|Helena's POV|

"White or blue?" Anastasia asked from the other room, as I was putting my earrings on.

"White, of course" I replied quickly, certain that she was referring to the dress I would wear for iftar this evening.

"You look radiant, girl" Sybille said, approaching me and adjusting some strands of my hair as she looked at me through the mirror "Isabel, what do you think... what's the secret to her energy today?"

"Let me guess" Isabel replied, standing up and striking a serious pose as if deep in thought, then said "The secret lies in her night spent with His Majesty"

"Girls, stop it" I said, pretending to be annoyed, though a small smile tugged at my lips, remembering all the time I had spent with Orhan.

"At this point, let’s just move all of her things to his chambers" Sybille said, flopping onto one of the couches "But Helena, have some mercy on the man... He’s fasting every day now, let’s save your stunning appearance for later"

I could no longer tolerate it, so I grabbed the nearest pillow and tossed it at her... She barely dodged it, bursting into laughter while I checked my reflection in the mirror, then made my way outside with Sumbul, who would assist me with something, and of course, Anastasia, who had become my constant companion.

The door opened, and I took a few steps forward, finding that Aysel was already awake, with Elena standing in front of her, combing her hair.

I smiled as I approached, then gestured for Elena to step aside... Taking the comb from her, I began brushing Aysel's hair.

Though Aysel had seen my reflection in the mirror, she made no move, confirming that she was indeed upset with me.

"Aysel, darling, would you prefer I leave your hair loose, or should I braid it for you?" I asked with a soft smile as I looked at her through the mirror.

"Yes, I want a braid" she replied calmly, in stark contrast to her usual energy.

"Well, actually, a braid is more fitting for what we’re going to do today" I said, deliberately speaking ambiguously to see her curiosity rise.

"What are we going to do?" she asked quickly, making me smile.. I set the comb down and began braiding her hair.

"We’re going to cook something wonderful" I winked at her through the mirror’s reflection, then returned my focus to her braid "There’s a beautiful dish I always used to cook with my mother, and I’d like to share it with you today"

A slight smile appeared on my face as I remembered my mother and her love for cooking... She was an incredible woman, simple yet extraordinary... Despite her many duties and status, she always cherished the moments she could enjoy cooking and sharing it with us.

"I also learned that Ahmed’s favorite dish is beef" I added, ensuring her braid was just right before sitting next to her "And I found out today is his birthday, so we’ll prepare it for him"

"Today’s Ahmed’s birthday!" Her eyes widened, leaving me a little confused as I couldn’t tell if she was happy or not "Is he much older than me now?"

"He’s six now" I gently stroked her cheek, adding enthusiastically "and you’ll be four in just two months!"

My words seemed to lift her spirits, and she quickly stood up, moving around with excitement... I smiled softly, then took her hand, leading her toward the kitchen while talking with Sumbul.

But, as usual, the most irritating person in the world appeared right in front of me.

"Aysel, darling, you look beautiful" Rana said, looking at the little girl who was still holding my hand.

"Thank you" Aysel replied quietly, then added with a smile "You look beautiful too, Rana... your crown is lovely"

"Oh" Rana said, twirling around herself in a feigned gesture of grace, which made me roll my eyes in exasperation, unable to bear her presence.

"Helena, how are you?" she asked, turning her attention to me "You disappeared yesterday, and we didn’t see you again... I even came by after dinner to make sure you weren't upset for not joining us for iftar, but you weren’t there"

"Don’t worry so much about me, Rana" I flashed a small, fake smile and took a step closer to her "I can’t always be available, especially at night" I lowered my voice slightly so Aysel wouldn’t hear me "I have a husband, Rana, to be with" I sighed dramatically, pretending to feel shy, before continuing my way, leaving her frozen in place behind me.

»»————-　♔　-————««

-28 Days Later-

Ramadan passed in a peaceful atmosphere, and it could be said that it was nearly perfect, if we disregarded Rana and Fatma and their constant irritating behavior.

I managed to blend in with everyone and even made a few friends inside and outside the palace... One day, Turhan Sultan organized a gathering where she invited the wealthy women and the wives of the most important men in the state.

I really enjoyed their company, especially one named Zühre... She was only twenty-two and already a mother of two adorable children, who, by the way, enjoyed playing with Aysel and Ahmed.

I also delved into some religious books, which helped me understand a lot about what Orhan did, like his early prayers and some phrases he often used.

It could be said that my relationship with Orhan grew a lot; he showed constant interest in me and helped me get through times when I felt uneasy, all while maintaining the private time we spent together... time that could only be described as perfect, reaffirming that he truly was the one I had always dreamed of.

Today was the first day of Eid... I loved this day so much, everything about it was beautiful and joyful... We spent the morning with some of Turhan Sultan’s guests, and after lunch, we all gathered in the garden for a cup of coffee.

"This month passed so quickly" Fatma Sultan said, extending her hand to take her coffee from the servant.

"Yes, indeed" Turhan Sultan replied, gazing ahead, enjoying the view "It’s a pity you’ll be leaving tomorrow"

These words made me notice many expressions on everyone’s face... Turhan Sultan seemed to say it out of politeness, but in reality, it was clear she didn’t care about their presence here.

Zeynep seemed distant, lost in her own world, indifferent to what was happening around her, while Fatma and Rana exchanged a quick glance... What caught my attention the most was that they didn’t seem happy about the fact that they’d be leaving tomorrow.

I smiled quietly, feeling a sense of relief knowing that things would return to normal, then extended my hand to take my coffee and enjoy the moment.

I took a sip of the coffee, but the bitter taste made my stomach flip... My hand shook slightly, and I felt tightness in my throat. Something was definitely off.

"Helena, are you okay?" Turhan asked, noticing my sudden change in expression as I quickly set down my coffee cup.

"Yes... yes, I’m fine" I replied calmly, then grabbed a handkerchief to wipe my lips, trying to ignore the concerned looks from everyone while I still felt like I was about to throw up from that small sip.

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Hey lovelies... this week has honestly been the worst!!
First I had this super annoying Wi-Fi issue and then I got sick feeling like I could literally pass out at any moment 😂🤌🏻
Anyway thanks for understanding and just so you know we're about to move on to a new phase of the story! <333