Elisabeth finally dragged me up after literally 3 minutes of sleeping. Or at least trying to. 'it's time for breakfast, princesa!' she told me. Ay, Acabo de llegar, ¿no merezco una siesta?

I have just gotten here, don't I deserve a nap? I suppose not, since nobody here besides Elisabeth and maybe Lucia Mendoza. I wonder what happened to her? Perhaps she made it to the palace too, or was sold as some slave in the market while we were passing it. Being a whiny woman that she is, I wouldn't be too surprised on that note.

I put on a simple white dress with a blue one over it, and headed over to the hall where some of the girls were setting up tables to eat food. I didn't know where to go, until one girl caught my eye and waved me over.

She said something in Turkish that I didn't understand, then waved it off. "Where are you from?" another girl asked. This I knew in Turkish from what Elisabeth shared.

"Ben İspanyalıyım." I pronounced carefully. I'm from Spain, I said. Another girl clapped her hands and came over to me.

"Tu también eres española?" She said excitedly. 

"Sí!" I smiled. "Are you new here too?" 

"Not really. I came a few months ago, grasped a lot of Turkish and other things, but I haven't achieved anything yet." She glanced upwards at what were the "favorite" rooms apparently. "Unlike them."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Angelina Carrillo, from Cordoba. What about you?"

"My name is Francesca," I lowered my voice, as to not be heard too much. "Francesca...Trastamará."

Okay, that was a lie. I am princesa Francesca Fortuna of Castile, and Trastamará is the name of some of my cousins and other relatives. But I can't let anybody besides Elisabeth know that a Spanish princess is here for now, or many people might be in trouble.

Angelina gasped. "You are from the Trastamará family? So you are a member of Spanish royalty!"

"Shh...!" I shushed her. "Don't tell anyone. I might be hurt in some way if you do."

Angelina nodded quickly, her eyes wide with understanding. "I won't say a word," she whispered, glancing around the room cautiously. "I swear on my life, countess...?"

"Lady Francesca." I interjected quickly. I gave her a grateful smile, relieved that she seemed to understand the gravity of my situation. 

As we continued to set the tables, more girls began filtering into the hall, some chatting animatedly while others moved with quiet efficiency. The air smelled of fresh bread and honey, something I had missed sorely during the weeks long trip over the sea. It was good and helpful to take my mind off of the events last night. 

After we finished setting up, the three of us, that is, Angelina, Elisabeth and I, found a table near the corner of the hall and sat down together. 

Plates of food were being passed around—soft cheese, olives, figs, and warm bread. It was modest compared to the extravagant feasts back home, but it was more than welcome to my empty stomach. I swear I've become so much skinnier on this journey.

"So," Angelina began, leaning in conspiratorially. "How did you two end up here?"

I paused, unsure of how much to reveal. Elisabeth, sensing my hesitation, jumped in. "Francesca and I were on a ship that was captured by pirates. We were taken as prisoners and brought here. It's been a rough journey, but we've managed so far."

Angelina nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I was captured too. My family thought sending me to the coast for safety would protect me from the wars, but it seems nowhere is safe these days."

There was a moment of silence as we all reflected on the paths that had led us here. Though our stories were different, we shared a common bond—being torn from our homes and thrust into an uncertain future.

As we ate, our conversation shifted to lighter topics. We talked about our favorite foods from Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, our families, and even shared a few jokes about the strange customs we were being forced to learn in this foreign land, like sitting on cushions instead of chairs. 

It felt good to laugh, even if only for a little while. It made the reality of our situation feel slightly less suffocating.

But our brief moment of solace was abruptly interrupted when the large wooden doors of the dining hall slammed open. 

Several guards marched in, their armor clanking ominously. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the men. I felt my stomach twist in knots, an ominous feeling creeping over me. They found out, didn't they? Oh dios. Por favor protégeme.

One of the guards, a tall man with a severe expression, stepped forward and addressed the room. "Attention, everyone! There has been a death in the palace," he announced, his voice booming across the hall. "A man was found dead in the hallway last night, and we are searching for the culprit."

My heart pounded in my chest. I could feel the blood drain from my face. From the corner of my eye, on the balcony of the Sultan Mother rooms, I saw Valide watching us all like hawks, trying to see who murdered her faithful assassin. 

The guard's eyes scanned the room, lingering on each of us for a moment too long. "Whoever is responsible will be punished severely," he continued. "There will be no mercy for murderers in this palace."

Beside me, Elisabeth's hand found mine under the table. Her grip was tight, and I could tell she was just as terrified as I was. Angelina glanced between us, sensing something was wrong. "What happened?" she whispered urgently.

I couldn't speak. My mind was racing, replaying the events of last night over and over again. I hadn't meant to kill him. It was an accident. He had attacked me, and I had defended myself. But would anyone believe me? 

In this place, where power and influence dictated justice, could a mere girl from a foreign land hope for mercy?

By now all the favorites, including Hürrem Hatun who I technically had saved, came out to see what was happening. 

The guards began moving through the hall, questioning the girls one by one. I could feel the tension building in the air, each of us wondering if we would be next. When they finally reached our table, I held my breath.

"You," the guard barked, pointing at me. "What do you know about the man who was found dead last night?"

I struggled to find my voice, my mouth dry with fear. "I... I don't know anything," I stammered. "I didn't see anything."

The guard narrowed his eyes, clearly not convinced. "Where were you last night?"

"I was in my room," I lied, my voice barely a whisper. Francesca, keep calm. "I didn't leave."

The guard stared at me for a long moment, as if trying to decide whether to believe me or not. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. Finally, he grunted and moved on to the next girl. I let out a shaky breath, relieved but still on edge.

Elisabeth squeezed my hand tighter. "We need to be careful," she whispered. "If they find out the truth..."

I nodded, unable to speak. The truth was dangerous now. If the guards discovered what had really happened, I could be executed. There was no room for mistakes.

As the guards continued their questioning, the atmosphere in the hall remained tense. Breakfast was forgotten, and the girls whispered anxiously among themselves. I could see the fear in their eyes, mirroring my own. I hope they lay off.

When the guards finally left, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate, but only slightly. The culprit wasn't found, and there was still a chance they could find out. We were left in a state of unease. I glanced at Elisabeth and Angelina, both of whom seemed equally shaken.

"We'll get through this," Elisabeth said softly, though her voice lacked the conviction it usually carried. "We have to."

Angelina nodded in agreement, though her eyes betrayed her uncertainty. "We'll stick together," she added. "That's the only way we'll survive this."

I nodded, though deep down, I wasn't so sure. The palace was full of secrets, and I had just become part of one of the most dangerous. As much as I wanted to believe that we could protect each other, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just put us all in grave danger.