Conqueror | Murad III

chapter fifty

"You really filled her cage with snakes?" Gülbahar asked, her mouth agape. I nodded, hiding my smirk with my cup.

"They're actually not venous, but she doesn't need to know that."

"I feel like a proud mum," Raziye commented. "But be sure not to lose your pure heart."

"Don't worry," I caressed my belly, "I would never make my baby pay for my sins. Besides, it is the sultan who will deliver the final blow. Who can argue with his will?"

"This event will go down in history... not only is Safiye the mother of the heir, but Ayşe Hümaşah is a member of the dynasty! Daughter of Mihrimah Sultan, the favourite granddaughter of Süleyman the Magnificent, the only Hamınsultan to ever be granted the Sultan title..."

I arched my eyebrows, "Bahar!"

"What? I'm more than a pretty face, I know my history."

"Don't make her feel bad, she's pregnant." Raziye playfully smacked her arm. Gülbahar pretended to be hurt and she left the room, claiming that she needed to get checked by a medic.

"Raziye," she hummed, turning towards me. "This is the right thing, isn't it?"

"Of course. You said it yourself; it is the sultan's will."

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

The tension in the air was palpable, thick with the scent of burning incense and the weight of impending justice. I stood beside Murad, my presence silent but solid, as the room grew colder with each passing moment. The executioners, masked and unblinking, stood at attention, waiting for the signal.

Safiye and Ayşe Hümaşah were dragged before us. Their faces were a mixture of defiance and fear, but neither one spoke. Not yet.

The sound of the heavy door shutting behind them echoed like a death knell. My pulse quickened, but I forced my breath to remain steady, my eyes locked on Murad, whose gaze was colder than the marble beneath our feet. His jaw was set tight, his expression unreadable. But I knew him too well to believe there was any hesitation.

Safiye's eyes flickered at me, her lips curling into a twisted sneer. "So this is the price for your ambition, Hüsniye?" she spat, the venom in her voice cutting through the tense silence. "Your beloved sultan will not save you."

I didn't flinch. I had been prepared for this moment for weeks. This was not just a matter of power or revenge; it was justice for the dishonour they had brought upon me, upon my position as Murad's haseki and legal wife.

Murad's voice was low, cold as steel, when he finally spoke. "You are right, Safiye. This is not about my ambition, nor my love for her. This is about what you've done to her, the harm you've caused, the lies you've spread. You conspired against my wife, against the very foundation of my reign. There is no forgiveness for that."

Safiye's eyes flickered, a flicker of fear breaking through her bravado. But it was too late for her. She had crossed a line from which there was no return.

Ayşe Hümaşah, who had been silent until now, spoke next, her voice trembling. "You... you cannot do this. I am of royal blood. I am the daughter of Mihrimah Sultan, the granddaughter of Süleyman the Magnificent. You cannot—"

Murad turned to her, his gaze unflinching, and for a moment, there was an air of finality in the room that could not be ignored. "Your bloodline will not save you. You betrayed my trust, and the trust of my haseki. Your treachery cannot be overlooked."

With one swift motion, Murad gestured to the executioners. The sound of their boots hitting the stone floor was the last thing either of them heard before the ropes tightened around their necks.

I stood there, still as a statue, my heart pounding in my chest. I had no tears for them. Not anymore. They had threatened everything I had worked for, and now they were being erased from the very pages of history.

The room seemed to hold its breath as life slowly drained from them. The once-proud women who had once held so much power now lay motionless at Murad's feet. Their bodies, limp and cold, sent a chill through the room.

Murad's eyes lingered on the lifeless forms, his expression hardening. "Let this be a lesson to all who would dare threaten the stability of my reign, or the safety of my haseki," he said, his voice unwavering. "I will not tolerate betrayal. Not from anyone."

I looked at him then, his sharp features illuminated by the dim light, his silhouette imposing. He was the sultan. And he had made his decision. The execution was not just a punishment for them; it was a message to anyone who would dare challenge his authority, his love, or his empire.

The weight of it settled in my chest, and yet, there was a part of me that felt... strangely free. Murad had chosen me. At this moment, his will was my own, and we stood together as the rulers of this empire. The traitors had been silenced. The empire was safe once more.

But I knew this victory was not without its cost. There would always be others who sought to tear us apart, to undermine the strength of our bond. And I would be ready.

I turned my gaze to Murad, my voice barely a whisper. "You did what was necessary."

His eyes softened for just a moment, the steel in them melting into something warmer. "For you, Hüsniye, I would do anything."

I nodded, my heart swelling with a quiet pride. His strength was my strength. And together, we would shape the future.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry for the delay...

Alexa, play No One Mourns the Wicked