We followed Nigar Kalfa through the corridors of the Topkapi harem. The walls were adorned with intricate tilework with foreign words embossed on them, and the air was perfumed with exotic spices and flowers. It felt very exciting for a moment, but then I remembered... I am Francesca Fortuna, a spanish princess kidnapped by these very same barbarians to be a "slave".

𝔑𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔠𝔞𝔪𝔢 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪.

As we entered another commons hall, a group of girls approached us, their faces reflecting a mix of curiosity and indifference. They were wearing plain blue gowns with colored stripes, and their hair held small carved pins in the back. Some were tall, some were short, but they looked pretty much my age.

"These are the newcomers," Nigar Kalfa announced, and the girls nodded, some whispering amongst themselves. "Follow the rules and behave well. If you do, this place will become heaven for you. If not, this will be your cehennem."

I shuddered a bit by her ominous warning. cehennem? That's hell, or infierno in Spanish. The other girls bowed to Nigar Kalfa as she left and Elisabeth nudged me a bit to do the same.

"Why should I bow to her? Isn't she a slave?" I whispered to Elisabeth.

"She's a slave, but so are we. She's just a more powerful slave." Elisabeth answered as I groaned and bent my knees slightly, but Nigar was already out of hearing distance. This was not good. I had to bow to a slave now?

Elisabeth took my arm and another girl motioned for us to follow her into the area where we will have our rooms. We were lucky, she told us. "Usually you'd sleep on beds in the hallway but they are all packed for now."

Perhaps Jesus Christ willed it to be so, since I was captured might as well sleep as sound as a baby.

Elisabeth and I were assigned a small but comfortable room. It was furnished with plush cushions and silk curtains, a stark contrast to the squalid conditions we had endured on the ship. As we settled in, a young girl with striking green eyes and a warm smile entered our room.

"Hello, I am Fatma," she said softly. "I work in the harem as a helper. Sumbul-aga sent me to let you know, if you need anything, do not hesitate to ask. The harem can be a confusing place at first, but you will find your way."

"Thank you, Fatma," I replied. Elisabeth nodded in agreement.

"We will have classes starting tomorrow. You will learn Turkish, Arabic, arts and music, and dancing. They are with the group, so you will be learning together." Fatma continued. 

I looked at Elisabeth excitedly. Dancing? That sounded fun. I was very good at ballroom dancing, and perhaps they had some sort of ball here too, though the only place I could think of for that is outside or in the harem hall, but that would be a bit tight. Or perhaps there's a hidden ballroom or something they haven't shown us yet.

"That sounds like fun! We will be there." Elisabeth answered for us. Fatma nodded and left our room. I sighed when she left.

"I'm a bit nervous, Elisabeth." I told my dear new friend.

"What's going on? We are in the great and most powerful Ottoman Empire!" She motioned around us. I made a face.

"Okay, okay, fine. Second most powerful empire. But you get my point!" Elisabeth argued. 

"I suppose. But something tells me there's more to it than we can tell. Me being here, it's almost like God gave me that fate, and that's something I must go with." I scratched my chin in thought.

"I suppose you should consider that," Elisabeth started. "Don't always take things at first glance." 

I nodded. I needed to heed this piece of advice, and that of others, if I expected to survive in the Ottoman Empire for now.

--------