CONQUEROR| MAGNIFICENT CENTURY|

CHAPTER 03

I felt my heart in my throat as the Kalfa helped me get ready for my night that I will be spending with the sultan. I closed my eyes as the curtains were pulled back by Darvis agha who told us to hurry up.

"She's done agha," the Kalfa said. I reopened my eyes and took a deep breath before walking out of the small room ignoring the girls who were watching me with jealousy as I walked passed them and through the harem towards the sultan's room.

When I walked out of the huge double oak doors I stopped feeling eyes on me, I looked up to see an elderly woman who I learned was the sultan's mother with a young woman who I wasn't sure who she was. I bowed to the valide who nodded before continuing behind Darvis feeling fear build up inside of me with each step I took through the golden hallway.

When we reached the sultan's doors however we saw a Kalfa standing there with a smirk on her face.

"What are you doing here Yasmine hatun?" Darvis asked stepping closer to the girl and I had a feeling that he didn't like her much.

"Fatma hatun wanted to meet his majesty," she said shrugging her shoulders and turning back to stare at the doors in front of her.

"Who's Fatma hatun?" I asked Diana Kalfa who helped me get ready earlier.

"The sultan's favorite" I nodded my head and turned to look at Darvis agha who was about to say something but stopped at the sound of the doors opening and storming feet coming closer. The brunette girl from yesterday stormed out of the sultan's wing glaring at everyone and anyone, when her eyes settled on me it felt like they were throwing daggers at me.

"Believe me he will come back to me," she said walking past me making sure to hit her shoulder with mine harshly making me wince but ignore her childish act and turn to look at Darvis who nodded and went in to inform the sultan of my arrival.

"Go on in," Darvis said pushing me forward. I took a deep breath and walked in with my head down staring at the floor. I bowed when I got I to the room and walked to the middle of the room and kneeled. Soon enough fancy robes came in my line of view blocking the covered floor. I took the silky material in between my fingers and kissed it. I closed my eyes as soft yet rough fingers touched my chin pulling me up from the floor to face the most beautiful man I've ever seen in my life, I was expecting a fat man in his late sixties yesterday when I danced but was shocked to see this young man in his mid-twenties staring right back at me as I danced to him.

"You look beautiful-" he said but stopped himself when he realized that he didn't know my name.

"Katerina" I whispered making him smiled and nod his head.

"Katerina" he nodded his head letting his left hand wander up to my arm and to my neck pushing a piece of my red hair back exposing the smooth skin under.

"You have quite unusual hair, Katerina," he said stepping even closer to me causing my heart to pick up its speed in beating.

"You have quit on unusual ways of living-" I stopped and raised my eyebrow at him.

"Mahmoud," he said smirking down at me who threw him an innocent smile.

"Mahmoud" I finished my sentence and at the same time tasted his name on my tongue for the first time in my life.

"Witty girl, I like you," he said wrapping his arm around my middle and drew me even closer leaving close to no space between us.

"Good because I like you too," I said running my fingers run up his arm and into his hair. He laughed throwing his head back before leaning forward and placed his forehead on mine like he was taunting me by not kissing me already.

"You look beautiful in this dress but I believe you would look even more beautiful without it," he said cockily.

"Really? I quite like myself in it" I pouted making him laugh again before smashing his lips to mine.

"Usually women tremble when they walk into my room yet you make witty comments and joke around you are truly unusual," he said breathing heavily.

"I'm one of a kind," I said cockily. He chuckled shaking his head.

"Besides whoever said I am not shaking" I gasped dramatically feeling at ease as he leaned in again and captured my lips with his again.

"You need to fix your manners woman," he said picking me up and walking over to his bed and laid me down on it.

"Why would I do that when you're having too much fun listening to it?" I asked pushing his robe off letting it fall behind him as he leaned down on top of me.

"You're right," he said before claiming my lips again right his.

"So Esmehan Sultan is your younger sister yet the older one between your sisters and she's from another mother," I said making him nod. The sultan insisted on teaching me the people in his family as we ate breakfast wanting to boast about them and I understand completely.

"Then comes Wards Sultan" I put a second finger up as he nodded and pulled out a piece of bread and spread honey on it and placed it between my parted lips, I sucked the piece in and chewed it happily before continuing.

"Then Yenisah sultan and lastly Gevehran sultan," I said taking a sip from the cup filled with juice.

"That's right" the sultan nodded just before the doors opened again and a guard agha walked in.

"Your majesty I apologize for interrupting but the valide sultan is asking for an audience with you and she says it's really important," the agha said bowing to Mahmoud.

"Katerina you go back to the harem, I'll see you later" I got up and bowed to him before leaving his room. When I walked out I saw the Valide sultan with who I assume was Yenisah Sultan standing there waiting for his majesty's permission to go in, I bowed to them getting back nods before walking back to the harem with the two aghas that waited for me in front of the door all night.

The second I walked in thought the harem doors I was flooded with questions which I was saved from by Diana hatun who pulled me away to get me moved into one of the favorite's rooms and mine was just beside Fatma who was already sharing with another girl but I was all alone which I preferred and I hoped to stay like this.