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 night was quiet, save for the distant sound of the wind rattling against the palace windows. I stood in my chambers, staring at the flickering flames of the brazier. The warmth it offered felt hollow, unable to penetrate the chill that had settled deep within me. The events of the past weeks replayed in my mind—Safiye's exile, her venomous accusations, and Hatice's unyielding strength.
Safiye. Once, the mere thought of her had made my heart race. I remembered the first time I saw her, a bright-eyed Albanian beauty who captivated me with her sharp wit and unyielding confidence. She had been unlike anyone I'd ever known, a storm that swept through my life with an intensity that was impossible to ignore. For a time, I had believed it was love—a love that consumed, burned, and blinded me to the warning signs.
But storms do not nurture; they destroy. Safiye's ambition had quickly overshadowed whatever affection I had for her. She had always wanted more—more power, more influence, more control. Her love was conditional, a tool she wielded as skillfully as any weapon. I had ignored the whispers at first, dismissing them as jealousy from others in the harem. But over the years, her manipulations became impossible to overlook. She sought to divide my family, to pit mother against son, wife against husband. Her charm had masked her true nature for too long.
I should have acted sooner. For years, I had allowed her to remain in the palace, thinking it was best for our children. But in truth, I had been a coward, unwilling to face the storm head-on. Hatice had been the one to show me the truth—not through words, but through her unwavering loyalty and quiet strength. She had seen what I refused to see, and when I finally opened my eyes, it was too late to undo the damage Safiye had caused.
And then there was Hatice.
I closed my eyes, letting the memory of her face wash over me. Hatice. My anchor in the chaos of this life. Where Safiye had been a storm, Hatice was a steady flame, warm and constant. She didn't demand my love; she earned it through her kindness, her patience, and her resilience. She was the mother of my children, the woman who shared my burdens without ever asking for more than I could give.
I had hurt her—I knew that. The demands of my position had forced me into the arms of others, consorts who sought their place in the hierarchy of the harem. But none of them were Hatice. None of them could match the depth of her love or the quiet understanding that passed between us without words. She was my refuge, the one person who saw me not as a sultan but as a man.
My fingers brushed the edge of my desk, where a letter from Hatice lay. She had written it months ago, a simple note reminding me to take care of my health during the long council meetings. It was such a small gesture, yet it spoke volumes. Hatice never asked for my attention; she gave hers freely, expecting nothing in return.
How could I ever repay her for that?
The thought of losing her was unbearable. Safiye had tried to drive a wedge between us, spreading lies and sowing doubt. But Safiye's exile was proof that Hatice's strength had prevailed. She had stood tall, unshaken by the venom directed at her. She had fought not for herself, but for me, for our children, and for the dynasty.
Hatice was my past, my present, and my future. And no matter how many consorts shared my chambers, no matter how many sons or daughters were born from those fleeting unions, Hatice would always be the love of my life. She was my partner in this treacherous game of power, the one person I could trust implicitly. Without her, I was incomplete.
The wind howled again, and I turned toward the window. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light over the palace gardens. Somewhere out there, Hatice was likely tending to our children, her gentle presence a balm to their young hearts.
I made a silent vow to myself: I would protect her as fiercely as she had protected me. Whatever storms came our way, we would face them together. Safiye's shadow no longer loomed over us, but I knew the battles were far from over. Still, with Hatice by my side, I felt a rare and fleeting sense of peace.
For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to smile. Hatice had shown me what true love was—a love that endured, even in the face of betrayal and adversity. And for that, I would be eternally grateful.
The wind howled again, and I turned toward the window. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light over the palace gardens. Somewhere out there, Hatice was likely tending to our children, her gentle presence a balm to their young hearts.
I let out a long breath, knowing the decisions I'd made and those yet to come. This week, I would leave for war, leading the empire into another battle. And yet, the thought of being away from her was a greater agony than the uncertainty of the battlefield.
Hatice had always been my anchor, my north star in a sea of chaos. Now, more than ever, I knew what I must do. Before I returned victorious, she would no longer be simply my companion, the woman I adored. She would be elevated to her rightful place—my Haseki Sultan. My queen.
As I prepared to leave, I resolved that this would be her reward, her crown, for the unwavering love and light she had brought into my life. She deserved no less.
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I once believed love would be black and white, But it's golden.
Last chapter with our protagonist being Hatice, ready for Haseki Hüsniye Sultan?
