Sultan Mahmoud was the most lustful sultan the Othman empire has ever known since it rose from nothing to the strong dynasty it is now. He was a womanizer and the whole dynasty knew that but they didn't care as long as he was leaving for campaigns t...
"Prince Isa passed away and the sultan is afraid for Ahmet so he wants you to leave the castle as fast as possible to Edirne," The harem agha said. I felt my heart clench for the small prince, he didn't deserve to die at all.
"You will be accompanied by Hatice sultan and Nuricihan sultan in the carriage" he finished before leaving. I put on my headscarf and watched as Daphne packed as fast she could.
I can't leave without saying goodbye to my beloved. He can't leave the castle and that broke my heart. He has to stay in his castle and be with his people during this hard time of a new plague spread around the capital.
I walked out of my room and down the harem making all of the girls jump and bow to me. I was the mother of the crown prince now. Isa was out of the way and no one was before my Ahmet to the throne. I was of higher status than Leyla but I couldn't find happiness inside of me right now. A child died, an innocent soul left us.
I walked down the Golden road and wiping a stray tear off my cheek before walking into Mahmoud's room with a frown. He looked just as sad when he saw me dressed and only missing my coat and ready to leave.
"I came to say goodbye" I whispered. I walked over to him and pulled him in for a hug. I was holding on to him for dear life not wanting to let go. I felt if I let go he will slip right through my fingers.
"I will miss you my Neslihan " he whispered in my ear placing a kiss to the side of my head holding me back just as tightly. He ran his fingers through my fire-colored hair one last time before we pulled away.
"I will send you letters every time I can" he nodded and pulled me closer closing the gap between our lips. I bowed and left his room with a heavy heart wanting nothing more than to turn around and lock myself in his room and not leave.
I walked back to my room where everything was now packed and ready to leave. Daphne was fully dressed and so was Ahmet Cem. She helped me put on my blue coat to protect me from the harsh cold outside. I picked Ahmet up and we walked down to the harem where the valida and all of her daughters were standing, waiting.
Hatice followed suit and we all left for the gardens where we will be taking our carriages from, much safer.
"I will miss this castle while we're away," I said as I looked at the castle one last time feeling much heartbreak.
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Mahmoud was still in there and maybe he was endangered of getting an infection but he refused to leave and wanted to stay with his people.
I got into the carriage and on one side with Daphne beside me and Hatice sat in front of me with her maid, Ayse, sitting beside her.
"Do you think we will return soon?" Hatice asked bouncing her daughter who was at a fussy age and only wants to play.
"Hopefully," I said looking out of the window with a sleeping Ahmet in my arms.
"Leyla refused to leave the castle," Hatice said earning my attention.
"I know and Mahmoud is not very happy about it but he won't say anything because he knows she's mourning her son" I explained knowing she won't know this deep information since she doesn't see him much.
"I feel for her, losing a child is not easy," she said looking down at her daughter and placed a kiss on the toddler's head.
"May Allah never try us with them" I said pulling Ahmet closer to my chest and looked down at him sleeping angel face.
It didn't take more than three days to reach Edirne. I was given a room alone enough to fit me and Ahmet with Daphne and another maid assigned to me by the valide on Mahmoud's orders. Her name was Malike which was a cute name in my opinion and she was a small girl not older than fifteen.
"Daphne you will be in charge of Ahmet" I ordered. She knew I didn't trust anyone else with him. She nodded and took him from me to place him in his crib.
"Malike, prepare me the bath" she bowed and scrambled out of the room wanting to do as told to prove that she is capable.
"Daphne I want you to teach her and make sure she's good enough to be of my serves and safe to be near Ahmet" I ordered taking off my coat followed by my headscarf.
"Do not worry, I will take care of everything" she reassured. I nodded trusting her to do what was right.
After a relaxing bath, I changed into my sleep wear and went to bed. The bed felt empty with Mahmoud not in it like it usually does in the other castle when he's not with me, either alone or spending his night with another woman. As much as that hurt me I knew I couldn't do anything about it, at least not now.
I couldn't stop tossing and turning until I finally fell a dream full of my loved ones dying. I hated every bit of it. My heart stopped when Ahmet Cem would suddenly stop crying or when Mahmoud would fall to his knees in a puddle of his blood.
I sat up panting feeling my heart hammer against my chest from fear. I got out of bed feeling my throat dry as a piece of wood. I walked over to the table and took the cup in my hand ready to fill it with water when I was hit with a wave of dizziness. I tried to stay balanced and out until I drank water so I could go back to bed but I couldn't do any of that as everything turned black.
