"Oh Nafise!" 

Nafise Hatun rushed over to me. I was in a good mood, and she could tell.

"I wrote a letter to Mehmet Giray, because I would like to meet up with him tomorrow. Can you send it?"

"of course Sultana. Will Gülbahar Sultan come too this time?" Nafise asked as she took the letter from me. I rolled my eyes. 

"Well, if you think that's okay, then you can send word to her."

Nafise nodded. "Good idea Sultana. It's best we don't make her an enemy, but rather keep ourselves open book."

I dismissed Nafise Hatun as she went out to deliver my letter to Mehmet Giray. The contents are as follows,

Greetings His Excellency Hanzade Mehmet Giray,

We pray for your health, and if you ask of ours we are doing fine. Sitişah Sultan has just arrived, and with that in mind we must meet again to practice with the bird. We are doing fine with [it]. I am open to meet with you again tomorrow, but I ask we meet instead at another place, a residence I have in Üsküdar. The address will be provided to you.

Sultana Fidan

I made a sneaky move when choosing the "venue". This residence was not mine, but actually the one that Kumru Kalfa was rumored to be hiding in. From there, Mehmet Giray and I can catch her, question her, and find out more about the bigger picture. My plan was practically foolproof, but for now I needed to focus on executing it.

____________

"Sultana Fidan, Mehmet Giray sent word that he agrees to meet with you at the residence." Nafise informed me when I came back from the hammam fresh and clean.

"good. Did you tell my sister to come too?"

Nafise shook her head. "I apologize Sultana, but I couldn't find her. I heard she may be visiting Sitişah Sultan, so that's my guess."

"Mmm, okay. Well then we don't need to tell her, if she's that busy. Can you prepare the carriage, and get an extra agha or men to meet us there? We have to surround her."

Nafise bowed as she went to get ready.

I brushed my hair and put on a lovely new dress I had, blue with white pearls and silver buttons, also paired with a lovely bejeweled necklace I got 2 years ago. It was super cute.

...

When Nafise came back, I got up and ready to depart quickly, but I was intercepted in the hallway.

"Where do you think you are going?" Gülbahar asked angrily. "You are always disappearing."

"That's none of your business Gül. I would've invited you to come with me, but it seems you were busy with Sitişah Sultan."

"So what?" Gülbahar protested. "That's my business. And she's family!"

"She's an enemy of our mother-"

"Your mother! Mine is dead!" Gülbahar interrupted me. I scoffed.

"How can you say such a thing? She is as much of a mother to you as to me. She mothered you instead of trying to get rid of you. If anything, she cared more about you than me!" I almost started crying, and Gülbahar's gaze softened.

"I'm sorry Fidan. I didn't mean to lash out at you like that. But where are you going?" Gülbahar asked suspiciously. 

"Just Üsküdar. But I have to go now." I waved goodbye and quickly lift up my gown and sprinted all the way to the usual spot where our carriage was.

Nafise was already waiting for a while, and when I came she exhaled a breath of relief. 

"Finally Sultana, let's go." I agreed by nodding.

"Yes, hopefully we did not keep Hanzade Mehmet Giray waiting too much."

As we rode through the bustling streets of Istanbul, I couldn't shake off the tension building inside me. The plan seemed foolproof on paper, but the unpredictability of human nature made me anxious. What if Kumru Kalfa had fled the residence before we arrived? What if Mehmet Giray had suspicions about my sudden change in meeting place?

Suppressing these doubts, I focused on maintaining an air of confidence. Nafise sat beside me, her expression unreadable, but I trusted her capability in handling any situation that might arise.

As we approached Üsküdar, the carriage slowed down, and I peered out, scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble. Everything appeared ordinary, with people going about their daily routines.

"We're almost there, Sultana," Nafise whispered, her voice barely audible over the rumble of the carriage wheels.

I nodded, steeling myself for what lay ahead. The residence loomed into view, a grand structure nestled amidst the sprawling cityscape. It seemed serene, yet beneath its façade, I knew secrets awaited discovery. Kumru Kalfa, we will find you!

The carriage came to a halt, and Nafise helped me alight. A group of men, discreetly positioned nearby, approached us, ready to assist.

"Stay close, Nafise," I murmured, gripping her arm reassuringly.

Together, we made our way towards the entrance of the residence. As we stepped inside, a sense of foreboding washed over me. The air was heavy with anticipation, every sound magnified in the silence.

"Mehmet Giray should be here," I muttered to Nafise, my eyes darting around the dimly lit hallway.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, and my heart skipped a beat. It was Mehmet Giray, his features inscrutable as he regarded us. Oh, he was oh so handsome.

"Sultana Fidan," he greeted, inclining his head respectfully. "I trust all is well?"

"Greetings, Hanzade Mehmet Giray and yes, indeed," I replied, forcing confidence into my voice, trying to replace the sarcasm. "But where is Kumru Kalfa? I was under the impression she would be here."

Mehmet Giray's expression remained neutral, but I detected a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"Kumru Kalfa?" he echoed, his tone carefully measured. "I'm afraid she's not here. However, I received your message and came as requested."

I frowned, a nagging sense of unease gnawing at me. Had my plan failed before it even began? Kumru Kalfa was supposed to be here. Unless, this was a set up. Was someone planning on attacking us while we were here?

"Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding," Mehmet Giray continued smoothly, as though there was nothing to care about Kumru. "But since we are here, perhaps we can discuss other matters of importance."

Before I could respond, a commotion erupted from outside the residence, interrupting our conversation. Voices raised in alarm echoed through the halls, and I exchanged a worried glance with Nafise.

"What's happening?" I demanded, my apprehension growing.

Mehmet Giray's expression darkened, and he moved towards the entrance, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword hidden behind his dark cloak.

"I fear we may have unexpected visitors," he murmured, his voice tense with urgency.

With a sinking feeling in my chest, I followed Mehmet Giray towards the source of the disturbance, praying that whatever awaited us would not shatter the fragile threads of my carefully laid plans.