|Helena's POV|

-One Month Later-

I carefully cradled my daughter, her tiny body nestled against me, her little hands instinctively grasping the fabric of my gown as I breastfed her, my attention split between her and the changes in her features since her first days.

Her hair, though still wispy and fine, was already a deep brown, a darker shade than my own, and a stark contrast to Orhan's light brown with its subtle golden glint... Her eyes, a captivating gray like mine, held a deeper, more intense hue.. reminded me of my father's eyes.

"She’s growing so quickly" Isabel remarked, approaching and settling beside me "In her first few years, we’ll witness so many changes.. It’ll feel as though time is slipping away in the blink of an eye"

I smiled at her words before lifting my gaze to see Sibylle walk in, her face beaming with a wide smile "Helena, the bath is ready for you and our little one"

"Just in time" I replied with a little smile, standing to hand Nuray to Isabel.

We then made our way to the bathroom, where today marked the first time I would bathe my daughter.. I had received the midwife’s approval, who, over the past month, had recommended that I only use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe her down.

"Any letters yet?" I asked Anastasia as I adjusted the towel around my body... Although I already knew the answer, I had been eagerly waiting for any letters, especially from my mother, these past few days.

"Not yet, Your highness" Anastasia replied quietly, sitting beside me while Isabel stood in front of me, holding Nuray.

"Come to mommy" I said with a wide smile, extending my arms to gently take my daughter.

Once she settled into my arms, Anastasia carefully poured small amounts of water over her tiny legs but she stopped quickly when Nuray began to cry.

"Don’t worry, that’s a natural reaction" Isabel said quickly, noticing the concern on my face as I gently rocked my daughter, trying to calm her.

"I know, but let’s take it slow" I replied softly, kissing Nuray’s forehead then I gave Anastasia a signal with my eyes to try again, and although she was still a bit upset, Nuray didn’t cry this time.

"Is Zühre still visiting today?" Isabel asked, wetting her hand and gently running it over Nuray’s head with the care we had come to know when handling this tiny little person.

"Yes, she’s even bringing little Kadir with her" I replied with an excited smile.

Zühre had given birth to her son a month and a half before I did, but I hadn't been able to visit her, so I had sent a gift instead.. However, when we celebrated Nuray's arrival, she was there.. yet without her baby.

She promised me she would visit soon, bringing him along so I could finally meet him and hold him for a while.

»»————-　♔　-————««

-Two Weeks Later-

"Slowly and carefully, Ahmed" Orhan said, ensuring Ahmed was in a good position... He then placed Nuray in his hands, while I stood beside Aysel, who was waiting her turn with great anticipation.

"You’re such a great big brother" I said, teasing him gently as I watched him handle her with such tenderness.

"Let’s see how she reacts first" he replied, his gaze softening as he looked down at Nuray, who blinked up at him, her tiny fingers moving slightly... Ahmed was waiting, his expression calm, knowing that she could start crying at any moment.

"Okay, now it’s my turn" Aysel said, shifting eagerly in her place, her impatience evident.

"Of course" Orhan replied with a smile, taking Nuray back into his arms before walking over to where Aysel sat.. He paused just before handing her the baby and spoke softly to her, as he always did "You know the rules, right? No sudden movements, no loud noises... Okay flower?"

"Yes, yes, I know all that... I’ll be careful, I promise" Aysel said dismissively, her attention already fully on Nuray.

Once Orhan placed Nuray in her arms, he bent forward, ready to respond to any sudden movements, while I placed one hand gently on her back and the other beside Nuray’s tiny head.

After settling Nuray in her cradle, I returned to join Orhan and the children for lunch.. We spoke casually during that, but my mind kept drifting... Why hadn’t I received any word from Mother yet?

"Are you okay?" Orhan whispered softly, his voice smooth and soothing, careful not to disturb the children who were lost in their own conversation.

"Yes, I’m fine" I answered with a calm smile, looking into his deep blue eyes "Turhan Sultan is expecting an important guest today... I need to be there soon"

"Then you shouldn’t be delayed" Orhan said with a smile, rising to his feet, prompting the rest of us to do the same "I’ll be heading out to continue my work outside the palace... I may be late tonight" I nodded, watching as he gently stroked Aysel’s cheek, before he turned and left.

»»————-　♔　-————««

"Come in" we heard Turhan Sultan’s voice from within, and the doors opened.

I entered with a serene smile, Aysel’s hand gently held in mine. But as soon as I lifted my gaze, my smile wavered, and my eyes locked onto the figure standing beside Turhan Sultan and Zeynep Sultan.

Gisela.. my sister.

For the first time, I felt as though time itself had come to a standstill.. My body was rooted in place, incapable of moving, as if I had been frozen in that very moment.. I couldn’t even tell if I was dreaming or trapped in some kind of strange haze.

It had been over a year since I last saw her... yet there she stood, right before me. And she looked... different.

She appeared more mature, her smile brighter and more captivating than ever, and the crown adorning her head made her seem almost like... our mother... she was a miniature version of Mother, and it was clear that, in the past year, that resemblance had grown significantly.

"Helena.." her voice snapped me out of my shock, and she immediately rushed into my arms, wrapping her arms around me " I’ve missed you"

"Oh.." I whispered, my voice barely audible as I enveloped her in a warm embrace "Gisela.." I pulled back slightly, my hands resting on her arms as I gazed at her, a wide smile spreading across my face "H.. how?! Did you come alone?"

"Come, girls, sit down" Turhan Sultan spoke, her tone calm, and only then did I realize all eyes were on us.

I couldn’t let go of Gisela’s hand as we moved to sit on one of the couches, smiles still wide on our faces as Turhan Sultan explained that Gisela had arrived just moments before.

"You must have met everyone "I said with a smile, gesturing toward Turhan Sultan "This is my mother-in-law, Turhan Sultan" I added enthusiastically, smiling at Zeynep "And this is Zeynep Sultan, my sister-in-law"

"I’m so happy to meet everyone" my sister said with a respectful smile, the kind I had come to expect from her but it was clear that my mother was paying all her attention to this rebellious princess who, in just one year, had transformed into a perfect vision of grace and poise.

My eyes shifted to Aysel, who was looking at my sister with curiosity, and I smiled, pointing to both her and Ahmed "And this is Aysel Sultan and Şehzade Ahmed"

Gisela smiled at them, and they responded with quiet smiles of their own, though their faces still betrayed the curiosity that lingered in their eyes.

After a brief conversation, Turhan Sultan gave us permission to spend some time alone so Gisela could meet her niece, whom she had traveled so far to see.

"So, tell me, how on earth did you manage to get here?" I asked, walking beside her "I mean... how did Father allow you to come alone? That seems impossible"

"Well, you know how stubborn I can be, Helena" Gisela smiled, tossing me a playful wink "Father may be Emperor, but when it comes to me, he can’t refuse a thing" Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she continued "Actually, just before you gave birth, we received an invitation from His Majesty, Sultan Orhan.. He said it would be a delight if one of the family could visit you after the arrival of your baby"

I was taken aback... Orhan hadn’t mentioned a word about this to me.. Could this be the significant gift he had hinted at earlier?

As we entered the room, Gisela instantly fell silent, her gaze fixed on the cradle.. Without a word, she hurried toward it, releasing my hand as though I no longer held any importance.

She bent down beside the cradle, her voice soft as she began whispering tender words to the sleeping baby.

"Aww, baby..."

"Look at you, so peaceful, so beautiful..."

"I love you, more than words can say.."

"I’m so proud to be your aunt"

"A princess for a princess" she said, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she kissed Nuray’s tiny hand and stood up "Or should I say, a sultana for a sultana?"

I chuckled, a warm flush spreading across my cheeks.. Then, I gently took her hand and guided her to the couch, urging her to continue with the story and fill me in on everything that had unfolded over the past year.

"At first, Father refused, worried about the dangers of the journey" she continued, her voice soft and thoughtful "But when we heard about Nuray’s birth, Mother was so emotional, and Father’s mood shifted.. He even held a grand celebration for his first granddaughter"

She paused, noticing the tears in my eyes, and gently wiped them away "If you keep crying every minute, I won’t be able to finish my story"

"Okay, okay, never mind... Keep going" I said, laughing softly, using a handkerchief to dab at my eyes.

"Mother couldn’t come because she was busy with some matters, but she insisted that I visit you" she said, flipping her hair back as she prepared to boast about something "Meanwhile, I stood before Father and told him I didn’t care about his concerns.. I packed my things and declared I was coming to see my sister and my niece"

She gestured dramatically, mimicking their conversation "We had a little discussion.. Father, Mattias, and I.. about the dangers of the road, how no princess should travel alone... and blah, blah, blah" She grinned, adding "But I brushed all that aside and managed to convince Father to let me come"

The way she spoke made me reconsider my earlier thoughts... My infuriating sister was still very much present.. She had simply disguised herself under the facade of a beautiful, elegant princess.

"Tell me, how was Mattias' wedding?" I asked curiously as I picked up my glass of juice, sitting upright.. ready to hear the latest news.

"It was good" she replied with an indifferent shrug, tossing a few nuts into her mouth "My brother's wife is beautiful and kind, but..." She glanced at me, a hint of confusion in her eyes as she searched for the right words "I’m not sure, but there’s such a stark difference between her and Mattias.. Yet, Mother insists that this difference is exactly what our brother needs"

"Well, if Mother says so, then she must be right" I replied, nodding thoughtfully before taking a sip from my glass... Just as I was about to ask her everything I’d been dying to know, the sudden sound of Nuray’s cries broke my concentration, pulling my attention away.

I quickly moved to pick her up as Isabel and Sybille also entered, eager to join our conversation, having missed Gisela as well.

"Alright, before we get carried away with gossip and all that, I must not forget the most important thing" Gisela said, standing up with a smile, her hands on her hips "Everyone sent you so many gifts, you and..." She smiled, walking over to Nuray and placing a kiss on her forehead "This sweet little one"

»»————-　♔　-————««

My eyes fluttered open and closed slowly, the dryness in my throat pulling me from sleep in the dead of night.. I glanced around, searching for a glass of water, but my gaze landed on Nuray's cradle... empty!

A cold wave of panic surged through me, stealing the breath from my lungs, and my lips seemed to freeze.. I shot out of bed, my heart racing as I desperately searched every corner of the room.

Before I could enter the spare room to wake Anastasia, a shadow moving on the balcony caught my attention, quickly changing my course toward it.

When I saw Orhan standing calmly on the balcony, cradling Nuray close to his chest, his lips moving as if speaking softly to her, the storm of fear and panic that had been raging inside me suddenly ceased... My racing heart slowed, and my nerves began to settle.. In that moment, I realized how my mind had already conjured every possible nightmare and started to believe them.

"Helena.." Orhan said softly, lifting his gaze toward me as I stepped onto the balcony, his expression shifting with surprise "Calm down" he added quickly, noticing the tears welling in my eyes as he moved closer, his understanding of my fear evident.

"God.. I thought..." The words caught in my throat, too terrified to even finish the thought, unwilling to imagine my daughter in any distress.. Without another word, I reached out and pulled her into my arms, holding her close.

"I didn’t want to wake you" Orhan explained softly, his right hand resting gently on my arm "When I entered your room, I saw she was already awake"

"For a moment, I was terrified" I admitted, taking a deep breath to steady myself then I forced a smile, pushing aside the flood of negative thoughts and fears "When did you get back?"

"Just a little while ago" he replied, his voice low .. he ran a hand through his hair, rubbing the back of his neck in a casual gesture that revealed the weariness of the day.

"I've been waiting for you" I said with a soft smile, gently rocking Nuray to sleep "I wanted to thank you for inviting my sister"

"I'm just glad it made you happy" he replied, his tired smile lingering as he settled onto one of the sofas... His relaxed demeanor invited me to sit beside him, drawn by the need for comfort after the overwhelming fright I'd just experienced.

"You really make me happy" I confessed, smiling as I gazed into his piercing blue eyes.. I longed to say more.. something deeper, something beautiful.. like I love you.. but the words caught in my throat.. perhaps I was afraid of what I might hear in response, or what I might not hear at all.. Instead, I settled for "I hope that one day I can give you as much joy as you’ve given me"

»»————-　♔　-————««

I might sound annoying but I literally had this chapter written two days ago.. I couldn't publish it cuz I didn't like it especially as a drama lover when I write peaceful chapters I feel like naaah this is boring 😭💌