It had been ten days since I arrived in the harem of the Ottoman Empire's palace. The work here felt endless and utterly exhausting. On top of that, I was subjected to Alice's incessant chatter. Never before had I encountered anyone who talked so much.

After finishing all my duties for the day, I sought a quiet spot in the center of the harem, away from the girls whose endless chatter seemed to fill the air. Just as I settled in, Alice appeared and, as always, sat next to me, brimming with energy.

"How are you today? Are you enjoying the atmosphere here?" she said with a wide smile.

I raised an eyebrow and spoke in a low voice. "Enjoying the tiring work, for example?"

She laughed lightly. "Yes, you're right." She turned her attention to the girls. "Look at Eylem," she said, pointing toward her with a laugh.

I quickly lowered her hand. "Don't," I said, glancing at her. "What's wrong?"

"She's very angry," Alice murmured, her voice lowering. "She hasn't spent a single night with Şehzade Mehmet since that day when we saw her return late."

"Why do you think that is?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"I don't know. She usually spends at least two nights a week with him," Alice said, raising her eyebrows. "But he hasn't met with any of his favorites since that day. I wonder what’s going on."

I remained silent, watching Eylem. She was a bit nervous, her face marked with signs of disgust.

Alice motioned for me to look up. When I did, I saw a woman standing in the upper corridor outside the doors. She had striking red hair and wore a green dress with matching jewelry. The color suited her remarkably well, and she appeared to be watching someone, perhaps a girl.

At that moment, Fahriye Kalfa entered, standing in front of Eylem with a smile that seemed entirely fake.

"Eylem Hatun," she said, "Come with me. Hürrem Sultan wishes to see you."

Eylem quickly stood and left with Fahriye Kalfa, her face pale with a mix of anxiety and dread. I kept watching until they disappeared from sight. Something important must have been happening.

Half an hour later, Eylem returned, a provocative smile on her face, her mood seemingly lifted. She ignored all the other girls and made her way straight to her room.

My mind was consumed with what had transpired. Though I had no particular interest in gossip, the situation I was in required me to know everything happening in this palace, especially since my mission was tied to such matters.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a sentence I didn’t understand, but I caught one name: "Safiye Sultan."

Alice grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet, leaving me confused. I looked around and saw everyone bowing, so I followed suit.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't resist stealing a glance. As I slowly lifted my eyes, I saw a woman who appeared to be in her late forties or early fifties. Despite her age, she radiated effortless elegance and allure. She wore a white and gold gown, with a large golden crown resting on her brown hair. I had never seen anyone so strikingly beautiful.

Behind her were several girls, presumably her maids, but I couldn't help noticing how angry she looked. She was the very image of elegance and beauty. If she had walked into British high society, she would surely have impressed even the most refined noblewomen.

Once the scene ended, we returned to our places. Alice immediately began telling me important things that only those who lived in this palace knew.

"This is Safiye Sultan," Alice said. "She is Sultan Suleiman’s second wife. The first one we saw with the red hair is Hürrem Sultan, his first wife." She glanced at me and continued, "Şehzade Mehmet is Hürrem Sultan’s son."

I looked at her with interest. Despite the information she had already shared, I needed to know more for myself. "You told me before that the Sultan had many princes, but they all died."

Alice nodded. "Yes. That’s why Şehzade Mehmed is so young compared to his father and the sultanas. They usually give birth at a very young age."

"How old is the prince?" I asked, seeking confirmation.

"Nineteen years old. If his brothers were still alive, they would have been much older than him," Alice replied.

"There must be enmity between the Sultan’s wives, right?" I asked, speaking calmly.

“It’s not just enmity,” Alice said, her eyes widening. “It’s a ruthless war that’s been simmering for years. It all began when the Sultan was still young, ascending the throne at the age of twenty. He had several favorites in the harem, and one of them bore him a son, but the infant tragically died within months from a fever. The Sultan was devastated, withdrawing into grief for a long time."

"It was during this somber period that Roxelane entered the harem, Hürrem Sultan, as she’s known now. She was breathtaking, full of spirit and charm. When she started spending time with the Sultan, she brought laughter back into his life. Within a year, she gave birth to her first son, Şehzade Orhan. That’s when the envy began. From then on, no other concubine could capture the Sultan’s attention the way she did."

"Over the years, she bore him two more princes and a daughter. Eventually, he married her. But as her influence grew, so did her arrogance, along with an insatiable hunger for power. The Sultan began to lose his affection for her, realizing she might love power more than she loved him."

"Then came Sophia, now known as Safiye Sultan. She was sent to the Sultan by his mother, and it’s said she used her beauty and cunning to ensnare him. At first, Hürrem didn’t see her as a threat. She assumed Sophia would be just another passing fancy. But that wasn’t the case."

"Soon, Safiye became pregnant with her first child. Not long after, Hürrem also conceived again. Yet, the Sultan’s gaze seemed to linger more often on Safiye. In the end, Hürrem bore four sons and two daughters, while Safiye gave birth to three sons and two daughters."

"When two of Hürrem’s children died from a severe infectious illness, things grew darker. She accused Safiye of orchestrating their deaths, and of having murdered Safiye’s own eldest son, who died at the age of ten. The Sultan ordered an investigation, but no proof was ever found. Still, whispers filled the palace, many believed Hürrem was behind it."

"Shortly afterward, Safiye became pregnant again. Before she even gave birth, the Sultan married her. Hürrem was livid. Can you guess what happened next?"

I spoke in a low voice. "One of Safiye Sultan’s children died again?"

"Alice smiled."Exactly. That was when the Sultan began to suspect that traitors lurked within the palace, murdering his sons. In the aftermath, Safiye was consumed with fury. When she gave birth to a daughter, she sought vengeance. One of Hürrem’s sons was drowned under suspicious circumstances, staged to appear as an accident."

"For a while, the palace fell into uneasy stillness. But six years later, the rivalry reignited. Hürrem’s son, Şehzade Mehmed, was twelve; Safiye’s son, Şehzade Murad, was eight. Hürrem hid her wrath behind a mask of calm, waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike."

"When a foreign princess arrived at the palace, Hürrem seized the opportunity. She poisoned Safiye’s son, pinning the blame on the newcomer. The deception worked. Safiye Sultan lost all her sons and was left only with her daughters, while Hürrem emerged from the ashes of the feud with a single son and two daughters."

I sat in silence for a moment, processing this dark history. "Why hasn’t Safiye Sultan done anything to get rid of Şehzade Mehmet yet?" I asked, anxiety creeping into my voice.

"That’s the question," Alice said with a sly smile. "It’s been seven years, and she hasn’t made a move. But don’t be deceived, Safiye Sultan is cunning. No doubt she’s quietly plotting her next step."

She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Hürrem guards her son fiercely. He’s the future of the dynasty, their only hope. They’re too afraid to send him to Manisa for his princely duties, fearing he won’t survive the journey."

I looked ahead, deep in thought. "How do you know all of this?" I asked.

Alice laughed. "Dear, when you’re curious, you learn things."

Fahriye Kalfa entered then and clapped her hands. "Prepare the place," she called. "There’s a party tonight, and the sultanas will attend."

One of the girls by the wall asked, "What’s the occasion, Fahriye Kalfa? Please tell us."

Fahriye Kalfa placed her hands on her hips. "Enough with the curiosity. You’ll find out later tonight. Now, hurry up!"