|3rd Person POV|

Fatma Sultan and Rana entered the room where a Bulgarian girl, Mariana, had been prepared.... She had arrived at the harem only a few months ago, and she was in her twenties.

When she arrived, Turhan Sultan sent her to work with the girls in charge of the laundry, thinking she was too old for the harem. In her opinion, only girls under sixteen were fit for it.

However, Fatma Sultan, during her morning search, immediately felt drawn to Mariana as soon as she saw her... It was as though she was the one Fatma had been searching for... Why?.. Because Mariana resembled Feyza, the girl Orhan had once loved more than anything.

She had a bold look with sharp features, much like Feyza... The only difference was that Mariana was tall with blue eyes, while Feyza had brown eyes like Ahmed’s and was a little shorter.

The girl would of course not refuse this opportunity.... She had no intention of spending her life as a servant... And did Turhan Sultan’s anger matter to her? Not at all... She believed that as long as Fatma Sultan wanted this, she had nothing to fear.

Fatma Sultan also knew that Turhan Sultan would not be pleased with this... She didn’t like any girl going to her son unless she was sure about them and often preferred girls with weaker personalities.

But, as always, Fatma Sultan knew she could justify the decision with her usual radiant laughter... She would say that she simply wanted to send a gift to Orhan, as she had noticed that he worked day and night and needed some rest.

"You know, I'm giving you a golden opportunity now" Fatma Sultan said, approaching Mariana, who had bowed and was ready.

"I am grateful for this, Sultanim" Mariana replied, raising her eyes to look at Fatma with pride.

"Now listen carefully" Fatma said, walking around her with a serious tone, hidden beneath her usual smile "Men don’t like women who are too available or too obvious... They prefer women who are like a mystery, something they have to figure out... Look at him in a way that makes him want to know more... Let him lead the conversation, and always respond in a brief, mysterious manner"

Fatma stopped in front of her, removed the necklace Mariana was wearing, and replaced it with another one she felt was more suitable.

"Leave a little to the imagination... You don’t need to reveal everything about yourself right away... This will make him curious and want to know more"

Fatma then took a lock of Mariana's hair, which had been tossed back, and tucked it to one side... She also changed the accessory in her hair, picking one that matched the new necklace.

"The Sultan's mood can change during the evening... Be observant, patient, and attentive to his unspoken cues... If he wants solitude, respect that... If he seeks engagement, be ready to meet him there"

Meanwhile, Rana was sitting on one of the couches, not caring much about the advices... What truly mattered to her was the girl standing there... elegant, beautiful, and about to fall into Orhan's hands.

When I say her heart burned, it truly did... She had waited for years, seeing many women with Orhan every time she came to spend a few weeks here... Her biggest challenge was Feyza, whom she had endured for almost four years... It felt like a living hell... Now, Rana only needed to endure a little longer, especially if this was the only way to destroy Helena... she would accept it.

"A man in the Sultan's position is often surrounded by people who want to please him... But he may appreciate someone who sees beyond his power.. Recognize who he truly is" Fatma's voice was wise... Although she had no personal experience in the harem, she had learned from her mother and seen many girls rise to power, while others, supposedly unlucky, were not... But in truth, it wasn’t about luck, it was about strategy.

Mariana had memorized these words, and with her boldness and wit, she was prepared to step into that room and make the most of every moment there.

---

|Helena's POV|

I combed through my brown hair, pulling it back into place so it looked perfect... I smiled, stood up from the chair, and admired my final look.

"Anastasia, you made a great choice" I said, looking at my dark red dress that Anastasia had brought to me just moments before from the tailor.

"You look stunning, Helena" Sibylle said, stepping closer "Are you sure that you will only play a game, or is it something more?"

"Sibylle!" I exclaimed, my eyes wide in shock, feeling my face burn with embarrassment, but I knew the girls wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

"What?" she laughed, holding the perfume bottle between her hands.

I rolled my eyes, trying to keep my composure.

"You want to steal Orhan’s heart" Isabel said, and that was really the final blow... With both of them against me, I knew I wouldn’t win this conversation.

"It’s not about stealing anything" I replied softly, my voice carrying a hint of amusement.

They crossed their arms and looked at me, almost as if they were reading my soul.

I sighed, stood up, and moved toward the door "Alright, alright, I won’t deny it... I’m excited, and maybe I want more than just a game with him"

"Good luck" Isabel said with a smile, giving me a small hug before stepping back.

I took a deep breath and left the room, accompanied by Anastasia and Sumbul Aga, whom I ran into along the way, and who decided to join me.

For the first time, I didn’t feel nervous.. Instead, what I felt was excitement for what the night could bring... Even if it was just a game, I wanted to connect with Orhan, maybe even get to know him better.. I could no longer hide my admiration for him.

I pushed all the negative thoughts out of my mind.... his harem, his cousin who behaved strangely around him, and the woman he loved in the past… I didn’t want to think about any of that or let it cloud my thoughts on this beautiful night.

I was still smiling as I reached the hallway leading to Orhan’s room, where, as usual, two guards stood in their red uniforms.

I glanced at Sumbul Agha with a smile, and he returned it, as we continued walking calmly... Suddenly, I heard other footsteps approaching... I slowly lifted my gaze to see some people coming from the other direction.

As they drew closer, the scene became clearerm.. It was Fatima Sultan's maid, Fahriye, along with the Agha who had come with her, and another girl.

She was tall, with dark, flowing hair framing her face perfectly... She wore a beautiful blue dress, and the moment our eyes met, something about her presence struck me... she was confident and composed.

When they stopped in front of us, they all bowed... I didn’t quite understand what was happening, but I realized that this girl had been prepared for Orhan, which almost made me lose my composure.

I looked at Sumbul, who was standing next to me, exchanging heated glances with Fahriye... That’s when I understood.. Fatma Sultan was behind this because as soon as her maid saw us, she turned pale, but it seemed she was determined to bring this girl in.

"What are you doing here?" Sumbul asked, raising an eyebrow and taking a few steps forward.

"We are following Fatma Sultan's orders" Fahriye replied, though I could tell she couldn’t even bring herself to look at me.

"You can't be here... Go away... The Sultan’s chamber isn’t a place for everyone to just enter" Sumbull Agha responded quickly, almost too quickly, his words barely understandable, as he motioned for them to leave.

Suddenly, we heard a door open behind us... As I turned around, my eyes landed on Silahtar, the man in charge of Orhan’s room... His sharp gaze took in the scene before him, his expression unreadable as he was looking at Fahriye and Mariana.

"What are you doing here?" His tone was calm, but his presence and gaze were far from it "Why would anyone come here without permission?"

"Fatma Sultan has prepared her as a gift for His Majesty" Fahriye answered, her voice filled with fake warmth, though it was clear her face had gone pale.

"How dare you" Silahtar replied, this time sounding more angry "You are in the presence of a Sultana"

At that, I realized he was referring to me, and I breathed a sigh of relief... At least there were some people here who could speak for me.

"Go back where you came from... If the Sultan wanted someone, he would give orders" he said formally to Fahriye, before turning to me, lowering his head respectfully "Helena Sultan" he said, stepping aside to allow me to approach the door "Please, go ahead.. his majesty is expecting you"

I didn’t say anything... My thoughts were swirling, but I nodded slightly in acknowledgment... I knew I had the right to be here, to step inside and meet Orhan... After all, I was the Haseki Sultan... But it felt strange, standing here and seeing a girl like her.. I didn’t want to seem disrespectful, but I didn’t like it.. This couldn’t be my future.

As I walked inside, I saw Mariana glaring at me with annoyance and anger... But I didn’t want to make the situation bigger than it was, so I ignored her and entered the chambers.

As soon as my feet stepped inside, I heard the sound of the doors closing behind me, making the sound echo slightly in the quiet chamber... I lifted my eyes to see the candles lighting the space beautifully, while everything seemed perfect in this place.

Finally, I saw Orhan coming from the balcony... Even his nightclothes made him look attractive and beautiful, and I could never tire of watching him, especially in those striking shades of black and gray.

I didn’t know what to do, so I found myself bowing with a small smile, my eyes still watching him as he watched every move I made.

"Finally, you’re here" he said, looking at me... For the first time, I noticed Orhan looking me up and down, as if he was seeing every detail.

"Am I late?" I asked calmly, surprised, though in reality, I was on the verge of fainting.. not because I was being dramatic or anything like that.

"No" he replied, waving his hand "I actually just finished some work" When I nodded, he added "Come on, to the balcony... Everything's ready there"

I felt excited, and a big smile spread across my face as I followed him to the balcony, where my eyes landed on the couch we were going to sit on... In front of it was a table with drinks, fruits, and then the game I had told him about, and I couldn’t believe he made it happen.

Once we sat down, I started explaining the basic rules of the game while Orhan watched me in silence and with intense focus... The way he studied the board reminded me of how my father used to do the same whenever we played.

"This game" I said, leaning forward slightly "is all about strategy... You have your pieces, and your goal is to protect the king while trying to surround your opponent’s pieces... It’s like... a battle of wits"

Orhan's eyes met mine, his blue gaze unwavering... He didn’t speak much, but I could feel his curiosity, like he was silently absorbing everything I said and It was strange how comfortable I felt in this silence.

"So, what's your strategy?" he asked after a moment, his voice low, almost teasing.

"Well" I said, thinking for a moment "You can’t reveal your strategy to your opponent"

"Good" he said with a small smile "Then I’ll figure it out on my own" There was something in the way he looked at me and spoke that made me think he wasn’t just talking about the game’s strategy, but perhaps something else... But I tried to ignore it, refusing to be delusional.

"Of course" I replied with a playful grin "and when it comes to defense, always keep your king protected.. No one can win without their king" I said with a smile, looking into his eyes.

"I think I’m ready to give it a try" He nodded, his fingers grazing over the pieces on the board.

The game started, and we moved the pieces, each of us studying the other’s moves carefully... It was clear that Orhan was no stranger to games that required thought and precision... His moves were calculated, strategic in their own way, but still, I could tell he was learning.

"You’re good at this" I said, watching him place a piece in a way that was almost like a challenge.

"I told you, I enjoy a good challenge" He glanced at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

Once again, we moved our pieces in silence until it was my turn again, and I was studying Orhan’s pieces in silence to prepare for my next move... Since I was thinking for so long, I felt Orhan’s gaze on me.

"You’re making me nervous" I teased as I adjusted one of my pieces "If you keep looking at me like that, you might make me lose"

"I never said I wasn’t going to make things difficult for you" His smile widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes "Besides..." I felt his hand, which had been resting on the couch behind me, lower slightly, as if he was touching my hair with his fingers "Your hair... it’s the perfect match for your eyes"

I turned slowly, and when our eyes met... I felt my cheeks flush "Thank you... I can say the same about you"

He nodded as a way to say thank you, then finally, after a few more tense moves, the game came to an end... I won, but I could tell it wasn’t a victory he minded.

"You were right" Orhan said, leaning back with a look of quiet satisfaction "That was... more complicated than it seemed"

"That was so good" I smiled, feeling a little victorious.

He met my gaze again... His eyes were so intense, yet so gentle, like he was looking right through me, but in the most comforting way.

After a moment of watching the calm stars in the sky, I decided it was time to leave so that Orhan could rest for a while... I didn’t want to stay much longer just because he had welcomed me for a little while.

"I’ll leave you to rest" I said as I stood up and gave him a small smile when I saw that he had turned to me.

I turned to walk away, but then I felt a hand close around mine... It was Orhan's, of course... I looked at his hand in silence, and without a word, he gently placed the cup from his other hand down then he stood up and stepped closer until there was barely any space between us.

I hadn’t even realized what was happening until I felt the warmth of his lips on mine.

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Sorry I didn’t update yesterday... I was really sick and even today I still feel tired and my head hurts like it's about to explode lol but I decided to write to distract myself a little 🤍

Soooooo.... what do u think? ... guys I'm speechless 😭🦋