|Ayleen's POV|

-Six years later-

-12 December 1671-

"Everything is ready, Your Highness" Sema approached from behind, extending her hand to adjust my veil while I was putting on my earrings.

"Go and inform the children that I want them here immediately.. Specifically, Aysel Sultan and Nuray Sultan, as we have no time to squander while they're distracted with their hairstyles" I checked myself once more in the mirror, ensuring my crown was perfectly in place, then turned with a broad smile, feeling a rush of excitement for the day ahead.

"Valide Turhan Sultan is awaiting all of you in her chambers.. she wishes to bless Şehzade Ahmed before the ceremony begins" Anastasia entered the chamber, holding my one-year-old son, Seyfeddin, while adjusting his small green kaftan.. It was evident he was irritated and simply wanted to sleep.

"Is that snake there as well?" I asked, keeping my smile in place, determined not to let anything spoil my mood today.

"Well, as you know, everyone is here today, Your Highness" she replied with a faint smile, handing Seyfeddin to Sema "But don't worry, she'll be leaving soon.. didn't she mention she was here only for her nephew?"

"I don't think so, her nephew is merely an excuse.. she's been a nuisance since the first week she arrived" I sighed, choosing to let the matter go.

I interlaced my fingers and decided to check on my children to ensure they were ready, so I could take them with me to Turhan Sultan's chambers.

"Why didn't you bring your children?" I asked Zeynep, my voice gentle, as everyone else became absorbed in their own conversations.

"I left them with the maids.. I needed a little freedom today because, as you know, they'd just create chaos" she giggled, adjusting her dress, which made me laugh too.

Her two sons, Yusuf and Zayd, were so close in age and always so mischievous. Lately, it seemed she'd finally had enough of their playful troublemaking.

We all stood in silence as the door opened, revealing Ahmed in a stunning blue kaftan. His expression was so serious that it stirred something deep within me. My sixteen-year-old Şehzade was about to take a significant step today, and I could feel how much this moment meant to him.

"May your path forever be steadfast, and may Allah's guidance be with you always" Turhan Sultan sealed her conversation with him with these words, prompting him to gently kiss the back of her hand.

He cast a brief glance at Beyhan Sultan before turning to his beloved aunt, Zeynep Sultan, whose eyes were also filled with tears as he gently kissed her hand.

"Allah knows that my prayers are always with you" she whispered, exchanging a tender smile with him before gently releasing his hand as he stepped in front of me.

"Şehzadem, Ahmed'im, may Allah protect you and guide you in everything you do" I smiled through the surge of emotions, gripping his hand tightly in mine, desperately trying to steady myself.

"Thank you, Valide.. May Allah's blessings be upon you as well" he replied, gently kissing the back of my hand. He then turned to Ayse Sultan, who stood beside me, her usual bright smile in place as she cradled her two-year-old daughter.

"Come on, Ahmed, you're nervous.. stop pretending you're not" Aysel teased playfully, pulling away from their hug.

The smile on her face made it clear she was pretending too. Our fourteen-year-old Sultana had always been the most sentimental, and it seemed that would never change.

"You should do great, especially since I'm bringing Beyaz to watch you" Nuray remarked, delicately brushing her fingers through the fur of her white cat, whom she cherished like her own child. Today, she had even adorned Beyaz with a stunning diamond necklace.

"Well, I'll do my best so that Beyaz won't be disappointed" he replied, a smile spreading across his face as he gently brushed through the soft fur of the cat.

I turned back to chat with Zeynep and Ayşe, all while keeping a watchful eye on the children, who were bombarding Ahmed with questions, until the door opened to reveal Farouk Agha.

"Şehzadem" he acknowledged, nodding in respect as he placed his hands before him, his gaze fixed on Ahmed before turning to Selim, Osman, and Ilyas "Şehzadelerim, His Majesty is awaiting your presence"

Turhan Sultan smiled broadly, in a way I had never seen before, and softly instructed us to follow her to the Tower of Justice.

Though Beyhan Sultan remained seated, speaking a few words now and then, Turhan Sultan signaled for us to disregard her, and that's exactly what I chose to do.

Just for today.

I stood beside Turhan Sultan, cradling Seyfeddin in one arm while holding a delicate lorgnette in the other. Though the courtyard was clearly visible to the eye, I wanted to observe Orhan and all my children more closely.

"Why are they taking so long?" Ayşe asked, her curiosity piqued, as she handed her daughter Ceyda to her maid, hoping to feel a bit more at ease.

"They may be having a brief conversation" Turhan Sultan replied calmly, brushing her fingers together, a hint of tension in her demeanor.

I just knew that today held immense significance for everyone. Orhan, in particular, was eager to give his son what he himself had never received, to see his own dreams realized through him. Yet, this past week had weighed heavily on him, and yesterday, he confided in me something I will never forget.

"It feels as though I'm sacrificing my own flesh and blood to the state. No matter how hard I try to shield him, I can't escape the fear that there are those who would exploit him for their own gain"

Then there was Turhan Sultan. She had lived through the reign of Sultan Ibrahim, seen firsthand the darkness and fear that defined it, where manipulation and injustice ruled. Now, witnessing such a beautiful moment unfold, I knew she was deeply proud to have made this possible for everyone around her.

"Destur, Sultan Orhan Khan Hazretleri"

That was all I needed to hear to direct my full attention to the scene before me. The grand doors swung open to reveal Orhan, dressed in black and grey, with just enough fur to shield him from the biting cold. Right behind him stood Ahmed, maintaining his composure calmly.

Orhan made his way to the throne, casting a fleeting glance at those in attendance before seating himself, his hand resting lightly on his knee. With a subtle gesture, he signaled for those who had bowed to raise their heads.

I directed my lorgnette toward Selim, Osman, and Ilyas, who had taken their places beside several viziers. A smile of pride spread across my face as I watched my nine-year-old Osman patiently instructing Ilyas on how to properly clasp his hands in front of him, adhering to the protocol.

"It's happening" Turhan Sultan murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

My eyes followed hers to where Orhan was exchanging a telling glance with Ahmed. Cradling Seyfeddin gently in my arms, I breathed a silent prayer for Ahmed to overcome his stress and prove himself in front of the Janissaries.

BISM-İ ŞAH! ALLAH, ALLAH! HÜ!

HÜÜÜ!

My way is your way,
My arm is your arm,
My end is your end,
My faith is your faith!
May my head, my possessions, and my life be sacrificed in your cause and tradition.
My tongue is the interpreter of the saints' words.
I have witnessed salt, water, and bread!
If i ever deviate from my path, take your sword and strike me down, i accept it!
May my actions align with my conscience.

YA ALİ HÜÜÜ!

HÜÜÜ!

O followers of muawiya,
O enemies of muhammed!
You disbelieve, and we believe.
You are on one side, and we are on the other!

If I fail to honor my vow,
Let my own sword be the one to strike me.

May I fall by my own blade,
May I lie still on the ground,
May I be scattered like dust.

"May Allah protect him" I murmured with a smile on my lips, utterly captivated by what I had just witnessed.

Despite having been here for eleven years, it felt as though I was constantly uncovering a new tradition, something beautiful and refreshing, each time.

"Oh, if only Feyza were here today" a voice behind me spoke, Beyhan Sultan's.. to my ears, it sounded like the hiss of a snake, especially with the soft, insinuating whispers that accompanied her words "She would have been so proud of her son, and Ahmed would have been overjoyed"

"Who says Ahmed isn't happy?" Turhan Sultan replied, turning to her with a calm expression, her fingers gently interlaced before her "We're all here for him. Don't worry about him; focus on ensuring your time doesn't slip away... Age has a way of doing that"

For a brief moment, Turhan Sultan's words seemed like nothing more than a joke, yet they were laced with something that almost made me want to laugh. As we all knew, Beyhan Sultan had been in her forties for quite some time, and she was deeply obsessed with the idea of death. She frequently consulted fortune-tellers, desperately seeking answers about how much time remained for her-an odd obsession, considering she was still quite young.

"Let's go back inside; it's too cold out here for Ceyda and Seyfeddin" Turhan Sultan suggested, gently placing her hand on Ayse's arm as they prepared to leave with Zeynep, while Beyhan Sultan remained frozen in the moment.

"Yes, I think we should go back inside" I smiled softly, reaching down to take Seyfeddin's tiny hand, which was clutching my veil "Everyone is waiting, and my son must be eager to tell me how it went" I purposely emphasized the words my son before quickly moving on and heading back inside.

I respected that Feyza was the one who gave birth to Ahmed, and no one could take that away from her. But it hurt when others tried to push me aside as if I hadn't raised him for eleven years. He is just as much my son as he is hers, and my love for him is no less than hers. I hold nothing but respect for her, yet it pained me when they tried to make me clash with a woman who was no longer here, who now rested in peace.

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"I'm just so thankful everything turned out just as we hoped" I murmured softly, resting my cheek in my palm, my gaze following Orhan as he moved quietly in front of me, cradling Seyfeddin, who was on the edge of slipping into a peaceful sleep.

"Ahmed told me he's already eager to head to one of the provinces" Orhan glanced at me, his lips curling into a quiet smile. Though pride was evident in his expression, fear quietly settled beside it.

"I believe, instead of sitting through more lessons with his teachers, he should witness everything in action firsthand" I stood up, brushing my hair back, which I had let fall loose to unwind for a moment "Let him join you in everything you do; he could never find a better mentor than you"

"Yes, that would be good and beneficial for him" his voice was low, careful not to disturb the sleeping baby. With a gentle motion, he passed Seyfeddin into my arms, knowing that Yunus Pasha would soon arrive with much work to be done.

I cradled Seyfeddin in my arms, feeling the warmth of his small body and the soft rise and fall of his breath, while Orhan's gaze held on me for a moment longer, as if caught in a quiet reverie.

"I just want to make sure he's ready... ready for everything that's coming. There's so much for him to learn" he spoke again, his voice barely a whisper.

His fear, though seldom shown, was unmistakable now. I understood it, for some scars run deep, and no matter how time passes, they never fully fade. Orhan, too, carried his own wounds... now, he sought to heal them by guarding and guiding his children, pouring all his strength into them.

"He'll be ready, Orhan... he has you, and that's more than enough" I smiled gently, cradling Seyfeddin with one arm as I reached out to take Orhan's hand. He nodded, his eyes softening as he leaned in to kiss me, his lips brushing mine with quiet tenderness.

I returned to my chamber, and the moment I stepped inside, my gaze fell on Ilyas, who was clearly in the middle of a heated argument with Nuray. She appeared completely uninterested, brushing him off as he repeatedly pushed his blonde hair back from his forehead, desperately trying to make his point.

"What's all this noise? Quiet down for a moment, or you'll wake your brother" I stepped closer, while Sema moved toward me, delicately lifting the baby and placing him in his cradle.

"He keeps insisting that he's next for the oath ceremony, and he still refuses to understand" Nuray explained, her frustration evident as she absentmindedly stroked the cat sleeping in her lap.

"Mommy, Nuray says I'm too young to do anything" he grumbled, crossing his arms and shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his little face scrunched in defiance.

"Is that all?" I asked with a puzzled smile, then sighed softly, turning to my six-year-old, who looked up at me with his wide blue eyes, searching for answers "Well, your sister is right. Since Selim and Osman are older, they'll go first, but you'll have your turn someday when the time is right"

When I told him this calmly, he seemed to accept it, unlike just moments ago when Nuray had been shouting at him. He had only wanted to keep pestering her, stubbornly refusing to accept her opinion.

"Alright, time for bed" I smiled at each of them, placing a gentle kiss on their cheeks before watching them head out. A soft chuckle escaped me as I exchanged a knowing glance with Sibylle.

"Sultanim" Sema approached me, bowing gracefully with her hands clasped in front of her "Is there anything else you require from me?"

I smiled faintly, shaking my head in a quiet gesture of dismissal. It had become a familiar routine since she joined my service two years ago. After finishing her duties, Sema always liked to step out into the garden for a while, and I saw no harm in it. She had claimed it helped her unwind, and I understood.

"I've said it before and I'll repeat it... this girl is a little odd, I don't like her" Sibylle lifted her eyes from the embroidery she had been working on, repeating her usual opinion about Sema.

"I don't know, she is a bit quirky, but she's kind" I shrugged, confused, as it was true that there was something strange about her, yet somehow, I still found her very kind and polite.

"Ah, my beautiful Sultana" Sumbul entered with a wide smile, carrying a tray with a cup of tea and, beside it, a letter. The moment my eyes fell on it, I felt a subtle shift in my mood.

"It's from my brother, isn't it?" I raised an eyebrow, rising to my feet. When he nodded, I took the letter and tossed it into one of the cabinets, choosing to delay reading it for now.

I knew it was about the same tiresome issue, just like the past few months, and I had no intention of letting it ruin my mood tonight.

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The first scene was totally inspired by Şehzade Mustafa's oath ceremony I just love that moment so much !!!
the emotion, the tension, everything about it just stuck with me 🤍❄️