The other woman

The servants

After the room incident things were quiet a month and a half had passed , I was officially 4-5 months along now,İbrahim paşa was to head to Egypt to calm the rebellion. Leaving the sultana alone but we would all visit her lots to take care of her. In that time aya had been searching for the perfect aga as per my request. " sultana I believe I found the perfect man for the job" she said to me one morning while I was feeding dan. " Very good aya who is it ?" I asked setting dan down in his cradle. "There is a eunuch here called baris (bear is that how you pronounce it it's Turkish and means peaceful)  aga he is very good and extremely smart and fits all criteria he is also close to sumbul as well " she says. I nod and smile " good tell him I wish to see him soon" I say. " of course sultana I can bring him now if you'd like?" She asks. "Well there is no time like the present please bring him " I say nodding. She bows and then goes off to find him. I call for rasha and maya . " rasha bring the şehzade dan and his cradle I want him out here please and maya please go get the sharbet and fruit aya ordered this morning as well some lokum " I call out. " of course sultana" they both reply. Rasha brings dan out while maya carried the cradle once dan is put inside the cradle she bows then rushes off to the kitchen. Rasha sits down next to the cradle and rocks it while I sit by the window and reading a book I had asked for.I had been meaning to ask Ibrahim pasha for more books the one I was reading was on the Greeks, but I wished for more some in Latin ,Spanish ,French maybe even a bible it had been years since I held one. I want to continue to learn about the world even if I couldn't see it. I doubted I would ever see England again but to read about it would be lovely I should write to Anne and ask her to send some books as well. A knock at the door stopped my train of thought and I looked up I nodded to rasha to open the door. It was maya returning with my drink and food. " thank you maya girls help your selves " I say motioning to the food they thank me and then take some food and sit down and rock the cradle and talk to them selves. I go for figs and grapes. " what type of sharbet and lokum did you get ?" I ask. "For the sharbet it's lemon so it's a bit sour for the lokum it lime Orange and lemon , seker aga said those are the one he has been noticing you liking this time around so he makes sure he has an abundance of them ready " she says smiling. I laugh " good good remind me to give him some gold next time you go or maybe I'll come down myself give them a surprise " I say. " very good sultana " she says. I pour myself some of the cool drink and take a nice big sip, she was right it was a bit sour but I like it. I eat more fruit and some delights and return to my book. After some time another knock of the door comes and rasha and maya both stand up, rays heads to the door and opens it to see who it is. She motions for the person to come in. I set down my book and motion for maya to stand near me. Aya had returned with a aga I presumed names baris. She bows and smiles " sultana may I present baris aga , baris aga you know Sofia sultan " she says motioning the man forward. He looked about my age so very young with big brown eyes and hair to match his skin tan from the sun he wore the regular clothes or enuch.He immediately bows and then kneels. " it's an honour to be in your present my lady , you shine like the sun "he says smiling. "Thank you baris aga, aya has told me you are everything I require you know who goes in and out of the privy chamber and I need someone who will be loyal to me and my family till the end of my days , someone who is willing to do anything for me " I say. " of course sultana ,aya hatun has informed me of everything you require and I am willing to give my life up for you and your family!" He says smiling. I laugh then smile " good I'm glad to hear it baris I'm happy to have you in my service, as my family grows so will my services " I say rubbing my bump. " of course sultana I desire to serve you forever" he says. I hold out my hand and he comes forward and kisses my hand then the bottom of my robe. He slowly backs up to his original spot and smiles. " may I see the prince "he asks smiling. I nod and he bends down to take a close look ." Mashallah he looks like a strong prince very smart and knowledgeable he will make his mother proud" he says. I smile " you may hold him " I say. He looks up shocked and then smiles and picks up my son. " indeed my şehzade I will make sure you grow up well and strong I can teach you whatever I know that you desire to learn, oh how much fun we can have, I can't wait till your old enough this will be so much fun !" He says smiling. "Indeed you will be by his side as he grows you may one day be taking him to and from classes baris " I say " I would be honoured sultana " he says. I nod and he continued to rock my son and talk to him finally he sets him down. " I'll be back later sultana if you need anything " he says bowing . " well sultana ? Did I find a good one " aya asks. " yes I believe so aya he seems determined and good very well done" I say reaching into my belt for a coin purse. I through it at her and she catches it. " you girls if you need anything start talking to baris he is part of us now get him up to speed , he should know everything about us and me " I say reaching for a lemon candy . " of course sultana " they respond as one. I turn to rasha and motion to her to come forward towards me. She sits down next to me and I motion her to move closer. " rasha I need to be sure that baris won't turn for money, find a girl someone new someone that's would be unknown or invisible, I'll give you the money to give to her and have her try and get baris to turn on me I demand loyalty and if he fails he is gone do you understand ?" I ask. " yes sultana I'll find someone " she says. I nod and let he return to her pillow. I know baris had gotten use to aya but he had never seen or known rasha or maya, so rasha was a good choice. I turned to rasha " soon very soon please " I say. She nodded and continued to sew aya looked confused as did maya but they both shrugged and continued their work. "Sultana sumbul aga told me to tell you some new silks had come in and he had recommended the colours for you they will delivered tonight , one is emerald green,  a passionately red silk, purple and blue as well as a soft blue and mint." Aya said looking up . " very good I'm surprised he didn't send every colour of the rainbow " I say picking up my book. " well sultana do you like him ?" Aya asks turning toward me. " yes I do aya he seems like a fine man " I say. " any news from anne ?" I ask. " none sultana , I'm sorry , but pasha says while he is gone, his majesty and you will be visiting your father, or you will at least " she says. I frown then smile at them mentioned  visit. " yes papa hasn't met my darling , your grandpa is wanting to meet you my darling last time I saw him you kicked his hand, this time he can hold you , and maybe meet your father " I say Turing to my son. " Mia can you come here please ?" I call out she was in the back cleaning the Jewelry and gown. " yes sultana " she says coming out. Mia was a dear but I got the sense she wasn't happy and desired more for herself. " are you happy with me or do you desire something else ?" I ask as she bows. " I am very much happy with you sultana " she says. I raise my eye brow and sigh " Mia if you were given to option to marry or given the option to be the kings favourite what would you choose?" I ask her. At this point the girls all look up at her. " uh well I would probably choose to marry becuase their is no way to the sultan " she says frowning. I get a sense of a lie from her but I don't act on it for she could be truly telling the truth. " what about you girls ?" I say turning to them. "I would marry " " me too"are the responses from rasha and maya. Aya just look at me "I would stay and serve you " she says smiling. " good I'm glad girls and when the times done I will release you to marry " I say. " thank you sultana , and Mia it's good you choose to marry, for if you desired the sultan well we would all gladly make sure you didn't get there , his majesty can have anyone he desires one only needs to catch his eye , so if you desire him which you don't , we would gladly cast you out," rasha says smiling . " indeed I would even go tell hurrem sultan she what she would do to you ?" Maya says smiling. Mia looks at them both terror written all over her faces he swallows hard. " but we won't need to do that becuase you plan on marrying and having children with your future husband " aya says smiling at her needle work. " indeed " I say siping a cup of juice smiling. "Return to your work dear " I say. Once she is gone the girls all giggle. " I've noticed when his majesty visits she wears low cut gowns trying to catch his eye , better to call her out now and know her intentions " I say. " yes she has but if she desires to marry that's good , we will keep an eye on her either way" aya says. Rasha and maya nod.  "Aya order her some new gowns and any low cut ones you find have them either destroyed or altered, his majesty still desires me in my state but if she get any ideas while I'm with child I want them nipped in the bud, got it , maya keep and eye on her if she orders any risky dresses find out and make sure they are given to me she may be young but I won't have a traitor " I say. The girls nod and them continue to sew. My main ladies knew better if you joined me don't try anything stupid we may be concubines but I'm his and I won't have another to fight against. In a harem you have options serve the favourites and the sultana and becomes their everything, or becomes his majesty's favourite and become his everything his wife his sultana . One must choose carefully. I didn't have a choice the universe chose for me and gave the most precious gifts on  the planet. I rub my belly and smile at my son. Power is something that must be dealt with carefully and controlled.