|Helena's POV|

Yesterday felt like a nightmare... The flames were like a wild beast, swallowing everything in its path... I can still hear the screams, the panic and everything.

We all escaped, but there's no escaping the aftermath.... I haven't slept, I haven't eaten, and the air still smells like smoke.

There is one part of the palace that wasn't touched by the fire, but the rest of it is in ruins... But worse than the damage to the stone and wood is how it has affected all of us.

"Come on, Helena, you need to eat something" Isabel said, putting her hand over mine "You haven't rested or eaten... Your body needs this"

I sighed a little, still staring ahead... It had been hours since sunrise... We moved to the other side of the palace, where the room I share with the children is huge while Orhan is in a room next to ours.

I still can't get past what happened, and it seems no one else can either... I feel guilty... Orhan sent us here at my request... If we had stayed at Topkapi Palace, the children wouldn't have been in any danger... I'll never forgive myself for that.

"I'm going to talk to Orhan" I said, but before I could get up, Sibylle grabbed my hand and held out a glass of lemon juice.

"Drink this first" she said, her expression serious.

Knowing there was no way out of this, I took the glass, drank a little, and set it on the table before leaving the room.

As I walked toward Orhan's door, I hesitated... I didn't know what to say or how to act... We had been enjoying happy days, and now this disaster had destroyed everything.

I knocked once and then entered without waiting for a response... Orhan was standing by his desk, looking a bit angry.. as usual... Since we escaped the fire, he hadn't stopped investigating and giving orders.

There were two guards with him and another man, someone I didn't recognize... He looked to be in his fifties or sixties, wearing simple clothes.

"Alright, you can leave now" Orhan said, glancing at the man "I'll be with you shortly"

I nodded respectfully as the man passed me, and he lowered his head in return... I watched them leave before turning back to Orhan.

"I was just about to come see you" he said quietly, lowering his head and running his fingers over the wood of his desk.

"I expected that, but I wanted to speak with you here, alone" I moved a little closer, lowering my head as I held the hem of my dress "I want to apologize... I feel like this whole thing happened because of me... The children were safe in..."

He raised his hand, stopping me in my tracks... I was shocked because I hadn't expected that.

"Helena..." Orhan said softly, but his voice held more weight than usual "Don't carry guilt for something that was beyond your control"

"Have there been any updates?" I asked, looking at him, hoping for answers.

"Yes" he nodded and added "We've discovered that the people responsible for the fire were men loyal to Kösem Sultan... My mother couldn't get rid of all of them After Kösem Sultan's death"

"Kösem Sultan is your grandmother, right?" I asked, raising my eyebrows "I've heard a lot about her... She's famous in Europe"

"Yes, the great Kösem Sultan" he sighed, as if remembering something painful "But like everyone who gains power, it clouded her vision in the end" He paused, his eyes distant, likely recalling bad memories of his grandmother "When they found out you, Zeynep and the children were coming here, they planned to burn the palace in revenge against me and my mother... They didn't even know I was here... As I told you, no one knew I was here"

My eyes widened, and the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place... So, Kösem's loyal men wanted revenge for her... or maybe just revenge for themselves... After years of hiding and running, it must have been hard for them to stay hidden.

"Have they been caught?" I asked, my anger rising... No matter the rivalry between them and the Sultan or his mother, they had no right to target innocent children.

"Not all of them, but we're working on it" Orhan nodded "The guards are searching everywhere... We won't sleep tonight until we find every last one of them and make them pay"

In situations like this, I would sometimes feel sympathy for those being punished, especially when my father used to decide to execute someone... I would feel sorrow and pity... But in this case, I really wanted them to suffer.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts... Orhan allowed the person to enter, and I turned to see Asiye, her head bowed.

"Your majesty... Your highness" she said, curtsying "The doctor wants to check Şehzade Ahmed and Aysel Sultan again"

I nodded, remembering that I needed to have a serious conversation with Asiye and the servants who were supposed to watch the children... I would hold them accountable, and when we return to Istanbul, I would choose new servants who could handle such important duties.

"Alright, let's check on the children" Orhan said, looking at her.

He left the room first, and I followed behind him.. It was only a few steps until we reached the room where the children were.

When we entered, I saw that they had woken up... The maids were trying to help them eat breakfast, though it was already late for breakfast.

I looked at their faces as Orhan moved closer and sat down between them.. They both looked a little shaken.. Their innocent faces were too young to fully understand what had happened, but there was a quiet sadness in their eyes.. a kind of fear I had never seen in them before.

The doctor finished her examination and stood up, bowing her head slightly "There is no need to worry, Your majesty ... The children didn't suffer any burns, thank God...They only have a slight cough, which will go away soon" She took out a small brown bottle and looked at me "They should take a sip of this before bed"

I nodded then turned again to the children and Orhan ... He gently ran a hand through Ahmed's hair, offering him a rare smile while Aysel, sensing her father's presence, reached out for him, her small hands gripping his fingers tightly.

I noticed Orhan glance at the door, and I turned in curiosity.. One of his men was standing outside, looking as though he was urgently trying to get Orhan's attention.. But Orhan hesitated to leave, not wanting to leave his children at a time like this.

"Alright, kids.. you need to eat something" I said, moving closer to them.. I gave Orhan a look, signaling that he could go and I would take care of things here.

Orhan nodded, placed a kiss on both of their foreheads, and as he stood, he placed his hand on my arm, giving me a comforting smile that I hadn't expected. I smiled back, and then I took his place between the children.

I began talking to them, trying to distract them, and they were eager to ask questions.. Through their questions, I could see their fears and worries.

I stayed with them, comforting them, running my hand over their heads until they fell asleep.. I then signaled to Isabel for help.. We adjusted them in their beds and stepped away.

"Asiye" I said, finally breaking the silence "I need to speak with you.. Alone"

"Of course, Your Highness" she glanced up, her face unreadable

We stepped away from the children, into a quieter corner of the room.

"I want to know everything about what happened" I said calmly, my voice steady even though I felt a storm inside me "How did they leave the children alone in such a situation? Who is responsible for this failure?"

"Your Highness" she hesitated before speaking, her eyes shifting uneasily "The servants were... overwhelmed... The fire spread so quickly, and many of them were unable to react in time.. It was chaos...I apologize... we should have done more"

"More?!" I almost snapped, but I forced myself to calm down "Asiye, these are children... The safety of the children should have been the priority"

"I know, Your Highness.. I take full responsibility... But please understand... we were all caught off guard...It happened so fast" her face tightened with guilt, and I could see she was fighting back tears.

I exhaled slowly, trying to keep my emotions in check. I could feel my anger boiling beneath the surface, but it wasn't just aimed at Asiye. It was at the entire situation... the helplessness, the betrayal, the fear that now lived in this place.

"I need you to be better" I said, my tone quiet but firm "When we return to Istanbul, I will choose new servants.. I will not tolerate another failure"

"I will ensure it, Your Highness.. I won't let you down again" Asiye nodded, her expression one of resolve.

Just then, Ahmed's cough caught my attention.. I quickly turned to him and sat by his bed, gently touching his forehead.. I picked up a glass of water and tried to help him take a sip.

"Are you feeling any better, Ahmed?" I asked, running my hand over his forehead.

"Yes" he coughed a little, then added "I miss playing in the garden"

I smiled... Ahmed was so used to playing outside every morning, and it must have bothered him that he couldn't do that today.

"When you're better, we'll spend the whole day in the garden" I said with a smile, gently holding his hand and kissing it, watching him drift back to sleep.

"Helena, you need to take your medicine too" Sibylle said as she approached me, offering a spoon and a small bottle.

"Thank you" I replied with a smile, taking the bottle from her.