I woke up anxious, knowing that I had but a month and a half, to date, left to fulfill my plans. I hadn't seen Mustafa Pasha in weeks surprisingly, but I knew he would still be a problem. I knew my mother was especially desperate to marry me off, her only daughter, to make some alliances, but I needed to get someone that I personally liked.

"Oh, Nafise!" I called out as my best friend /servant / confident came and bowed.

"Yes, Sultana Fidan?"

"How has the investigation been going on your part so far?"

Nafise sighed. "So so, is what I would describe it. I already outlined in my letter, how we still haven't found Kumru Kalfa. She is an important link. However, that brings me to my second point: Mihrişah. She hasn't gone to the Sultan in a while- so practically not even a favorite, but I think she was Kumru's personal attempt to gain status, and not affiliated with your Sultana aunts, respectively."

I nodded.

"Yes, that makes sense. And I believe we are caught up on all our other issues?" Nafise confirmed with a nod as I stroked my chin. What should our next step be?

"Well my Sultana, I think we should proceed carefully and you should continue to meet up with Mehmet Giray. Perhaps also strengthen ties with Gülbahar Sultana?" Nafise Hatun suggested carefully. 

I wrinkled my nose at the suggestion.

"If anything, Gülbahar is probably behind some of the drama," I snorted. But then it hit me. "Wait, what if Gülbahar did play a role in the ambush?"

Nafise tapped her chin.

"Sultana Fidan, it does kind of check out. You said she had been acting suspicious before you left, and then Kumru Kalfa wasn't there... And of course the attack from unknown men..."

I nodded in agreement. 

"We will just have to wait and see. Ok Nafise, keep up the investigation, for we only have about a month and a half left. I need to get my priorities straight."

"You are right Sultana, but I personally think it may help, for the moment at least, to work outside in."

"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly. Outside in?

"Well," Nafise explained, "Working inside out meaning we eliminate outliers first. Factors like Mihrişah distract us from our real goal of eliminating your Sultana aunts, so I suggest we get rid of her first. Then, we must do something about Mustafa Pasha-"

"Oh Nafise, mentioning Mustafa Pasha is giving me a headache." I put my hand to my forehead. "I have to decide by my birthday too, and..."

I trailed off without saying anything further. Nafise nodded slowly.

"Forgive me my Sultana. But back to the main discussion, Mihrişah Hatun. What will we do with that stupid and pardon my language, arrogant sod?"

I laughed. "Nafise where did you get that language? What did she do now?"

"Long story," Nafise Hatun mumbled. "She's been causing more and more drama. Nobody can stand her anymore. And after what happened to Polye, Mihrişah's been ostracized. She hasn't even been sent to the Sultan, but just kept in the favorites department."

I agreed. "As she should. Mihrişah needs one final push, and she will fall off of that cliff. Do you have a plan in mind, or should we put our minds together?"

"I think I have a plan," Nafise started. "She already almost killed a woman, declared herself a Sultana, and acted disgracefully to real Sultanas. Therefore, she must be killed."

I was momentarily stunned. Killed? Wasn't that a bit too, brutal? But then I laughed internally. This is the Topkapi Sarayi, everyone gets killed all the time here. And she should've been dead a long, long time ago.

"You are right Nafise." I concluded. "We will have her poisoned in the night. No evidence, no reason to believe it could do with us. Sounds good?"

"Yes, my Sultana." Nafise Hatun smiled. I could see the glimmer in the eyes when I told her my game plan, and I knew she was excited to be part of a murder mystery story.