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...
"Your Royal Highnesses," I bowed before Esmehan and Gevherhan, later bowing to Nurbanu. Her daughters were here to have our monthly meetings concerning our shared charities.
"Hüsniye, it is nice to see you," Esmehan smiled at me, motioning to me to sit beside her. "How are the children?"
"Very excited to see their father again after so long. As am I."
We spoke for a while about the charities we supported—schools, hospitals, orphanages—but I found my mind drifting. The weight of my thoughts felt heavy, and though the conversation flowed around me, I remained distant, disconnected from the words. I couldn't help but think about the conversations I had been having with the sultan in his letters—his promises, the plans he had for the future, and the uncertainty about this guest he mentioned. The uncertainty gnawed at me, leaving me restless.
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"Hüsniye, is everything ok?" The soft voice of Nurbanu broke through my thoughts. I looked up, startled to find all eyes upon me. "Usually you participate much more."
I blinked, a little embarrassed by my distracted state. "Yes, Valide, I'm just..." I trailed off, searching for the right words.
"Yes?" She urged gently, her expression filled with concern.
I swallowed, unsure whether to voice the thoughts that had been swirling in my mind all afternoon. "Never mind, it's silly."
"Come on, Hüsniye, you can tell us," Gevherhan said, placing a hand on my arm. She was always the first to encourage me, always the first to offer comfort. "You're part of the family."
I drew a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Do not get me wrong, I love doing charities with all of you. You all have such big hearts and know this world so well, but sometimes... I wish I could do something on my own. Something that shows the people that their haseki cares for them—not just through the sultan's will, but with my own hands."
The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of my words hung in the air. Esmehan's face softened with understanding, while Nurbanu studied me closely, her brow furrowed in thought.
"You'd need the sultan's permission,"
"I wanted your blessing," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh, Hüsniye, what a marvelous idea!" Esmehan's eyes lit up, her enthusiasm infectious. "Of course, you have our blessing, right?" She looked to Nurbanu and Gevherhan, who nodded in agreement.
"I for one cannot wait to see what you come up with," Nurbanu added, her smile genuine and warm. "You have a kind heart, Hüsniye. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be magnificent."
"I was thinking of starting small—perhaps a feeding hall," I said, the words beginning to take shape in my mind. "I could finance it with my own savings. It wouldn't require much, and it would mean so much to the people."
