Meylisah was the daughter of a past maid and best friend of Hurrem sultan. When her parents tragically died she was taken under Hurrem sultan's wing to be cared for. Not really adopted for it was forbidden in Islam but she was just glad to have a ro...
I jumped up from the bed as the doors were pushed open to show Emira with four harem aghas behind her. It was dark now and the only light in the room was the moonlight which scared me to no end, I hate the dark.
"His majesty requested your presence," She said as I stood up and smothered down my dress before two of the harem aghas walked over to me and each took one of my arms before pulling me out of my room and down the harem where I was met with Hurrem and Mihrimah sultan.
"Sultanim" I bowed to them looking them in the eyes for any answer, what happened with Hurrem sultan at the sultan's room but it was obvious he didn't listen to either and forced them to leave his room as he made his decision.
The aghas pulled me to the sultan's room before leaving us alone, there was no one with us in the room, no aghas, no Selim, and no Hurrem.
He turned around from the fireplace and walked over to where I stood looking down at the floor feeling more nervous than I ever have in my life.
"The engagement will go on tonight," He said holding his hands behind his back. I closed my eyes feeling tears fill them at the thought of marrying the old man soon.
"But the groom will change" I looked up at him just as a tear left my eye. The groom will change? Who will he marry me off to?
"Tonight your engagement with my son Selim will take place in the harem," He said as his glare changed to a soft smile. I let out a sob of relief at his words. I fell down on my knees in front of him and kissed his robes.
"Thank you, your majesty" I whispered as he placed his hand under my chin and pulled me up from the floor patting my shoulder comfortingly.
"Now go back to your room and get ready, you have little time," He said. I bowed and walked out of the room where Hurrem sultan and Mihrimah sultan were waiting with worried looks on their faces.
"Continue the preparations for the engagement party tonight," I said with a wide smile on my face. They looked at me with confused looks on their faces as to why I was happy about getting married to a man I didn't love.
"My engagement to Shehzade Selim," I said proudly. Mihrimah sighed loudly with relief before pulling me in for a tight hug. I looked over her shoulder at her mother, she had a smile but I could see she didn't really want me to marry her on, I was free but I was a commoner and not in an influential family.
"Go to your room and prepare yourself for your engagement" Hurrem sultan ordered. I bowed and left the male Topkapi castle and walked into the harem with my head held high and a huge grin on my face. I stopped in front of the huge doors and watched as the girls looked at me confused, one second I was being taken to the sultan by two aghas like some criminal and the second I walked in with my head held high and smile on my face as nothing happened.
I turned back forward just as Selim emerged from behind the pillar with a grin on his face, I'm sure the sultan spoke with him before he spoke with me. He stopped right in front of me and we gazed up at each other and anyone who passed by us could see the love we held for each other, it was stronger than ever.
"Get ready girls for the engagement of Prince Selim and Meylisah hatun" Sunbul agha yelled walking into the harem from the other side only to stop dead in his tracks when he saw me and Selim at the other end and bowed like the other girls, for Selim of course.
"She's marrying the prince?"
"Is that why they sent after her in the first place?"
"How did this happen?"
"Is this allowed?"
"What will happen to his harem now?"
"I should go get ready," I said lowly, he nodded his head at me as I bowed and walked by him, our shoulders brushing against each other as I passed by him making my heart flutter at the smallest touch.
I walked into my room where Emira was already waiting with two other maids and my engagement dress laying on the bed in all of its glory.
"Are you ready?" Emira asked stepping closer to me just as Canfeda walked in to give her assistance if needed on Selim's orders as she said.
"As ready as I can be" She giggled as the words left my lips and walked over to me pulling me to the hmam for a fast bath before they dressed me in my room. I felt my heart in my throat as they finished my hair. I smiled at myself one last time before walking out of my room and towards the Valide wing. There were no signs of sadness on my face and all evidence that I cried vanished from my face as a huge smile adorned my face.
I walked into the Valide's wing where the girls were playing music and dancing in celebration of their beloved prince's marriage, I know Hurrem sultan would have preferred for him to be with someone younger than me since he was only one year older than me but that doesn't matter anymore since we're engaged.
"Welcome, Meylisah" Hurrem sultan said as I walked into her room where they were waiting for me. I bowed and kissed the back of her hand before she pulled me to her throne and sat me down on her right and Mihrimah on her left since I was more important at the moment, this being my engagement party.
I watched as the girls danced happily as they ate and drank. I looked to my right as children from respectable families ran around playing with each other with huge smiles on their faces. This day started horribly but ended in the best way it ever could and I was scared of waking up tomorrow to find out this was a dream if it was I wish to never wake up ever again.
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