|Helena’s POV|

-Two weeks later-

“Aysel, be careful” I said, keeping a close eye on her as she ran around the garden, delighting in all the flowers she and Sybille had picked and throwing them around herself.

“Don’t worry” she replied with her sweet, angelic voice as she slowed down a bit to approach where we were sitting and join us.

“Is Ahmed still in his training?” Isabel, who was sitting beside me munching on some nuts and enjoying the calm atmosphere, asked.

“Yes, Marissa is with him... He should be finishing his sword fight soon” I answered with a smile, before turning back to enjoy a few quiet moments, which I cherished more than anything.

“So, how are you feeling, Helena?” Sybille asked from my right, looking at me with a mix of interest and excitement “It won’t be long before a little one takes up most of your time and attention” It was as if the idea had made her picture something in her mind, and she pinched my cheek with her fingers “Oh, my girl is going to have a baby calling her mommy and crying everywhere”

“We don’t know if my baby will cry everywhere” I said, raising an eyebrow playfully “Look at me ... and look at orhan... we’re both calm, so I don’t think that’s going to happen... Besides…” I was about to throw in a joke when Aysel interrupted me.

“Will the baby call you mommy?” she asked, looking at us with curiosity, letting go of the flower she had been holding between her fingers “Isn’t your name Helena?”

“Oh, darling” I opened my arms, motioning for her to come closer and since I couldn’t sit her on my lap because of my belly, Sybille did so instead.

“Her name is Helena, but babies don’t call their mothers by their names... They say mommy” Sybille explained slowly, still wearing her small, loving smile.

“So the baby will be able to do that?” Aysel asked innocently, crossing her arms and showing a slight frown, which worried me for a moment because she seemed upset by the idea.. but before I could say anything to help her forget the topic, she spoke again, looking at me with her beautiful blue eyes “Can I do that too?”

“What…” I didn’t finish my question as the realization hit me like a slap to the face, leaving me frozen for several seconds, my face stiff.

“I want to call you mommy” she said, pulling herself out of Sybille’s arms and going to grab a new flower from the table, leaving me behind as though this was all perfectly normal for her.

My eyes remained fixed on her as she got what she wanted and returned to us... I wanted to scoop her up and hold her tight, make her feel like she was mine to protect..  mine to care for.

This wasn’t just something children said casually... No, when a child calls you mommy it means something deeper... It means trust, love, and a sense of belonging… this wasn’t just a stepmother’s role I was playing anymore.

“It would be an honor, darling” I finally managed to say, bending slightly and wrapping my arms around her, pulling her into a hug I needed more than anything... In that moment, I was her mother... With that simple word, she had made me feel like I was hers as much as she was mine.

“I love you” I whispered near her ear before letting her go again so she could resume her play... Meanwhile, Isabel and Sybille continued talking around me, mentioning how beautiful and incredible this moment was.

»»————-　♔　-————««

-A month and a half later-

“You still have a lot of work to do” I said quietly as I stood behind Orhan’s chair, where he was sitting, reviewing a large pile of papers on his desk.

“Yes, you’re right” he replied, putting the paper down and turning slightly toward me “You look tired” he said, standing up and placing his hands on my cheeks “You should get some rest.. I think if you stay here, you won’t sleep well”

He kissed my forehead, and with his words, I knew his work was still going to take some time, which meant I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully with all these lit candles.

“Yes, I know... I’ll go rest in my room” I replied with a smile, placing my left hand on my side, where I’d been feeling some back pain throughout the week “I just wanted to check on you before bed... Sweet dreams” I replied, offering my last words with a smile before receiving a kiss from him.

I left and headed to my room, feeling extremely tired... I also hoped to wake up tomorrow and find that a letter had arrived from my mother, as I had sent her my painting, and by now, it should have reached her days ago.

“You look pale, Helena” Sybille said as she ran a comb through my hair... she then placed her hand on my face, and I could see the pale reflection of myself in the mirror.

“Yes, I need to sleep... I can’t bear to stay up another minute” I replied with a small smile, then stood up with her and Anastasia’s help to head to bed, while Isabel also stood to go to sleep, as she too was exhausted.

Suddenly, just two steps away from the bed, I felt a warm liquid running down my legs, even soaking my nightgown and the shock on my face made all the girls freeze, their eyes wide.

“What the…” I didn’t have time to finish my question before I started feeling some pain that was escalating in... I couldn't pinpoint its origin .. was it my belly? My back? Regardless, the agony was unlike anything I'd ever endured.

“Oh my god” Isabel was the first to snap out of the shock... She quickly rushed to help me lie down on the bed while I pressed my lips tightly, struggling to grasp the reality of the situation... Perhaps, I was desperately trying to deny the inevitable.

“Stay with her.. I’ll take care of everything” Anastasia said quickly as she rushed toward the door, leaving the girls behind to sit on either side of me, trying to calm me and ask if I needed anything... all I needed at that moment was my mother.

“Try to breathe normally, Helena, and don’t worry... Everything will be fine” Sybille said, attempting to calm me.. she strove to maintain a calm demeanor, but her trembling voice betrayed her anxiety... It was clear that she herself required reassurance.

The door swung open, and Anastasia appeared with three women who, from their clothing, I could tell were midwives... As I had reached the peak of pain and was covered in sweat, I desperately hoped they would get to work quickly and relieve me from this agony.

I squeezed Isabel's hand, my lips clamped shut as I squeezed my eyes tightly, attempting a silent prayer... I wanted this to be over quickly... for my baby to be healthy... for me to wake up tomorrow and find my child by my side.

“Now, Your highness, focus” one of them said, making me open my eyes and nod rapidly, refusing to scream, not wanting to add to my fear and the horror of the situation “Do everything I tell you, and everything will be fine” she added as she and the other women got ready... as she approached me, I knew I was about to endure something incredibly painful.

At first, I was doing well, but as time passed, my screams had already started filling the room.. perhaps even beyond its walls... Each agonizing minute felt like a cycle of death and rebirth ... The pain didn’t give me even a second to catch my breath, forcing its power on me, growing stronger each minute, telling me it wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

“Take a deep breath and push, Your highness” the woman who had been giving me instructions for about an hour said.

Because of the pain and the time dragging on so slowly, I felt like screaming at her... I knew what I had to do... It was my baby being born, and I knew his or her life depended on me.

Time seemed to stop, like there was no progress... my efforts were repetitive.. push.. breathe.. push again .. While the midwife kept repeating the same phrases.

“You’re doing well, Helena” Isabel said in a reassuring tone, never letting go of my hand since it all started.

“There’s not much left” the midwife said, signaling me again, and for what felt like the hundredth time, I gathered my breath and pushed with all my strength, letting out a loud scream, but what I didn’t expect was the crying that echoed in my ears once I stopped screaming... my baby was here.

“Congratulations, Your highness” the midwife said, holding the baby and stepping back a little, smiling “You’ve been blessed with a girl”

“Oh my god” Sybille said, her face full of overwhelming happiness as she clapped excitedly, making everyone smile widely.

I leaned back and let the tears flow... Just a moment ago, I was crying from pain, but now these were tears of pure joy... I couldn't stop looking at my baby girl... the midwife was gently cleaning her, and I just stared... I finally had a daughter... It was like a dream come true.

Yes, my eyes were barely open, and although I was still in pain, all I really wanted was to sleep, but none of this seemed to matter now... I longed to hold my baby in my arms, to let her get to know my scent and the embrace she would enjoy for the rest of her life, and I longed to gaze into her eyes, the eyes I would cherish forever, remembering the pain I endured to bring her into this world.

After cleaning me up and quickly cleaning the bed, Anastasia and Isabel helped me into a simple white dress... Since Isabel wanted me to look beautiful for the baby’s arrival, she added a pearl necklace around my neck, making her believe I now looked perfect.

“Here she is, your little angel” Sybille said as she handed me the baby, who was already cleaned and smelled so sweetly you would never believe she was the same baby who had just left my belly half an hour ago.

At the very moment I held her gently in my arms, the door opened, and Orhan, Turhan Sultan, and Zeynep Sultan appeared, all looking like they were in a hurry, as if they too had been waiting for hours.

"Your Majesty, you have been blessed with a healthy child... a daughter" the midwife announced, her voice soft and respectful as she bowed her head, addressing Orhan, who wore a pleased smile upon his face.

“I know” he replied, nodding, then moved to my bedside and before his eyes even fell on the baby, he looked into mine “Are you alright... I’ve been so worried about you these past hours”

“It wasn’t easy, but it’s worth it” I replied in a low voice with a tired smile, turning my eyes to the baby, who was already peacefully asleep, as if she had no curiosity about the world she had just entered.

“She’s beautiful” he said, smiling, reaching out and taking the baby from me gently.

“I can’t believe this” Zeynep said, a wide smile on her face, tears in her eyes “You have no idea how happy I am with this little one”

“May God protect her and grant her a beautiful future, just like her” Turhan Sultan replied, smiling as she ran her hand down the back of her daughter, then moved closer to me and sat by my bed “I know it was hard, but look, Helena, you’ve received your reward after all that pain” she said, placing her hand on mine with a small smile “Congratulations”

“Thank you” I replied with a smile, then lifted my eyes once more to see Orhan holding the baby in his arms, looking so warm and close to her, surrounding her with his hands and chest as he gazed at her face as if looking at a masterpiece.

After a moment, everyone was ready for the naming ceremony of this little one who had won our hearts from the very first moment she entered this world... I watched Orhan with a smile as he recited the adhan in her ear... Then, he gazed at her face thoughtfully for a moment.

“Your name will be Nuray... your name will be Nuray... your name will be Nuray” a smile spread across his face, the kind he only ever gave to Ahmed and Aysel... then, he kissed her forehead and raised his eyes to me “Nuray Sultan”

I realized that I was going through several emotions at that moment, but upon hearing the girl's name, I couldn't stop myself from whispering it softly, while a look of confusion appeared on my face because I didn't understand its meaning.

“Her name means "moonlight" ... symbolizing all that is bright.. her beauty, her spirit, everything” Orhan said, his gaze never leaving mine, as though he had read the unspoken question in my eyes.

Hearing the meaning of her name only deepened its beauty... My little girl... Nuray Sultan is finally here.

»»————-　♔　-————««

Not sure if this was unexpected but I’ve always felt like Helena was giving a girl’s mom vibes from the start... also I kinda wanted the new little girl to be a little closer in age to Aysel ✨

Hope u all enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it + so excited we’ve reached this point in the story... thank u guys for all the love and support 🤍