Zevki Sultan | 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐘

~ Chapter 37 ~

It is now the holy month of Ramadan in Islam. Even though I hadn't told anyone yet, I had secretly converted in the privacy of my rooms with the assistance of Nigar Kalfa and declared my utmost love and devotion to Allah, and follow the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, and I was fully committed to fasting and the other pillars of our beautiful religion. 

I haven't ate anything for breakfast today, nor do I intend to. Even though they are still preparing food in the kitchen, it is solely for the Christian, and non Muslim servants and slaves who aren't subject to our fasting time.

My stomach was rumbling, but I ignored it. Love and religion take sacrifices, and Zevki Sultan is willing to go to any lengths to fulfill and uphold such burdens. After all, for a wealthy woman such as myself, it was a mere trifle to do so.

"Zevki Sultana, a note from Sultan Süleyman!" Feride rushes into my room and announces.

I sit up straight. "Well what are you waiting for, read it!"

Feride unravels the scroll and begins to read. "To my beloved Zevki Sultana, I would like to extend my invitation to yourself to join me and the Ottoman Dynasty family in celebrating the breaking of the Ramadan fast tonight, at sundown."

"Ooh!" I exclaim excitedly, "This will be amazing. A first sort of family gathering."

Aysel comes in at the moment and sits beside me. "What is it Sultana?"

"Sultan Süleyman invited me to come break fast with him on this holy night, and presumably Valide and Hatice."

Aysel clapped her hands. "That's really nice! But you aren't bringing Murad and Raziye?"

"I suppose not, the note didn't mention it. But we can go one night without having to take them everywhere, right?"

We both laughed in agreement as Feride rolled up the scroll. 

"So Sultana, shall I go prepare you an outfit?"

"Hmmm..." I tapped my chin. "Could you bring me several options? Preferably the most vivacious, but not blinding clothes, accessories too, and a veil would be nice."

"Alright, I will go to the tailors right away for clothes." Feride rushed off, leaving myself and Aysel simply sitting there, staring off into the distance, till I decided to get up and go visit Gülfem Hatun, because there wasn't much else to do in my rooms.

Gülfem wasn't there unfortunately, so I resorted to simply walking slowly back towards my rooms, but then I decided to walk by some of the lesser favorites rooms, more specifically, Hürrem. 

No maids were standing near, so I decided to listen in on my own, leaning by the door.

"What do you mean, you stupid fool? There's no harem party, and nothing for me to do tonight?" Barked a voice I recognized as Hürrem's. I had to suppress a little chuckle as I listened in more.

"I d-d-don't know w-w-what you want me to do, Hürrem." Gulnihal barely responded to her, and I had to get closer to hear. I felt bad. It sounded like Hürrem wasn't treating her well, and for that she'd probably pay.

"Get out, before I have guards throw you in the dungeon."

I was tempted to reveal myself and put her in her place, because she had no such power, but before Gulnihal could see me on her way out, I dashed away and back to my rooms, where Feride was already waiting with some outfit options for me.

"The first one, a blue dress." It was a honestly too plain dress for me. It wasn't even silk, it was simply cotton, and I get that Feride wanted to offer me a neutral and not as outstanding option too as it was a holy night, but it was honestly doing me bad.