|Helena's POV|

-Two Days Later-

"What do you think about the idea?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I sat up straighter, giving Gisela my full attention after what she had just said.

In some ways, I had expected an offer like this would come sooner or later for my sister, especially after my marriage.. Of course, the Spanish royal family wanted to strengthen their relationship with my father, and what better way to do that than by marrying their son.. the future king..to my sister? But even so, I couldn't help but worry.

"I don't know" she said, her voice unusually uncertain, lacking her usual confidence "I think it's a good step.. After all, my future probably involves marrying a prince or king sooner or later"

"You know my parents won't pressure you on this" I said, my voice warm as I gently placed my hand over hers, feeling the coldness of her touch.. I wanted to ease her mind and create a space for her to think about such a life-changing decision rationally.

"Did you regret your decision, Helena?" Her gaze locked with mine, as if she were looking for something deeper in my eyes.

Her question made me shiver inside, but before I could respond, we were interrupted by Zeynep joining us in the garden, her face lit up by a wide, unexplained smile.

Later that evening, after dinner, I placed Nuray in Gisela's arms.. She was enjoying taking care of her while I focused on a book I had been reading.

The book had been given to me by that lady Hafsa, and at first, I had thought she was exaggerating its importance.. But as I read more, I realized I was mistaken, and I had to quickly revise my earlier judgment.

"What is this, Helena?" Gisela asked curiously, which made me notice that she had placed Nuray down to sleep and returned to sit beside me.

"It's a book about Islamic religion" I replied, closing the book but before I could set it down, she quietly took it from my hands and opened it.

"What does this mean?" she asked, her voice filled with astonishment as she ran her fingers over some of the lines, her eyes widening in shock "Are you...?"

Before she could finish her question, she lowered her gaze to my neck, and I knew she was searching for the cross necklace I had worn for years.

"Not yet" I said with a small smile, trying to avoid her gaze... Though I wasn't doing anything that should be embarrassing, the situation felt strangely awkward.

I understood her surprise.. Even though I was Christian, my interest in studying this religion and reading its texts might make her question my beliefs.

"Oh my God, I..." she closed the book quickly, taking a few breaths before hurriedly adding with a weird smile "I'm sorry, my gaze was impolite.. you know I love you and ..."

"You don't need to explain" I said with a gentle smile, taking her hand in mine.l "I truly understand your reaction.. but this is my life now, and it's different from what I've known.. studying this religion isn't something anyone has pushed me into... it's something I feel I must do for myself.. Having a child raised in this faith makes me want to understand it better, so I can fulfill my role as a mother with the knowledge and respect she deserves"

She fell silent for a moment, clearly processing my words, weighing them carefully.. I could see she was deep in thought.. But before she could voice her response, I spoke again, determined to share what was on my mind.

"Listen" I said, lowering my gaze to her hand and taking a deep breath "This morning, you asked me an important question" I met her eyes again "I don't regret it.. I've found a wonderful family, one that has given me more love than I ever imagined.. and I have Nuray, who has filled my life with light and transformed me in just a few weeks.. But I won't pretend it's been easy.. there have been many challenges and changes, more than I anticipated"

"Helena" she interrupted with a warm smile, pulling me into a tight embrace "I understand, and I'm grateful that you don't regret it.. Just know that no matter how different our cultures, backgrounds, or beliefs may be.. I will always love you"

»»-----　♔　-----««

-Three Weeks Later-

"That was impressive, Ahmed" I said, applauding lightly, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I watched him.

His movements were fluid and precise, a testament to his dedication.. He had been practicing sword fighting with his new personal trainer for weeks, and it was clear the hard work was paying off.

"He's truly remarkable" my sister said, her eyes filled with admiration "This prince carries himself with such maturity.. it's hard to believe he's only seven"

"You're right" I replied, nodding as I watched the boy, who no longer resembled the little child he had been just a year or so ago.. his frame had grown strong and tall, and his sharp features mirrored his thoughtful, composed nature.. so different from most children his age "He'll make a remarkable prince when he's older"

"I truly hope so" she whispered, her gaze fixed on his sword moves with intense concentration while I took a step back, feeling a bit weary, and made my way to the tent to sit down and chat with Sibylle.

"Your highness" Anastasia said, approaching me after being out of sight for a while "You won't believe this"

"What is it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise, just as my sister sat down beside me.

"Unexpected guests have arrived" she said, her gaze briefly meeting mine with a strange look before she lowered her eyes "Fatma Sultan and Rana Hanim Sultan"

My eyes widened in disbelief, struggling to process what I had just heard.. They were supposed to arrive in at least three weeks.. Why had they come early? Wasn't it enough that I would have to endure their presence for the entire month of Ramadan?

"What's going on, Helena?" my sister asked, her confusion evident, which made me realize I hadn't mentioned them to her before.

"It's a long story" I sighed, standing up and straightening my dress "We have guests" I raised an eyebrow and smiled "The kind of guests you and I are used to avoiding"

"Oh" Gisella replied with a playful smile, standing up eagerly "Now I'm even more curious to meet them"

Sibylle and Anastasia chuckled, and I couldn't help but join in.. I then went to find Ahmed and asked him to get ready, with Marissa's help, while the rest of us made our way inside, bracing ourselves for the stressful weeks ahead.

Soon enough, one of the maids arrived to inform us that Turhan Sultan was hosting a dinner on her balcony to welcome the unexpected arrival of Fatma and Rana.

»»-----　♔　-----««

"Congratulations on the arrival of the little sultana" Rana said with a wide, almost mocking smile, far more unexpected than I had anticipated "Can you imagine how pleased we were to hear about her birth?"

"Exactly" Fatma added before I could even react, her tone laced with something sharp "We wanted to come as soon as we could and celebrate with you, but, unfortunately, we got caught up in some... matters"

"Thank you" I replied with a small smile, though the words felt heavy "She has truly brought so much joy to everyone's hearts" As soon as I finished speaking, I lowered my gaze, setting my spoon down carefully and wiping my lips with a handkerchief, feeling their eyes linger on me.

"You're truly in my prayers, Helena" Fatma said again, her smile twisting into that unsettling expression I had come to recognize all too well "I pray that you have a son soon" Before I could even process her words, she turned to Turhan Sultan, who was sitting nearby "Aren't we all praying for that? His Majesty needs many sons to secure the strength of our empire."

The atmosphere shifted immediately, thick with tension.. I could feel Zeynep's glare burning into Fatma, as if she were ready to flip the table over in anger, while Rana leaned back, clearly enjoying the discomfort her mother had just caused.

Gisela, sitting beside me, seemed confused, unsure of the underlying tension, but I could tell she recognized the awkwardness of the situation.

I knew exactly what they were implying... they wanted a şehzade, convinced that daughters were nothing more than burdens to the state, mere pawns to be controlled and discarded at will.

But what about princes? They, too, were nothing more than pawns in a ruthless game of power, used as weapons to fight each other for supremacy.. Was this what they truly wanted? How could a woman.. especially a sultana.. degrade girls in such a way, as if they were worthless?

"Don't worry, Fatma" Turhan Sultan spoke up, breaking my thoughts "We pray for the benefit of the state, and Allah will give us what is best... Orhan is still young, and he will have enough sons"

To be honest, I didn't fully understand what Turhan Sultan meant by her comment.. What exactly was she trying to imply?

By the end of dinner, the room had grown uncomfortably silent, with everyone carefully avoiding eye contact and steering clear of any conversation.

Gisela, however, kept nudging me under the table, her curiosity evident as she silently demanded an explanation for what had just transpired.. When I didn't respond, she simply smiled, her expression serene, but her eyes sent a few deadly glances toward Fatma and Rana as we settled on the couches, sipping our coffee.

"Your sister is beautiful, Helena" Fatma Sultan remarked, her intense gaze shifting to Gisela "How old is she?"

"She's sixteen" I replied with a smile, though it was meant for my sister, not Fatma... Gisela continued to shoot sharp glares in Fatma's direction, and I briefly explained what had just been said.. It didn't change a thing.. Gisela offered a faint, polite smile before turning her gaze toward the sky, clearly uninterested in engaging further.

"Aysel, darling, are you tired?" Zeynep asked softly, smiling as she gently stroked Aysel's back, who appeared to be on the brink of falling asleep.. she just nodded quietly, so I kissed her cheeks twice and gestured for Elena to take her to her room.

"I'm tired too, and it's time for me to sleep" Ahmed said, standing beside me with a serious expression.. He then turned to me, kissed my hand, and added "Goodnight"

"Goodnight, darling" I replied with a smile, a mix of pride and emotion swelling within me as I watched him move to kiss his grandmother's hand and wish her a peaceful night.

Amid all this, I couldn't help but notice the intense, disbelieving stares from Rana and Fatma, as if they couldn't fathom what had just transpired.

When it first happened a month ago, I was just as shocked, remembering how I had cried when I confided in Isabel about it . But now, it seemed clear that Ahmed truly saw me as part of the family.. His kiss was a gesture of respect, one he would offer to his father or grandmother, and it filled me with a deep sense of belonging.

"So this is what was happening while I looked like a fool?" Gisela exclaimed, tugging at her dress in frustration as we finally reached the room.. After I had shared everything that had transpired during dinner, she turned to me, irritation clear in her voice "Women are ruling great kingdoms, and yet she disrespects my niece like that"

"Calm down, Gisela" I replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as Anastasia helped me out of my dress and into a simple, light pink one before I sat down, cradling Nuray in my arms to feed her "I don't care what anyone thinks... I know they want boys" I gently ran my fingers over my baby's cheek, a smile softening my face "But she's more than enough for me"

»»-----　♔　-----««

"What is this?" I asked, placing my hand on Orhan's shoulder as I leaned in, trying to get a closer look at the map spread out before him.

"It's my plan" he replied, his eyes never leaving the map.. He raised his hand slightly, pulling me closer into his lap, and with the other, he gestured toward the map "I've been working on this for years" Finally, he met my gaze, his expression intense "You have no idea how important this is to me"

"I can tell that by your eyes" I said, smiling in admiration before turning back to the map as he began explaining the most crucial details.. I was captivated by how meticulously he had planned everything.. how and when it would unfold.

"This is truly..." I paused, my eyes wide as I searched for the right word "Magnificent"

"Thank you" he said with a smile, clearly pleased by my words.. He straightened up, leaning back slightly, and placed a hand on my waist "What was it you said you wanted to talk about?"

I paused, taking a moment to collect my thoughts, wondering if tonight was the right time to bring this up or if I was rushing things.. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions and memories from the past months, all focused on one singular thing.

I could almost hear the words of encouragement from Sibylle, Isabel, Hafsa, and Gisella echoing in my mind...

I think I've had enough time to think this through.. This is my place now, and this is the step I need to take.. It's bigger than anyone realizes.. It's something deep, something that only someone standing where I am can truly understand.

Before I could even gather the words to speak, Orhan broke the silence, his fingers gently brushing along my back, then tracing through my hair, which cascaded freely down my shoulders.

"I love your details..."

"Your hair"

"Your lips.. the way you talk and say my name"

"Your soft skin under my touch"

"Your smile, and how delicate it is"

"Your tenderness with everyone"

"Your eyes, and the way you're looking at me"

"You're perfect... Helena"

I was left speechless, utterly stunned by his words, and in that moment, everything I had been thinking about faded away.. His voice, his touch, and those words filled my mind completely, leaving me with nothing but a sense of awe.

Seizing on my daze, he lifted my hand, gently placing a soft kiss on it before moving his fingers to my cheek, locking his gaze with mine.

"I love you"

As if under some sort of enchantment, my body leaned toward him, and I ran my fingers along his neck before placing a kiss on his lips.

"I love you too"

I whispered, barely pulling my lips away, only for him to draw me back in, his kiss deepening as if to seal the words we'd just exchanged.

»»----- ♔ -----««

Okay babiesss so this chapter wasn't supposed to end like that but it just kinda happened last minute after thinking bout it a lot... I really wanted to get this moment in now cuz in the next chaptervit'll be the last time I write |Helena's POV| I needed to make it clear that Orhan loved Helena for HER before anything else or any other version of her under any other name 🤌🏻

Also with Rana and Fatma showing up things are definitely gonna get chaotic and honestly, I'm low-key excited for it! I don't even know why but we're about to kick off some seriously complicated events especially after Chapter 40!!

Ik this note's a bit long but I just wanted to say that the story isn't over yet... I've got a ton more ideas and a whole life planned out for characters that haven't even been introduced yet lmfao so I'm still gonna put a lot of time and energy into this story!! 💌