Later that day, Ibrahim decided to visit the royal children studying with their tutors. Ignoring Ahmed and Dilara, he went over to Mustafa and sat next to the young boy to help him learn to write. The other two children ignored them, finding Ibrahim to be very rude and disrespectful towards them and their mother.

After going over various letters to start with, Mustafa looked bored and told Ibrahim, "I will not learn. Let's go to the garden and play with swords."

"We will play," Ibrahim promised him, "but first write as I've shown you."

"I am eventually going to become the padishah," Mustafa said to the shock of everyone but Ibrahim, knowing that he and the Şehzade's mother had been promising to make the young boy the next Sultan. "Why do I need to read and write?"

"That is exactly why you must learn. You must read and know more than anyone so you don't make mistakes," Ibrahim told him brushing the boy's hair from his eyes, forgetting about who was in the room. Looking up he met the stern gaze of the eldest Şehzade as the seven-year-old boy and his younger sister both glared at the older man. "Knowledge prevents mistakes, Mustafa."

Walking into the room, Sultan Suleiman watched as his three eldest children looked up to see him. While Ahmet and Dilara got up to bow to him, Mustafa ran right into his father's arms.

"Baba! Save me!" Mustafa begged his father when he was in his arms. He watched his other siblings with a hint of arrogance in his eyes as they came towards them to kiss their father's hand before backing up.

"My sons and daughter," their father rubbed his hand over both their heads affectionately before asking, "What happened? Is the lesson with Ibrahim finished?"

With a smile, Ibrahim replied to his friend, "He says he is to be the padishah and asks why he needs lessons."

"Şehzade Mustafa," Suleiman slightly shook his son to get his attention, slightly unhappy with this train of thought that his second eldest son had in his head. He knew Mahidevran had him thinking that, but he didn't expect his closest friend to be encouraging it too. "Maybe you won't become the padishah. Maybe Ahmed will. Look to your lessons."

"I will be the padishah too!" Mustafa declared to his father.

"Guards!" Suleiman called as he decided to wave the matter off with a joke. "Take this Şehzade away and punish him! Take his head." He smiled at his young son while his other two children watched, wishing they were able to be as carefree as Mustafa was. But they were the eldest son and daughter of Sultan Suleiman, they had to uphold an image to make their family proud. However, they are grateful when their mother allows them to be children. Placing his son on the ground after kissing him, the Sultan opened his arms to invite his two other children into a hug.

Dilara was the first to accept the affection of her father and ran into his arms, the five-year-old wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling her face into his neck. Kissing her on her head, he tightened his arms around his precious daughter. Letting her go, he watched as Ahmed stepped forward and hugged him. The eldest Şehzade clutched onto his father tightly, not wanting to let go.

As soon as his two children stepped back, Suleiman stood back up and gestured for the three of them to follow him. Giving his sons practice swords, he, Ibrahim, and Dilara watched as the two brothers played with the guards. Ahmed was more refined in his fighting, having done it longer than his younger brother, and was able to hit his guard more times than Mustafa could.

When Mustafa was able to land a hit, he crowed, "You are dead!" Then he turned and poked his brother in the back, "So are you!"

While Ibrahim found this amusing, Suleiman and Dilara could see the dislike the younger Şehzade had for his older brother, likely from Mahidevran's influence. Hoping that his son would grow out of it, the Sultan called out, "Mustafa! Stop killing my guards! Who will protect me then?"

Shoving his wooden sword into the air, Mustafa yelled, "I will! I will protect you!"

"As will I, baba," Ahmed said solemnly, "with us around no one will dare to hurt you." The two Şehzades turned back to their respective guards and went back to fighting, with Suleiman impressed at his eldest son's skills as he dodged attacks from his opponent.

"He's a real lion cub," Ibrahim said as he referred to Mustafa, ignoring Ahmed. "Look how he grips the sword."

"You taught him," the Sultan said to his friend, "and Ahmed's teachers tell me he is a natural with the sword and quick on his feet. Mustafa first held a sword with you, but I taught Ahmed at his age. They will be fierce warriors when they grow up." Suleiman watched them for a moment before saying, "Send Mustafa to his mother. Dilara, Ahmed let's go find your mother. They've played enough."

As the Sultan turned to leave with Dilara and Ahmed following him, Ibrahim said, "Your Majesty. By your leave, I'll inform Sümbül Agha about your guest for tonight."

"That is acceptable, Pargali," Suleiman agreed after a moment. He debated whether or not to spend the night with his wife, but knew his wife would understand him if he did not. Walking to his wife's chambers, he spoke with his children about how their studies were doing so far, even though he is kept appraised of their progress by their tutors.

Walking to his wife's chambers, he spoke with his children about how their studies were doing so far, even though he is kept appraised of their progress by their tutors. Arriving outside, he opened the doors gently to see his wife sleeping in her bed with their two youngest laying their heads on her belly. Tired as she was, she didn't hear them come inside but her two youngest woke up to see their father hold a finger to his lips to hush them. Gently getting out of bed, the two quietly ran to their father who hugged them before ushering all the children to the adjacent room where they slept with their maid Burcu.

Tucking each of them into their beds, Suleiman gave his children each a kiss on the head before they fell asleep. Going back to the main room, he sat next to his wife and ran a hand through her hair. Turning her head towards his hand, she nuzzled it into her cheek as she sighed in contentment. Smiling gently at the love of his life, he leaned down kissed her, and rubbed her belly before standing up. Setting another pale pink rose on the pillow next to her, he gave her one last look before leaving the room to head back to rest in his chambers until Alexandra arrived at night.

Later that night, Nigar Kalfa, Maria, and another hatun were helping Alexandra get ready for her walk down the Golden Road tonight. The Ruthenian was in a dress made from the provocative red silk fabric the Haseki had rewarded to her a few days ago. Paired with a gold necklace and her red hair, she looked like pure fire-made flesh. She was practically bursting with excitement at the thought of her night with the Sultan. She would make him forget every other woman in the harem, including his wife Zeynep Sultan.

She thought she was clever in her ruse of being a respectful hatun towards His Majesty's legitimate wife but both the Kalfa and the Haseki could see right through her. For now, they'll let her do what she wants, knowing she'll make an enemy out of the Valide with her attitude.

"Be polite and respectful this evening," Nigar was telling the foolish young girl as she walked around her. "Make His Majesty happy. There are many girls who would kill to be where you are now. Think of it as one night. Don't get caught up in dreams," the Kalfa told her, knowing that it would just egg the younger girl on to fight for what she wanted in the world. "If you make His Majesty happy, he will shower you with gifts." She picked up a perfume bottle as she continued, "Another point..." she rubbed some of the fragrance over Alexandra's neck, "Haseki Sultan Zeynep and Sultan Mahidevran are his only women. Every Thursday he lies with one of them."

Alexandra looked confused as Nigar finished, "Why Thursday?"

The older woman smirked, "It is tradition. The night connecting Thursday and Friday is a holy night. And if you were to become pregnant on that night, a blessed child will be born. That was when Şehzade Ahmed and the Haseki's unborn baby were conceived."

Alexandra's mind was whirling at this new information, not knowing she was being played, "What day is it today?"

"Wednesday," Nigar told her, knowing that the younger woman had just taken the bait. Now the first chess pieces were in place, it was time for the show to begin.

While Alexandra was getting ready, Zeynep Sultan and her children were invited to the Valide's chambers with the other ladies of the Royal Family and their maids. Changing out of her old dress into a pale purple and gold kaftan dress, the Haseki and her children were followed by Defne, Burcu, and two other hatuns: Miray and Zehra. The two young women were from a previous batch of slaves that came to the palace when the previous Sultan was alive. Music was played as the women talked amongst themselves, with Zeynep sitting close to the Valide and Mahidevran next to her.

Kalfas delivered food and drink to everyone as the children played in the background. Both mothers kept an eye on their children, making sure they weren't getting into trouble. Defne sat next to her mistress while Gülşah sat next to hers, talking as they watched Gülfem and Hatice smiling at one another as they talked.

Confused, Gülşah turned to Mahidevran and asked, "Is Gülfem hatun counted among the royal family?"

"She is His Majesty's first woman," Mahidevran clarified as they stared at the older woman. "She's even given birth to a prince but was unlucky and lost the child. She took refuge here. She just wanders around."

"She still deserves respect, Mahidevran, especially from you," Zeynep told her with a sneer at the blatant disrespect shown towards Gülfem for being a former woman of His Majesty.

Before Mahidevran could say anything, Valide called out, "Gülfem." Everyone turned to look at the Sultan's mother as she pats the seat next to her. "Come sit with me."

Nodding her head, Gülfem stood up and sat next to the Valide, "Yes, my Valide Sultan?"

"Tell the girls to play the song I like," Valide told her with a smile as she placed her hand on the other woman. She always liked Gülfem and is glad that she is a good companion for her daughter Hatice. "Go on."

Gülfem agreed and went to tell the girls the song the Valide wanted before sitting back down with Hatice. Daye hatun smiled at the contentment her Valide was feeling. "How happy you must be. Your family is all around you."

The Valide smiled over at one of her oldest allies before remarking, "I wish my lion, Suleiman, was also here. Let's send word for him to come too."

"He will be in the private chamber tonight," Daye informed her. "He has summoned Alexandra."

The Valide glanced between her son's consorts as Mahidevran was upset while Zeynep continued eating as she talked with Defne about the children. Everything was going according to plan and while they focused on the newest concubine, they had no time to get in her way.

After putting the children to bed, Zeynep sat at her desk in the main room of her chambers finishing up the letters she started yesterday. Putting the scrolls in the containers to protect them, she passed them off to Defne to have them delivered to the respective parties. Sitting back, she rubbed her belly as she felt the kicks her unborn child was giving to her ribs.

"Gentle my little cub," Zeynep said as she tried to soothe her baby, "you'll be out in the world very soon." After she said that, a flash of pain went through her as she felt liquid gush from between her legs. Looking down, she saw her water break and yelled out, "Burcu!"

The brunette young woman ran out of the adjacent room to see her mistress clutching her belly. "Sultana!" She rushed over and helped her out of the chair to her bed. "Miray! Zehra!" The two new maids burst into the room to see their mistress crying out in pain. "One of you fetch the physician, the other stays with the children."

Miray immediately left the room while Zehra went to the children to wake them and take them outside. Running down the halls to the infirmary, the young maid hurriedly knocked on the door to get the doctor's attention. When they opened the door, she rushed out, "The Sultana is giving birth. Please you must help her!"

The doctor grabbed her bag before rushing off, knowing where to go since she did a checkup on the Haseki a few days ago. Miray was going to follow after her but decided to inform the Valide and His Majesty about the situation first. The Valide was understandably shocked at the news knowing that the baby was a month early and rushed to her daughter-in-law's quarters, ordering Daye hatun to inform Mahidevran. The young maid then rushed to His Majesty's chambers where she came upon Ibrahim Pasha, the concierge.

"Who are you to rush here?" He asked with disdain at the maid, much to her frustration.

"I have news for His Majesty: Zeynep Sultan has gone into labor," Miray told him to his shock.

"I will tell him, you go back now," Ibrahim dismissed her and watched as she ran away back to the harem.

Knocking on the door, the concierge waited for His Majesty to let him in.

"Enter," he heard from the other side.

Opening the doors, he turned his eyes away from a frustrated Alexandra who was covered in a robe after her time with the Sultan. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but there is news from the harem."

"And it couldn't wait until tomorrow morning?" Suleiman asked with a look thrown towards his oldest friend.

"Zeynep Sultan has gone into labor," he informed them causing the concubine's face to fall and the Sultan's to light up in glee. "One of her maids just informed me."

"Excellent news, Pargali," the father of soon-to-be six children said as he patted his friend on the shoulder. He pulled his clothes on before dismissing the concubine and leaving to head to his wife's chambers, much to Alexandra's ire. This was supposed to be her night with the sultan and another one of his women ruined it for her. Getting dressed quickly, she left the Sultan's chambers and stormed back to the harem and got smirks and snickers from the other girls. Curse the Haseki for stealing her night with the Sultan!