-A Week Later-

|3rd Person POV|

"Good morning, Sultana" said Davut Pasha as he stood before Halime Sultan.

"What is it, Davut? You mentioned you wanted to speak with me about something important" Halime replied, her curiosity piqued.

"Sultana, that girl Victoria will only bring us trouble" he sighed, looking at her earnestly "We must get rid of her... The King of Scotland is extremely angry that she is here, and this could lead us into a conflict that serves us no purpose...We would gain nothing from it"

"I know all of this" she said, intertwining her fingers and gazing thoughtfully to the side "I cannot act just yet; Mustafa is very interested in her... We must wait a few weeks until he starts losing his mind again, and then he won't care about her" She looked back at him "As for Scotland, I will speak with Mustafa and try to propose some solutions"

Halime Sultan made her way to Sultan Mustafa's chamber...She noticed a few maids at the door but did not find it surprising.

The door opened, and she saw Mustafa sitting on the couch, holding his daughter Hümaşah, while Sedef Hatun and the doctor in charge of the young sultana stood before him.

"Good morning, my son" Halime said as she approached and sat beside him, unsure if Mustafa was fit to hold a little girl.

"Good morning, valide" he smiled, extending the baby to her mother "Here, take her... She must need some rest"

Sedef took the child, then bowed and left with the doctor.

"We need to talk about something important" Halime Sultan looked at her son, her expression turning serious "Mustafa, I believe we should consider a truce with Scotland... It could bring us peace and stability, especially with the King's anger... He's furious because Victoria is hiding here...If we can negotiate, we might avoid unnecessary conflict"

Mustafa's expression darkened"A truce? No, mother! I refuse to bow to their demands... She will stay here in safety until her brother pays the price"

Halime felt a jolt of shock at his fierce reaction "Mustafa! I'm your mother you should take my advice... You are different now what happened.. listen to me!"

He turned to her, frustration simmering in his eyes "You think I've changed? I am clearer now than ever! I see the threats around us, and I will not let anyone push us into a corner... We must show strength, not weakness... A truce would signal that we are afraid... We are not! She's not alone in this whole situation"

Halime's heart raced as she processed his words "Mustafa, strength can also be found in wisdom... Sometimes, avoiding conflict is the bravest choice of all"

He shook his head, his voice rising "No.. I will not be seen as weak... I gave her my word"

Halime sat in stunned silence, grappling with the realization that her son had indeed changed, but not in the way she had hoped... The man before her was fierce and determined, but also dangerously prideful.. this is not what she wanted "Okay Mustafa...But remember, the consequences of war are dire... I hope you are prepared for what lies ahead"

As she was leaving she was so angry... This is happening because of that girl Victoria.

Halime went to her room and sat on her throne, with her personal scribe sitting before her.

"Write down everything I say; this is an important letter" she said, then began dictating her words, carefully considering each sentence... she would do things her way.

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|Victoria's POV|

The sun flooded through the castle windows, but despite its warmth, I felt an overwhelming sense of boredom... The lavish decorations and quiet halls, once a source of comfort, had begun to feel stifling.. I needed to escape, to breathe the fresh air and immerse myself in the vibrant life of the city... So, I decided to head to the market.

Before I left, I ran into Sultan Mustafa in one of the big hallways... He was standing in front of a large window, looking out and seeming lost in thought.

"Your majesty" I said with a bright smile, hoping to bring him back to the moment.

"Victoria" he responded, turning to me...He looked at my clothes and raised an eyebrow "Where are you going?"

"I felt a bit bored, so I decided to go to the market" I replied, My smile faded a little as I noticed he didn't look happy "What's wrong, Mustafa?"

"I don't know; I'm just... bothered" he sighed, looking weighed down "Well, you can go, but come back quickly and don't stay out too long"

His words caught me off guard, but then an idea popped into my head "Come with me!"

"What?!" he said, surprised... After a moment, he shook his head "No, no...You know I can't leave the palace... I can't"

"Yes, you can" I insisted, stepping a bit closer "You can't stay here your whole life; you're missing out on a wonderful world outside" I shook my head playfully "Okay, maybe it's not that amazing, but the market is lively... You would enjoy it!"

"But it's dangerous" he replied, sounding hesitant "I am the Sultan; I can't just walk around among the people" I could see that he was scared of what was outside.

"I promise you will love it" I said, smiling as I gently held his hand "Come on, no one will recognize us, and we'll have some fun before we come back"

He looked at our joined hands, then back into my eyes, searching for encouragement "Victoria... okay, but we must return quickly"

I felt a rush of excitement at his agreement and smiled brightly "Deal!" A smile broke across my face, and I clapped my hands in delight "We'll dress in simple clothes so no one will recognize us"

I was already ready, but I waited for Mustafa to put on ordinary clothes and a cloak before we left.

He looked nervous while I felt happy that he was taking this brave step... and the best moment was when we walked through the grand gates.

The market was a feast for the senses: stalls bursting with colorful spices, ripe fruits, and vibrant textiles. The laughter of children and the calls of vendors enveloped us like a warm embrace. I felt alive, and I could see the same spark igniting in Mustafa as we wandered through the lively crowd.

We sampled sweets and admired the everything, laughter spilling between us like sunlight. For a moment, he seemed to forget the weight of the world on his shoulders... I was happy for him.

"Look" he said, pointing to a shop where several tables were set up, and many men were sitting, playing chess.

"Come on, you can play there" I joked, but I was shocked when I saw that Mustafa liked the idea.

"Yes... that sounds great" He hurried over and sat down at one of the tables with the other men... I felt worried that he might be recognized.

Mustafa started playing with one of them, and I watched him with a smile as he seemed to be enjoying himself so much that he even engaged in a lively discussion with the man about chess and how beautiful it was.

Mustafa had already won, but they decided to play another round... My expression froze, and I felt a shock when we heard two men talking at the table behind us.

"I still can't believe our sultan is crazy" one man said, shaking his head "It is his mother and that wretched Davut Pasha who rule the state... The empire now is just a joke"

"Indeed.. They say he hardly makes any decisions anymore... They pull the strings while he is but a puppet" the other replied, then they laughed.

My heart sank as I glanced at Mustafa, whose expression had darkened...I could see the joy slipping away, replaced by the harsh reality of the rumors that surrounded him.

He barely finished that round before he stood up and came over to me, looking uneasy.

"Do they truly think so little of me?" he asked, his voice filled with hurt.

I could feel the weight of his pain and gently placed my hand over his "You are more than what they say, Mustafa. You have the strength to be your own man... Don't let their words define you"

He looked down at my hand, and I could sense the gratitude in his gaze "Thank you, Victoria... Your kindness means more to me than you know"

As we continued through the market, the laughter and colors felt bittersweet... I could see the struggle within him... But in that moment, as he squeezed my hand softly that he was still holding because of he's anxiety, I felt a flicker of hope... Perhaps, together, we could navigate this world and find a way for him to reclaim his strength.... He's smart..he deserves the throne and deserves to rule this state on his own.