I sat awaiting for the news anxiously. I had heard... 

"Hürrem Hatun has been called to the Sultan's chambers as of now!" Aysel announced as she stepped into my rooms. I get up at hearing this.

"Aysel, do you think he will believe the words of the letter?" I ask, worriedly. Now I have begun to be doubting my plans, and there is also the possibility the Sultan would find out that I am behind it, and then I will be doomed.

She shakes her head. "Our plan was pretty flawless. My only concern would be that Hürrem sweet-talks him into forgiving her, like she always manages to, and life goes on like that."

"Or worse," Aysel leans in to whisper. "She could do a pregnancy defense."

I scoff. "But she hasn't been with him for weeks, or rather months I'd say! I have had practically every moment."

Aysel shrugs her shoulders. "That's a common defense though, buys enough time to come up with some other plan to still stay."

I nod. "Yes, this is very possible. Though I suppose all we can do now is wait and pray to Allah that things will go as planned."

It's at this point that Nigar Kalfa marches in, and looks left and right to me and Aysel, then raises her brows.

"What is it, Nigar?"

"You are needed by Sultan Süleyman."

My eyes bulge. "Oh no... I think I may be in great trouble right now. Did he at least say why?"

Nigar shakes her head. "No, but if I were you, I would not want to keep the Sultan himself waiting, especially considering the significance of the situation at present."

"Alright." I inhale deeply. "Time to go then. I am resigned to my fate as is every breath I take in this harem."

I brush past Nigar and head towards the rooms of Sultan Süleyman. I pass by the harem, I can faintly hear my name being announced but it all feels as though I am going by in a blur of time- girls are frozen in motion, doing their things, some watching me, and I am seeing it all.

I blink again and it is back to life, but I am already on my way out, and up the stairs, towards the Golden Road that more than a year ago, I first stepped on and awaited my fate.

It seemed so recently ago, but now it could all end.

This could all end now.

With every step I shake a bit. My plot could be discovered. It could've already been. I could be dead in a matter of minutes, and I didn't even kiss my children goodbye. This made me panic even more. I could very well be executed and then what would happen of my beloved heirs? Surely, Hürrem will destroy my son, and perhaps my daughter as well. She's a witch and wouldn't stop any short of such heinous activity.

Busying myself with these thoughts I almost crash into Ibrahim. Or rather, the wall right beside him. 

"Oh I'm sorry, Pasha?" I exclaim, rubbing my head where I tapped it lightly against the wall by accident.

"Watch out Zevki Sultan, you can't go around hitting your head right before entering Sultan Süleyman's rooms. Especially now that Hürrem's questioning is over and she left."

I nod, though more nervous because she didn't seem to have gotten punished. A bad sign for me. "Shall I go see him now?"

"Yes please." Ibrahim motions me to go in.

I walk by and inside his rooms.

Sultan Süleyman is sitting at his seat, his hand scratching his beard as he stares at me.

"You called for me, my Sultan?" I say, nervously. 

"Come here, Zevki."

I come over to him quickly and make sure to bow.

"I heard there's things going on." Sultan Süleyman begins. "Do you know anything of it?"

"What business?" I ask.

"There's allegations Hürrem intends to dethrone me, and that she despises me truly."

I gape. "How horrid, how could she ever do such a thing-"

The Sultan raises his hand to make me silent. "I didn't ask your opinion. I asked if you knew anything of the allegations."

Süleyman leans in. "Or are you a part of it?"

I shake my head left and right quickly. "Oh Allah, never my Sultan! You know my heart and my best interests are to you, I wouldn't want to do this-"

"I mean the allegations. When I spoke to Hürrem, she said that everyone is her enemy here in the harem, and they all want to get rid of her, and this is a sham occasion."

I bite my lip, then begin slowly, the lie I have rehearsed. "My dear Sultan Süleyman, I know you have heard these words many from me, but I want you to truly accept it: I love you, more than my own life, and I am forever devoted to you. To even think of trying to undermine your relationships, your own choices, is an act that is unspeakable, and to link some minor disagreements I have had with Hürrem in the past to a potential sabotage of her is painful."

The Sultan nods along. I decide to take it a step further. I groan a little, and grasp my forehead and wobble a bit. Süleyman immediately gets up from his chair.

"Zevki! Are you all right?"

I nod, though still trying to keep up the act. "My Sultan, if anything, if you ask even your own mother in this situation- Hürrem has recently been the one acting worse and worse to us. It was she who tried to drown me. It was she who insulted and hurt Mahidevran. It was she who defied the orders of the Valide. And it was she who recently threatened to hurt my children..." I begin to sob by the end and collapse. 

The Sultan comes to my rescue, picks me up, and lifts me over to the bed.

"Aghas! Call the nurse!"

I wanted to tell him not to, but at this moment, I truly was feeling faint, like something was going on inside of me, and I slowly drifted into sleep in the arms of Süleyman.

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A/N: Haven't done an A/N in a while, but just wanted to ask: what do you think of this chapter? What do you think will happen next? Will Hürrem get in trouble? Let me know in the comments. Also, I'm sorry for not updating sooner. I was just very busy, sick, and a lot of things going on for me. Thank you for reading, make sure to give a like on the chapter!