speak later."

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙