|Ayleen's POV|

I gazed out the carriage window, my vision blurred by tears, as Turhan Sultan’s prayers beside me pierced the silence, filling my ears.. but indeed, I couldn’t bring myself to blame her.

When Orhan took his leave and we departed, he informed me that Zeynep Sultan was in critical condition.. she had collapsed in the market, and her maids had hastily brought her back to her palace.. since then, the doctors had been working tirelessly to stop her bleeding.

A wave of fear and worry washed over me.. I had sensed something was wrong the moment I saw her, and guilt gnawed at me for not offering help or asking about her struggles.

But I could never understand why she had been in the market, especially when she had always insisted on staying inside the palace.. She had been so cautious about her pregnancy, terrified of anything jeopardizing it, and had always sworn she wouldn’t take the risk of venturing out.

Turhan Sultan was the first to step out of the carriage, and I followed closely, noticing that Orhan had already made his way into the palace, with one of his guards standing by, holding his horse.. I had no doubt Orhan would reach the palace in an instant, for as composed as he usually was, the fear for his sister had been unmistakable in his eyes just moments before.

I glanced behind me to see Fatma Sultan and Rana stepping out of the other carriage, then quickly turned my attention back to my steps as we made our way into the palace beneath the pitch-black sky.

When we reached the door to her room, I saw Mansur standing alone, his head lowered and his hands clasped in front of him.. Turhan Sultan didn’t even spare him a glance, walking straight into her daughter’s room without a pause.

Inside, we found Zeynep sitting on the bed, her face hidden in Orhan’s chest.. the only sound that filled the room was her soft sobbing, while Orhan tenderly ran his hand through her hair, murmuring comforting words.

"Mother" Zeynep lifted her head at the sound of our entrance, her eyes frantically searching for her mother.. her sobs grew more desperate, her voice trembling as she cried "I lost my baby again... Why is this happening to me?"

Turhan Sultan sat beside her on the other side, her eyes brimming with tears, and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, desperately trying to comfort her. 

I stood there, frozen in shock, unable to comprehend that this was happening.. I had been praying for her all this time.. she had spoken so often of this pregnancy, her joy and excitement overflowing as she counted the days until she could hold her baby in her arms... and now, all of that had been shattered.

"Everything will be alright, my dear" Turhan Sultan said after a long pause, gently pulling away from the embrace and cradling her daughter's face in her hands "Allah will compensate you, for He never abandons His people, especially in their darkest moments"

"My dear, don’t torment yourself over this" Fatma Sultan said, moving closer and gently brushing her hand over Zeynep’s cheek "You are still young, and you have a long life ahead of you, insha'Allah.. pray to Allah for the strength to endure this, and He will bless you with what is best for you"

"I want to go with you" Zeynep cried, her swollen, red eyes immediately turning to Orhan.. she looked drained, but her desperation was clear "Please, brother, I need to go right now"

Although everyone was taken aback by her sudden urge to leave in such a condition and at such a time, Orhan agreed, wanting nothing more than to see her find some peace and recover.. It seemed that being with us in the palace, surrounded by care, would help her, and she would remain under our protection.

»»————-　♔　————-««

-Two days later-

"Now she clings to her side wherever she goes" I murmured softly, gazing out the window of my room at the tent where Turhan Sultan sat, her hair and part of her face hidden beneath her veil.. beside her, Theodora was clapping enthusiastically for Ahmed, who was deep into his training session with his instructor.

"Come inside and stop fretting over them.. she’ll be leaving this palace soon" Sibylle gently tugged my hand, leading me back inside. 

I sank into the couch, my gaze following the maids as they meticulously moved my belongings from the spare room to another, where they would be stored until the renovations, scheduled to begin tomorrow, were complete.

"I’m going to check on Zeynep Sultan" I said quietly, rising from my seat.. the constant noise and movement had left me feeling restless, dizzy, and uncomfortable, and I felt the need to leave and check on her.

As soon as I entered Zeynep's room, my gaze fell upon her sitting by the window, her eyes vacant, as though all vitality had been sucked from them, while a maid stood silently in the corner, watching over her.

"Zeynep" I whispered as I sat beside her. The sound of her name seemed to pull her back from the depths of her thoughts.. she turned toward me, revealing her exhausted, bloodshot eyes, dark circles beneath them from countless sleepless nights.

"Have you eaten anything?" I asked, gently placing my hand over hers.. I could feel her restless movements as her fingers grasped mine, holding on tightly "You look so tired.. please, take a moment to rest"

"I can’t... My mind is slowly consuming me" she whispered, a single tear shimmering in her eye before it quietly slid down her cheek.. I reached up with my free hand, gently brushing it away.

"I won’t pretend to fully understand your pain, because I can’t.. I haven’t lived through what you’re enduring, so I can’t truly grasp the depth of it.. but please, don’t lose hope in Allah’s mercy, he will make things right in time" I said gently, hoping to offer some comfort, even though I knew these words, repeated by many, could never truly ease the depth of her suffering.

"I can’t help but ask myself, what is my sin? What have I done to deserve this kind of punishment, not once, but twice?" More tears slipped from her eyes, but her voice remained unsettlingly calm "And yet, in the end, I’m confronted with the truth I’ve been avoiding for so long"

"Let me help carry some of your burden.. share your thoughts with me; it might ease your pain" I said, watching her intently, trying to piece together what she was hinting at. 

Her words carried an undertone I couldn’t fully grasp, but I could sense the depth of the pain she was holding... pain that seemed to span much more than she was letting on.

"I can’t... I can't tell you anything.. all you'll say is: we warned you from the beginning" she pulled her hand away, straightening up as fresh tears began to fall.. her sudden outburst caught me off guard, and I quickly tried to regain control of the situation.

"Nobody will say that to you.. just confide in me, and I’ll help you" I said quietly, placing my hand on her arm, my eyes fixed on her with growing concern.. slowly, the pieces began to fall into place, and her unspoken words were guiding my thoughts toward a dark and unsettling truth.

"I’m never happy.. Is that what you want to know?" She stood up suddenly, her voice cracking as the words spilled out, raw and jagged, as though they'd been trapped inside her for so long "I regret everything.. every single choice from the start.. every night, I pray that this is all just a nightmare, because I can’t keep going on like this.. I can't keep living with this pain"

I stood frozen in place, watching her, silently giving her the space she needed to let it all pour out.. I gestured for the maid to leave, knowing this moment had been a long time coming.. I couldn’t interfere.. she needed to release everything that had been suffocating her, and it had to be in private.

"This isn’t what I wanted" she cried, her voice breaking "and it seems my children are paying the price for someone else’s sins" Her sobs came in heavy, uncontrollable waves, each one seeming to tear through her.. as she collapsed to the floor, I rushed to her side, kneeling beside her, my heart breaking as I desperately tried to offer any comfort I could.

"Tell me who brought you to this state" I urged, gently brushing her hair back from her face, my hands holding her cheeks tenderly.. A deep sorrow stirred within me, though I had already reached a conclusion, I needed to hear it from her.

"He keeps cheating on me" she whispered, her voice breaking as if the words were a weight she could hardly bear "He promised it wouldn’t happen again, but he did it... again and again" Her sobs wracked her body, the pain evident in every tremble "He doesn’t care about me.. he’s only afraid of my brother"

I saw the weariness in her, her gasps growing louder, as though she could barely breathe.. panic crept into my chest, and I hurried to fetch a glass of water, gently helping her take a sip.. I then gave her the space she needed, silently waiting for her to find the strength to speak her heart.

"Two days ago, I followed him because I knew he was doing it again... And do you know what I found?" She looked at me with hollow, defeated eyes, her voice trembling as the words slowly escaped her, each one more agonizing than the last "He got his mistress pregnant"

Her words, her description, her tears... everything about it made my skin crawl.. my eyes welled up with tears as my heart ached with a mixture of sadness and fury.. I had always seen her as a sister, and seeing her like this, unraveling in front of me, pouring out the agony she had been carrying alone, shattered me to my core.

"Why didn’t you tell any of us from the beginning, Zeynep?" I asked quietly, my voice thick with emotion as I reached up to wipe away my own tears.. the thought that she had carried this weight alone for three years was almost impossible to comprehend.

"How could I have burdened you with the disaster I brought upon myself?" she whispered, her voice breaking as she buried her face in her hands, crying softly "I shattered my brother’s trust, betrayed him... I cast aside all the respect I had for my mother and screamed at her like a reckless, thoughtless child.. then, I stood before all of you, behaving terribly, convinced you would all see things my way... you were right, and I was blind.. so painfully blind"

"We are your family" I whispered, my hand softly tracing along her back "Your mother and brother love you more than anything.. they would never blame you for any of this.. they would tear apart anyone who dares to harm even a single strand of your hair"

"I’m the one who will make him pay, Ayleen" she said, her swollen eyes filled with an intensity I hadn't seen before, directed entirely at Mansur "I want his world to crumble for what he did to me and my children, who never had a chance at life"

I gazed at her, her words echoing in my mind.. she was finally speaking out against Mansur, and I knew she would likely tell Orhan everything.. that alone could be enough to seal Mansur's fate, but should it end there?

»»————-　♔　————-««

-The Next Day-

"Sultanim, he is waiting for you in the farthest garden, near the stable reserved for the horses" Sumbul said, gently taking my veil from Ebru's hands and swiftly adjusting it for me.

"I don’t understand, Ayleen" Sibylle remarked, watching me with surprise as she carried Osman on her hip "How did you change your mind about this so quickly?"

"I’ll explain everything to you, I promise.. but right now, I can’t keep him waiting.. he’s not just anyone" I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes, my anxiety making it difficult to mask my true feelings.. I then left with Sumbul by my side, silently hoping we wouldn’t cross paths with anyone along the way.

We walked only a short distance before arriving at the stable, a place I had only visited a handful of times.. three or four, at most.. It seemed like the perfect location to meet Yunus Pasha without attracting any unwanted attention.

"Your Highness" he greeted, turning as he heard my footsteps approach.. he lowered his head, his hands placed before him in a respectful gesture.

"Pasha, I am grateful for your presence" I remarked with a composed nod "I am aware of your limited time, but there is a matter weighing heavily on my mind that I cannot entrust to anyone but you"

"It is an honor, your highness" he replied in a quiet tone, his gaze respectfully lowered as was his custom.

A man of great dignity and intellect, he had only crossed my path a few times, yet in each encounter, his actions and words had always reflected the utmost respect.. this was hardly surprising, given the noble legacy of his family, who had long served the state with distinction.

"It concerns Mansur Pasha" I began, allowing the words to linger in the air as I struggled to find the right way to approach the conversation.. this was unfamiliar territory for me, and my anxiety gnawed at me with every passing second “What are your thoughts on him?” I added, hoping to gauge his opinion, watching the look of surprise slowly spread across his face.

"Your Highness…" He fell silent once more, and for the first time, his gaze met mine.. In that moment, I could see the conflict in his eyes.. he had something he wished to say, but the gravity of his position held him back.. after all, Mansur is the husband of a dynasty sultana.

"Do not worry, Yunus Pasha, feel free to speak openly" I reassured him, hoping to gain his trust, as my request depended on it.

"Well, your Highness..." He sighed, as though the very mention of Mansur’s name had drained the energy from him "He’s like a nightmare, casting a pall wherever he goes, disrupting the peace.. he’s been a nuisance for years, but ever since His Majesty appointed me as Grand Vizier, Mansur Pasha has become an even heavier burden"

"That's because he covets your position, Pasha" I let the words fall casually, as if they were nothing, though I knew his ambition was well-concealed, and only a select few were aware of it "He's the one who orchestrated the death of the previous Grand Vizier, or at the very least, played a role in it"

It seemed Yunus Pasha needed a moment to process this, but it wasn’t a shock to him.. It was more as if he hadn’t suspected Mansur, yet wouldn’t put it past him either.

"Is there any evidence to support this, your highness?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.. but quickly, he seemed to realize the potential disrespect in his question "Forgive me, I didn’t mean to overstep, and I do believe what you're saying..."

"Do not worry, Yunus Pasha" I replied swiftly, sensing his hesitation.. for all the respect he had for me, my admiration for him ran deeper "What I need is the evidence.. and since I cannot uncover it alone, I must rely on your help.. you have more connections and influence than I do"

"I am prepared to assist you, Sultana, if it means finally uncovering the truth behind the death of the previous Grand Vizier" he said with resolve, nodding as though this moment had been anticipated for some time.. now that it was within his grasp, he would not let it slip away.

"Alright, listen carefully…" I began, recounting everything Sumbul had shared with me that day, while weaving in my own thoughts, doubts, and theories.. as he processed the information and began drawing his own conclusions, I felt a surge of pride.. I had chosen the right person to confide in.

“Consider it done, Your Highness” he replied, effectively sealing our conversation.. his confident tone reassured me that he already had a clear plan in mind.m he knew exactly where to go and who to involve.

I turned to head back inside with Sumbul, who was speaking to me about various matters, but my thoughts were so consumed with worries and considerations that I hardly heard him.. It wasn't until he mentioned Rana that my attention snapped back to him.

"What did you say?" I asked, my voice laced with irritation as I turned to face him sharply.. he recoiled slightly, surprised by the intensity of my response.. after a brief pause, he offered a smile, his hand resting thoughtfully on his chin.

"Rana Hanim Sultan spoke with the Valide Sultan, and they’ve decided to delay the henna ceremony for a few more days due to what happened with Zeynep Sultan" he explained, his words stirring a sense of irritation within me. 

While I had anticipated that Rana would seize this opportunity for her own gain, my concern wasn't just for Zeynep..though I was deeply saddened for her... having Rana stay longer, and giving her more time, would not serve me well.. I could never predict the next move she might make.

»»————-　♔　————-««

|3rd Person POV|

"Now that we have more time, the situation is working in our favor" Fatma Sultan said, interlacing her fingers as she paced back and forth in the room.. Meanwhile, Rana sat before the mirror, brushing her hair absentmindedly.

"I don't believe anything is working in our favor" Rana replied, stealing a brief glance at her mother in the mirror before returning to comb her hair, her frustration evident.

"What’s with this pessimism?" Fatma paused, her attention fully on her daughter as she turned to face her "You’ve been out of sorts these past two days.. what’s troubling you?'

"Everything feels like a problem to me" Rana snapped, slamming the comb onto the table with force as she stood up, overwhelmed by the weight of it all "Why can’t you see where we’ve ended up, Mother? We’ll never succeed in fulfilling your desires.. how many more girls do we need to threaten? How many more lives must we ruin? How much more plotting do we need to do? We’ll never win.. first Feyza, then Helena.. Ayleen, or whoever… and now Theodora!"

Fatma Sultan stood rooted to the spot, her eyes wide with disbelief as she watched her daughter’s outburst.. Rana had always been obedient, always listening intently to her mother and following her advice without question.. What had changed?

"She, too, will marry him and go on with her life as if nothing ever happened, raising her children, while my youth has been wasted and will continue to slip away, and I'll watch as everyone else gets what I longed for" tears gathered in Rana's eyes as she pressed her hand to her forehead, her movements tense with agitation "I can't do this anymore.. If he was ever going to choose me, he would have done so years ago.. when Feyza entered his life, we blamed it on my age, but after that, I was ready.. Turhan Sultan was supposed to choose me, but now she’s choosing everyone but me.. I’m just throwing away my life, chasing after something I’ll never have!"

"Rana, you’re just rambling" Fatma Sultan shouted, her voice rising as she stepped forward, gripping her daughter’s arms firmly and locking eyes with her "We won’t give up, not after all these years.. what about everything we’ve fought for? What about all the sacrifices? What about the prophecy you’ve always believed in?!"

"It’s not me, Mother, it’s not me!" Rana cried out in desperation, her voice breaking "If I stay here another day, I’ll only watch that princess take the name.. Maybe Theodora is Celile, and if not her, then the next one.. but it will never be me... I will never be..."

She froze mid-sentence as Fatma's hand struck her face with a sharp crack, the force so intense that her head snapped to the side.. the pain in her neck throbbed, more excruciating than the sting of the slap itself.

"You either snap out of it, or I will deal with you another way" Fatma said, her voice icy as she pointed a finger at Rana.. she gave her a final, disappointed look before turning sharply and leaving the room.

Rana crumpled to the floor, her hands clutching one of the armchairs as she buried her face in them... It felt as though her mind and chest were on the verge of collapse, every dream and every pain shattering in a single, overwhelming moment.. the sight of Turhan Sultan’s growing closeness to Theodora had shattered her completely, pushing her to the edge.

The night before, sleep had eluded her. An oppressive weight pressed against her chest, and her thoughts spun in a whirlwind, dragging her back to a time when she was far too young to comprehend what was happening. 

Yet, even then, her mother had been determined to shape her into a woman.. she had pushed her to mature quickly, believing, for reasons Rana couldn’t understand, that she was more suited for this role than her other sisters.. claiming they lacked her beauty.

When Ahmad was born, she was just thirteen... what was she supposed to know? 

Nothing. 

Yet, even at that age, a simmering jealousy began to take root within her.. her mother, ever insistent, pushed her forward, telling her the title of the haseki sultan would one day be hers.. she reassured Rana that age didn’t matter because she appeared more mature than her years.. In fact, she even shared that when she had married, she was the same age as Rana.

Because of her mother’s words and her sisters’ encouragement, that dream had grown day by day, becoming all-consuming. 

Orhan and his harem filled her thoughts relentlessly.. during the day, she would follow him wherever he went, hoping to catch his attention, desperate for a moment that might change her fate.. but at night, when the world was quiet, she would sit alone in the dark, plotting and scheming, finding ways to eliminate every girl who might stand in her way.

She had become obsessed.. young girls, some barely fifteen years old, had already found their way into his room, into his arms, while she remained an outsider.. the thought consumed her.. she had never been able to step into that circle, to gain what she craved more than anything else. 

The first heinous act she ever committed was burning the face of one of the girls.. the memory of that night haunted her.. she couldn’t sleep, her mind consumed by the overwhelming guilt.. though she had never considered herself a kind person, what she had done went beyond anything she could have imagined.. It shattered something inside her. 

But in the aftermath, something changed.. everything she did afterward felt easier, more detached.. the guilt faded, replaced by a coldness that left her numb to emotion, as if she had crossed a line from which there was no return.

Getting rid of Feyza felt like the greatest accomplishment of her life, the culmination of everything she had worked toward.. she felt as though only a few more steps stood between her and her ultimate goal. 

During that time, her mother put her through rigorous training, focusing solely on protocol.. despite already being a Hanim Sultan and knowing all the rules, her mother insisted on perfection, wanting her to be even more refined, more suitable for the role.. but their excitement quickly turned to frustration as more girls began entering Orhan’s chambers, and the worst blow came when the news of pregnancies started to circulate.

She poured every ounce of her effort and intellect into removing those obstacles, working relentlessly without a moment's rest.. She pushed herself to the brink of exhaustion, only to see a new girl emerge from nowhere. 

Helena was the hardest blow she could have ever received.. she wasn’t like the others; she was granted all the titles, all the power, and all the status the moment she entered the empire.. and as for the rest... well, it quickly turned into a nightmare.

She felt as though her life had been consumed by illusions.. for the first time, she hated everything.. she longed to halt this marriage, to return home, to rediscover herself.

Who is Rana without the dream she will never achieve? who is Rana without the title she so desperately craved?

She had built every dream around becoming the Sultan’s wife, but now, with reality crashing down upon her, the thought of a different future seemed utterly impossible.

»»————-　♔　————-««

Sorry this chapter ended up being a bit long and kinda boring especially the last scene but hey it was necessary!!