|Helena's POV|

I was sitting with Isabel, chatting for a while, when the door opened, and Asiye, the one responsible for the children and everything related to them, stepped in.

"Sultanim, the children are asleep" she said softly, lowering her head slightly.

"That's good" I replied with a smile, about to turn away, but then I noticed something on the couch in my room... Aysel's wooden doll.

"Oh, she left this behind" I said, standing up... Asiye was about to pick it up, but I stopped her with a wave of my hand, took the doll, and walked toward Aysel's room.

I quietly opened the door and saw her lying peacefully in her bed.. The room was softly lit by a few candles, creating a warm, serene glow.. In one corner, one of the servants was sitting quietly, keeping watch.

"Sultanim" she said in a hushed tone, standing up quickly "Aysel sultan is sleeping" she glanced toward the bed.

"I know" I smiled gently, holding up the doll so she could see "I just came to put this next to her... She doesn't like waking up and finding her doll missing" I approached her bed, carefully placing the doll beside her and then, with tenderness, leaned over to kiss her cheek.

I stepped back a little, watching her for a moment with a soft smile.. Then, I quietly turned to leave.

As I did, I caught a glimpse of Orhan in the hallway, just coming out of Ahmed's room.

"Helena" he said, walking toward me "Has Aysel fallen asleep too?"

"Yes, she just went to sleep a little while ago" I replied, offering a small smile "She left her doll in my room, so I brought it to her"

"Good.. I'd better not go in.. I might wake her" he said softly, giving a slight nod.

For a few moments, there was silence between us... I nervously fiddled with the fabric of my dress, my eyes lowered, though I could feel Orhan's gaze on me... He seemed just as quiet, unsure of what to say.

"Do you have any plans tomorrow?" I asked, lifting my head to break the awkward stillness.

"No, probably not" he replied, tilting his head slightly "No one knows I'm here, so it's better to keep it that way.. I'd rather everyone believe I'm still in the capital"

Though I didn't fully understand the reason behind his need for secrecy, I simply nodded, not pressing him for more.

"Goodnight... Orhan" I said with a soft smile, meeting his deep blue eyes.

"Goodnight... Helena" he responded, giving me his usual, slightly reserved smile before we both turned and walked off in opposite directions, heading to our rooms.

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-Four hours later-

I woke to the smell of smoke... At first, I thought it was just a bad dream, something I could shake off. But then came the screams... shouted voices, loud and full of fear, and I could hear the crackling sound of fire.

My heart stopped.. I shot up from the bed, my nightgown tangled around my legs... The smoke was thick in the air, burning my lungs, and the room around me was dark and hazy.

Fire .. My mind screamed the word as I pushed the sheets away and rushed to the door.

"Oh God .. what's happening" I called out, my voice shaking, but all I heard was the crackling roar of the flames growing louder.

Sibylle and Isabel, were running through the hall outside my chamber.. They looked terrified "Helena.. thank god... Come on we must leave! The fire is spreading quickly" Isabel cried, her face pale, eyes wide with panic.

But I wasn't listening to her.. I was so scared and.... Oh my god... Ahmed and Aysel!

"Aysel.. Ahmed!" I shouted, ignoring the fear rising in my chest as I rushed out into the smoke-filled hallway.

The heat was unbearable.. My throat felt tight, and every breath burned... The fire was too close.

For a moment, I felt lightheaded.. My hand instinctively reached for the wall beside me as I tried to steady myself.. Just then, I felt a hand gently cover mine.

"Sultanim, I've been looking for you.. We must leave, quickly" one of the servants said urgently.

In that moment, I also heard Isabel's and Sibylle's voices calling for me to come back so we could escape.

"Where are the children?" I asked, my throat tightening with panic... I pressed my hand to my chest, desperate to hear any news about the two little ones.

"I don't know, Sultanim, but don't worry... The maids and guards will bring them out too" she said, her hand moving to my back to support me but before she could pull me away, I quickly slipped from her grasp and turned back to Isabel and Sibylle.

"Go quickly, both of you.. Don't argue with me... this is my command!" I shouted, my voice rising in urgency...I knew they wouldn't be able to leave without me, but they had to...They had no choice.

I signaled for some of the maids and guards to help get them out, then I ran... I didn't want them to force me to leave... The fire had spread, and the smoke was thick in the air, suffocating everything around me... I had to find the children.

I ran through the palace, stumbling over rugs, my feet slipping on the stone floors, my heart pounding in my chest... The smoke was thick, and I could barely see, but I kept shouting their names.

"Aysel... Ahmed" I reached Aysel's room, my hand shaking as I tried the door... It opened with a creak.. Empty... I looked around, my stomach sinking... Where are they?

I pushed forward, my breath coming in gasps... The flames were closer now, and the air was so hot, I thought I would choke... I called their names again, my voice hoarse, but the smoke made it hard to hear anything over the crackle of fire.

Then, I heard something... a small voice, trembling in the distance.

"Help.. Fa.. Father?" I stopped dead in my tracks... It was Aysel's voice.

"Aysel!" I cried out, relief flooding through me... I followed the sound, my heart racing.

Finally, I saw her... She was standing by the window, clutching her little wooden doll, her face streaked with soot, her blue eyes wide with fear.

"Aysel" I rushed to her, scooping her up into my arms, holding her tight against me "Thank God... Thank God you're safe"

She clung to me, her small body trembling in my arms "Helena?" she asked softly, her voice full of fear "Where's Ahmed?"

My heart dropped... Where is he?

"Aysel, where is your brother? Where is Ahmed?" I asked urgently, my voice shaking.

She looked up at me, her face filled with worry "I don't know where"

Of course, she wouldn't know; he was in his room... I looked around, but there was no sign of the maid who had been with her. Where was she? Had she escaped, leaving Aysel behind?

Terror gripped me... Ahmed was out there, somewhere in the palace, and the fire was spreading fast... I held Aysel tighter, but I couldn't ignore the gnawing fear in my chest.

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|3rd Person POV|

Orhan had been asleep in his chambers when the first shouts reached his ears... A fire had broken out in one of the eastern wings of the palace... an accident, they said.

As he ran through the dim corridors of the palace, the scent of burning wood choking his throat, his mind was consumed with a single thought: Where are they? His footsteps echoed in the stone hallways, loud and frantic.

"Ahmed... Aysel" he screamed, his voice hoarse and strained, but the only answer was the roar of fire and the screams of those fleeing the palace.

His eyes burned from the smoke, his vision blurred, but he could make out figures in the distance... palace servants, guards, some of them stumbling in panic, others running toward the doors.... Orhan's heart thundered in his chest... He had to reach them....He had to find them.

"Your majesty" one of the guards called out, running behind him... He was the same guard who had informed him about the fire.

Orhan didn't respond, his steps quick and urgent as he made his way toward the area where the harem rooms were.. There, he found a group of guards trying desperately to put out the fire, which was spreading rapidly.

"Where are they?" Orhan demanded, his voice laced with both anger and deep concern "Ahmed... Aysel... Zeynep... and Helena!"

"Your majesty" one of the guards lowered his head quickly "Zeynep Sultan was on the balcony when the fire started... The guards managed to rescue her and bring her down safely... But..." he hesitated, a flicker of anxiety crossing his face "We haven't found the children yet, and Helena sultan refused to leave without them"

Orhan's heart sank, and he moved quickly... Inside, he prayed that Helena had already found them... Though they were not related by blood, the bond she shared with his children was strong, deeper than he ever imagined... She loved them fiercely, as if they were her own... He knew she would never leave them behind... All he wanted now was to know they were safe with her.

Please, Helena, be with them... Please let them be safe.

He reached the grand staircase, the flames creeping upward, licking at the stone like a hungry beast... He could hear the distant voices of the palace guards, calling orders, but none of it made sense in the chaos.. He was a sultan, a leader of an empire, but now, in this moment, he was just a father... A terrified father.

-------

|Helena's POV|

We moved quickly through the hall, the smoke swirling around us.. I barely registered the presence of the maid trailing behind me, her hand at my back, urging me forward, but I was focused only on one thing: finding Ahmed.

I looked at Aysel, who I was holding in my arms, and it seemed the smoke was on the verge of making her lose consciousness... I didn't want to think about any other possible bad outcomes.

"Aysel... Ahmed" I heard a voice that snapped my attention away... I turned quickly down one of the corridors... it was Orhan.

"Orhan" I shouted, even though my throat was burning.. I would have preferred not to breathe at all if it meant I wouldn't pull the suffocating smoke into my lungs.

Suddenly, Orhan appeared in front of me, rushing towards us... Despite the worry in his eyes, they immediately flicked to Aysel, her soot-streaked face pressed against me.

"Aysel..." He placed a quick kiss on her forehead, then turned his gaze to me "Is she okay? Are you both okay?"

"Aysel needs to get out quickly... but I couldn't find Ahmed" I answered, my words trembling.

"You go with Aysel, I'll find Ahmed" Orhan said, his tone urgent "We can't waste any time" His eyes flicked over to the smoke-filled hallways.

I was about to protest, wanting to find Ahmed too, but when I looked at Aysel in my arms, I knew I had no other choice... Her father would find him while I had to get her out of here, to get her some fresh air... I needed it too.. I felt like I was about to collapse from exhaustion.

I nodded silently as Orhan quickly placed his hand on my arm, giving me a look that said: Get out fast and stay safe .. Then he moved swiftly, and I turned to leave as quickly as I could... But only a few steps away, I heard a sound.

"Father..." It was a whisper, barely audible above the chaos.

I rushed towards the source of the voice, finding a room with a burned door and flames blocking my way... Yet, through the smoke and heat, I saw a small body sitting under a table in the corner.

"Ahmed!" I screamed, my heart racing... I glanced around in panic, unable to enter the room.

"Go get Orhan!" I shouted at the maid who had been nearby, and she rushed off in the direction we had come from.

"Ahmed..." I called again, my voice shaking... I pulled Aysel close, trying to calm her "Don't worry, we'll get you out"

I saw a guard rushing toward me, and I quickly pointed to the room... Before he could act, Orhan appeared, moving without hesitation, ready to jump into the flames... But a guard stopped him.

They grabbed a long cloth, soaked it in water, and wrapped it around themselves. Then, Orhan and another guard rushed into the burning room.

Moments later, I saw Orhan carrying Ahmed in his arms, wrapping him in the damp cloth.. They rushed out, and I could tell that the wet covering had helped them avoid serious burns.

Orhan looked at me, then grabbed my hand, offering me a small comfort as we moved quickly toward the exit... The moment I breathed in fresh air, I felt life flow back into me.

I collapsed to the ground, surrounded by a flurry of voices... Orhan was shouting at the guards, angrily demanding answers about how the fire had started.

Zeynep, Isabel, and Sibylle rushed to my side, asking about my condition, their voices laced with worry... At times, they yelled, wondering why I had stayed inside and pointing out how bad my condition seemed.

The maids came over, offering me water, while Aysel clung to my clothes, pale and still shaken.

I watched her for a moment, my heart tight with concern. Even though there was no blood connection between us, I felt something stir inside me... a protective instinct I hadn't known I had... She was Orhan's daughter... she was his, but I realized:

She was becoming mine, too.

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I just wanted to come here and say I’m so grateful for all the support I’m getting 🤍
Like I can honestly say there’s over 70+ people probably reading it and more than 12+ people vote on every chapter even though most of them don’t even follow me but they are supporting this story... I’m still so thankful for everyone even the silent readers... You all mean the world to me.... Love you all 🤍💌🌨️