|Ayleen's POV|

-November 2, 1664-

I stepped into my room, feeling a little relieved to be back after a month.. we hadn't planned to stay in Edirne for so long, but Zeynep caught a cold that forced us to delay our return until we were sure she had fully recovered.

Though the place was undeniably beautiful, I never felt like I belonged there.. the entire experience had been nothing short of miserable.

"You need to get some rest" Sibylle said, brushing a hand over my shoulder before sitting beside me "You threw up four times on the way back, traveling really doesn't sit well with you"

"I don't want to rest" I sighed softly, absentmindedly twisting my ring between my fingers "I need to speak with Orhan first.. his letter unsettled me, I have to know what he wants to say"

"He's not in the palace at the moment.. get some rest first, then..."

She stopped mid-sentence as we both turned toward Sumbul, who had just entered the room.. since our arrival, I hadn't noticed where he had gone, but wherever he had been, his expression made one thing clear.. something was wrong.

"What is it?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow as I studied his face.

He seemed to have something on the tip of his tongue, but his obvious tension held him back.

"Sultanim..." He hesitated, his fingers twitching anxiously as his eyes flickered between me and Sibylle before shifting to Ebru and Buşra "Take the children to their chamber"

The moment his words registered, I rose to my feet, a tightness seizing my chest.

I watched as Ebru and Buşra guided Nuray and the twins away and though I was desperate to hear what he had to say, a small, fearful part of me wished time would slow, because I wasn't ready for whatever was about to shatter my world.

"Before we left, I instructed one of the girls to keep an eye on Rana Hanim Sultan and Princess Theodora" he murmured, exhaling heavily as he avoided my gaze.. for the first time, I saw true gravity in his expression and demeanor.

"What happened in the palace? What did she say?" I asked, stepping closer, struggling to maintain my composure.

"The palace had been quiet all month" he replied, his gaze finally meeting mine "His Majesty rarely left, aside from a week-long hunting trip, and the rest of the days passed without incident.. but she couldn't keep a close watch, the kalfas were too strict, and with the princess staying outside the harem, it was even more challenging.. still, two days ago, she managed to uncover something" he swallowed hard before adding "She heard the princess herself say that she is pregnant"

The words struck me like a fatal blow, stealing the breath from my chest.. I went rigid, my vision swimming as an overwhelming pressure settled over me.

My legs gave out beneath me, too weak to hold me up, and if Sibylle hadn't rushed to catch me, I would have crumpled to the floor.. she eased me onto the couch, but the world around me blurred into nothingness.

All I could feel was the storm raging inside me.. my thoughts spun out of control, crashing into one another, while a cold dread crept through my veins, as if my blood had turned to ice.. my vision blurred, whether from tears or the brink of unconsciousness, I couldn't tell.

"They did it" Sibylle muttered beside me, her voice filled with fury.. I could hear her cursing several names, but my mind barely registered the words.

He gave me his word.

And yet... his letter had already planted doubt in my mind.

Could it really be true?

"Ayleen, please don't let this consume you" she pleaded, pressing a glass of water into my hands "They aren't worth it"

Had I been naive enough to think this would never happen?

Sumbul and Sibylle stayed by my side, murmuring words they hoped would ease my pain, as if they could somehow pull this unbearable weight from my chest.

They couldn't.

I wouldn't accept this.

I forced myself to take a moment, to still my trembling hands, silence the storm in my mind, and swallow my tears.

I would not sit here and surrender to something I refused to accept.

I am no ordinary woman.

Without hesitation, I hurled the glass in my hands, watching it shatter against the floor.. Ignoring Sibylle's worried protests, I rose to my feet and strode out of the room.

»»-----　♔　-----««

The moment I stepped into the chamber, fury burned in my eyes, and I vowed that I would not allow this, not at the cost of my dignity.

I have my own rights, and divorce is one of them.

"Ayleen" he studied my expression briefly before closing the distance between us "I was just about to come to you when I heard you had arrived"

"Why were you coming to me?" I asked, arching a brow and stepping back.. I was about to say more when the sound of the door interrupted me.

Orhan gave me a puzzled look before turning his gaze to the door, allowing whoever was outside to enter.

"Your Majesty" Yunus Pasha's voice rang out from behind me before he added "If this is an unsuitable moment, I can return later"

"There's no need for that, stay" Orhan replied.

I wanted to shout at him, to demand that Yunus Pasha leave so I could say what I had come here to say.. but instead, I simply looked away as Orhan turned and walked toward his desk.

"It is done" he said, holding a document and carefully scanning its contents, as if ensuring everything was in order, then, he pressed his ring into the seal before turning back to Yunus Pasha "My decision is final, this alliance will not happen.. deliver this to them tomorrow and send them back where they came from"

His words took me by surprise.. I found myself pulled into the conversation, struggling to grasp what was happening, yet none of it made any sense to me.

Yunus Pasha took the document without hesitation and turned to leave.. I shot him a sharp glare, blinded by my rage, but to my confusion, he smirked at me before walking away.

"What exactly is going on here?" I asked, turning my gaze to Orhan.

"You've been deeply invested in this alliance these past weeks" he remarked, stepping closer, his tone as calm as ever "It won't happen"

He reached out to rest a hand on my arm, but I disregarded the gesture, overwhelmed by confusion and a sense of distrust.. I needed to understand what was going on.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" I asked, arching a brow, my voice shaking despite my efforts to steady it "What is all of this? I don't understand.. Is this..."

"Slow down" he interrupted, visibly startled by my outburst, then he ran a hand along the side of his neck "The truth is, this entire situation has been weighing on me, and I wanted to discuss it with you"

"Oh, really? And which part exactly has been troubling you? Is it..." My words were abruptly silenced as he took my hand and guided me toward the desk.

"I've had doubts about the Prussians since their arrival" he confessed "There was nothing wrong with their desire for a truce or alliance, but..."

His eyes met mine for a brief moment before drifting to his finger, which rested on an unmarked spot on the map.

"They have their sights set on the New World.. with the rest of Europe preoccupied with Africa, they're looking to seize the opportunity"

I stared at the map, struggling to make sense of his words.. Was this manipulation? What did any of this have to do with the questions racing through my mind? I turned to him, ready to demand the answers I sought, but he spoke first.

"My decision was delayed because some of our men were investigating the matter" he explained, then, he retrieved a large document from beneath the map and placed it in my hands"The New World is my vision.. I have spent years laying the groundwork for it.. I will not make a truce with someone who desires the very same thing I do"

The pieces were beginning to fit together.. the King of Prussia was preparing to take control of what they called the New World, and Orhan... this had been his dream, his plan, for years.

And yet, I still didn't understand.. why was he so unsettled by all this? And...

The princess is pregnant.

"If the alliance isn't happening, then why do you seem so unsettled? And why are your guests still here?" I asked, my tone cutting as I studied him closely, searching for any hint of deceit.. I didn't want to reveal what I knew, I wanted him to say it himself.

"They will leave tomorrow or the day after, once they receive my response" He let out a slow breath, his fist resting firmly on the desk "What worries me is how the people will react, they don't understand my vision.. to them, the ultimate goal was Vienna, and I already shattered that dream by aligning with the Roman Empire.. now, by rejecting this alliance with Prussia, they will claim I am dragging them into a war without purpose"

I felt my expression soften, my muscles relax.

I was invested in what he was saying.

He looked sincere, speaking with conviction about his vision, and there was no sign of anything else, nothing like what I had feared.

The guests would leave.. Turhan Sultan's dream had crumbled, and it seemed Orhan hadn't even considered that possibility.

But something was off.. was the princess planning something?

"Just because those before me sought Vienna doesn't mean I must do the same" His gaze remained fixed on that part of the map "If I succeed in this, it will be grander, far more significant.. It may seem reckless and destructive now, but one day, it will all make sense, and it will grant us greater power and influence"

"I..." I placed the document down, my gaze lingering on him as I tried to gather my thoughts.. after a moment, I reached out, resting my hand on his arm "You will have everyone's support.. Your vision is clear, and after everything you've done for the state, the people trust you"

Silence fell between us once more as Orhan gave a small nod.

I didn't want to sound selfish, but despite everything he had just said, despite the sadness in his words, I was still fixated on the fact that the princess would be leaving tomorrow.

He hadn't married her.

He hadn't touched her.

The child wasn't his.

I didn't need to ask any more questions to reach this conclusion.. It was as clear as the moon on the darkest night.

I felt lightheaded, as if the storm that had raged within me had finally passed.. the walls of doubt that had surrounded me just moments ago were beginning to crumble, and I was finally standing on solid ground again.

I turned to look at Orhan once more.. he held the document in his hand, studying it intently as if it were his most prized possession.

I had doubted him.. How could I?

Guilt and relief waged a silent war within me.. I had burst into his chambers, bracing for the worst, only to realize he had been honest all along.

But I wasn't going to let guilt ruin my happiness.

I wanted to throw myself into his arms, to let the relief consume me completely, as a wide smile found its way to my lips.

"What is it?" Orhan's voice pulled me from my thoughts.. he was looking at me with a confused, one-sided smile, as if my expression had just changed dramatically.

"Nothing" I answered with a soft smile before stepping forward, wrapping my arms around him, and resting my head against his chest.

»»-----　♔　-----««

"Ayleen Sultan" Theodora immediately rose from her seat the moment I stepped through the door, her expression betraying her surprise, as if she had expected anyone but me "I wasn't aware you had returned from Edirne, I hope your time there was enjoyable"

"Thank you.. I only just arrived a few hours ago" I replied with a soft smile, gently clasping my hands together "How have you been? I hope you've been enjoying your time here these past weeks.. I've wanted to spend some time with you, but I always seem to be tied up with something"

I chose to speak in my own language, hoping to make the conversation easier for her.. I didn't have the patience to wait as she searched for the right words.. words that she sometimes struggled to find at all.

"Don't worry, Turhan Sultan has been very kind to me and has kept me company" she replied with a smile that never quite reached her eyes.. her face was pale, like someone desperately trying to appear fine when they were anything but.

"You seem unwell" I took a step closer, my gaze carefully examining her, pausing on her stomach, subtly hidden beneath the loose folds of her dress.

"No, no, I'm fine" she replied hastily, her voice laced with nervousness as she forced another fleeting, unconvincing smile.

"Are you sure?" I asked gently, lifting an eyebrow as my patience began to wane.

"Yes, Your Highness.. I appreciate your concern, but I assure you, I'm fine" she repeated, her gaze shifting away to avoid mine, then, adjusting her posture slightly, she added "Actually, I had hoped to invite you for a cup of coffee, but I must be going, I have to meet my uncle, George"

I raised an eyebrow.. It wasn't the revelation that Minister George was her uncle that surprised me, I had known that for a long time.. It was the way she spoke, her demeanor, her body language, like she was desperate to escape.. that only made me want to understand what was going on even more.

"Enough" I said, gripping her arm before she could escape.. she froze, turning to me, but before she could react, I added "I know... you're pregnant.. what kind of game are you playing?"

"What?" Her expression shifted slowly as she turned fully to face me, lifting an eyebrow herself "I don't know what you..."

"There's no smoke without fire" I remarked smoothly, observing as her expression shifted with every passing second "There are midwives here... and Turhan Sultan, perhaps.."

"No" she interrupted sharply, her lips trembling for the first time "Please, stay silent.. Turhan Sultan and the others must never find out"

I watched her, caught between shock and disbelief.. It hadn't taken much to make her crumble, just as I had expected.. After all, she was merely a naïve seventeen-year-old princess, burdened with secrets far more dangerous than she could ever hope to control.

"So, it's true... you're pregnant?" I paused, keeping my expression as steady as possible, though unease crept through me and I couldn't shake the feeling that I shouldn't be facing this alone "What are you trying to do? Why are you here... who even are you? And why does no one know?"

"Please... no one can know" she whispered, her body trembling as she clutched my arm "I'm begging you, if the truth comes out, it will be the end of me"

A shiver ran down my spine at the sight of her trembling with fear.. After all the laughter and carefree moments I had seen from her before, it was unsettling to glimpse what lay beneath the surface.

Yet, despite everything, one thought lingered... I was alone with her in this.. and that worried me.

"Tell me the truth, how did this happen?" I demanded, my voice steady as I ignored her pleas, because a disaster like this could never stay hidden.

"I'll tell you everything, just don't expose me" she whispered, pressing a trembling hand over her mouth before lifting her tear-streaked, reddened eyes to mine "This was all my uncle's and mother's plan.. they were desperate to hide my disgrace, no matter the cost and when this opportunity arose, they seized it..." she hesitated again, then pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing at the endless tears streaming down her face.

"I had an affair... with a married man.. when I discovered I was pregnant, I knew that if my brother ever found out, he wouldn't hesitate to end my life" she confessed, pressing a hand to her chest as if trying to steady her breathing "I turned to my mother for help, and she was furious but when she learned about this truce, she insisted I use it to my advantage, since I was still in the early stages of my pregnancy"

I stared at her in utter shock, my eyes widening.. was she really suggesting that she had planned to marry Orhan and pass the child off as his?

How?

This wasn't just deception, it was betrayal, It was madness.. did she truly believe such a scheme could succeed?

"They assured me everything would go smoothly, and my uncle is here to make sure of it" she continued, her sobs intensifying at the mere mention of him "They promised to handle everything so no one would suspect a thing.. but time is slipping away, I'm already in the late second month of my pregnancy, and the marriage still hasn't happened"

"And it never will" I said sharply, feeling anger rise within me once again at her sheer foolishness "How could you even believe this was a good idea? Shame on you.. you were willing to disgrace an entire dynasty for your selfishness"

"I swear, I never meant to drag innocent people into this" she sobbed, pressing the handkerchief to her lips "I just don't want to die.. they forced me into this, none of it was my choice, I despise every moment of my life, yet I have to pretend as if nothing is happening" She lifted her eyes to mine, pleading "Please... help me"

"Have you lost your mind? How am I supposed to help you?" I stared at her, overwhelmed by emotions I couldn't even begin to unravel.

"I want to run away" she whispered.

Those words confirmed it, she truly had lost her mind.

She is a princess, and we princesses could never run away.. there was no place on earth that could hide us, nor could anything free us from the blood that ran through our veins.

"This is a catastrophe, a betrayal.. you have overstepped, seeking to tarnish the honor of our dynasty" I said, my gaze locked onto hers as I fought to ignore her desperate pleas.

With nothing more to say, and unwilling to speak words that might wound her beyond repair, I turned on my heel and left the room.

»»-----　♔　-----««

"Allah Allah!" Sumbul gasped, covering his mouth for what felt like the hundredth time.. with every word I spoke, his shock only grew "All of that... from that tiny little thing?"

"I expected anything but this" Sibylle muttered, pouring a glass of juice and setting it beside my untouched dinner "Turhan Sultan will erupt with fury when she hears of His Majesty's decision, and now, this scandal on top of it"

"Just eat, both of you.. I'm not hungry" I said, pushing the plate away.. the very sight and scent of food made my stomach churn.

Turning to Ebru, I motioned for her to bring Nuray from her grandmother's chambers.

"This has gone too far, Ayleen" Sibylle snapped, rising to her feet, her frustration unmistakable "You're neglecting your health, refusing to eat, and disregarding everyone's concerns" Before I could utter a word in protest, she turned sharply to Anastasia "Bring the midwife.. Now"

I found myself being dragged back into what I had been avoiding for days.. despite my constant exhaustion and lack of appetite, I had refused to let a physician or midwife examine me.. But... with my period absent, lingering doubts had begun to take hold.. I just needed to clear my mind first.

This time, the midwife didn't take long, unlike previous visits when I was either pregnant or unwell.. the moment her gaze settled on me, a smirk tugged at her lips, and after a brief examination, that smirk only widened.

"Congratulations, Your Highness.. you are pregnant"

»»-----　♔　-----««

Okay I know I'm a drama queen but I just couldn't help but clown y'all!!

Also a little disclaimer:

the historical accuracy in this chapter? nonexistent!!! I completely twisted it to fit the story.

we all know the new world had already been discovered and claimed by European kingdoms before the 1600s!!