|Ayleen's POV|

-A week later-

Waiting for something uncertain, something that may never come, is one of the hardest things to endure... This has been the worst week of my life... I've spent it entirely in my chambers.

Turhan Sultan's words still echoed relentlessly in my mind, Phrases like "I never expected this from you" "How could you allow yourself to hide something like this?" "You've destroyed everything with your own hands, Ayleen" and "Now pray it doesn't spread beyond the family, or your reputation.. and ours.. will be buried"

I wanted to scream at her because I was already shattered, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.. I'm a princess.. a sultana with my own place, my own dignity, and no one.. no one.. should ever scold me like that.

I knew I had made a mistake by hiding the truth, but I did it for Zeynep.. And if there was anyone who had the right to be upset, it was Orhan.. and no one else.

I hated what I had done so much that, on some sleepless nights, my mind would try to shift the blame onto Zeynep, convincing me that she was the true cause of all this.. But I always rejected that thought.

She hadn't forced me into anything... I was the one who had been too kind, too naïve.. I had wanted to protect her from Mansur, and in doing so, without truly understanding the consequences, I had plunged myself into disaster.

Orhan's gaze still haunts me... I could see the shock in his eyes when he saw me, as if he hadn't expected me to be there.. But what cut deeper was the silence that followed.. Not a single word from him.

Sibylle says he should have given me a chance to defend myself, that he shouldn't have dragged me into his family's mess.. But Isabel, insists that I was the one who inserted myself, and in his eyes, I've made an unforgivable mistake.. one that deserves more than just his silence.

I know I have no excuses, and I understand that Orhan has every right to be angry.. But I wish he could see things from my point of view.. It may be difficult, but it makes sense.

I lifted my eyes and ran my hand through Aysel's hair as she quietly ate her dinner beside me, while Ahmed was telling Marissa about the things he wanted to do tomorrow.. he would be free the entire day.. He then asked Anastasia to hand him Nuray so he could hold her for a while.

"Are you alright?" Ahmed asked, gently handing Nuray back to Anastasia and turning his full attention to me "You don't look like yourself"

"No... I'm just exhausted" I replied, my voice quiet, as I tried to force a smile.. but before I could say more, he interrupted me.

"You know you don't have to carry everything on your own" he said, his tone calm but earnest "You've always shouldered my worries without hesitation, and I want to do the same for you.. Whatever it is, you can tell me"

His words rendered me speechless.. all I could do was smile softly, resting my hand on his shoulder before pulling him into a gentle kiss on his cheek.

I would never burden him with my troubles..that wouldn't be right.. but the simple fact that he cared, that he noticed my quiet distress, brought a spark of warmth to my heart, offering me a brief moment of comfort in a week that had been nothing but heavy.

"I'm completely exhausted... I just want this day to be over" Aysel murmured, her voice tinged with frustration, clearly done with the monotony of the day's lessons.

"Alright, sweetheart" I replied calmly, pulling away from Ahmed "You should get some rest.. How about I accompany you to your room?" I asked warmly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and letting my eyes trace her angelic features.

"Alright, and I can tell you about some things that bother me" she replied, her face clouded with sadness..I could already guess that she would complain again about her recent lessons.. ones she had never quite gotten used to.

Watching her express her frustration always made me smile.. I could understand why Orhan called her his little flower.. she was so delicate and sensitive, just like the most beautiful petal.

It didn't take long before Aysel drifted off to sleep, nestled comfortably in her bed.. I had whispered a few soothing words to her, sharing stories from my childhood about one of my teachers who had been with me until I was sixteen.

Despite how much I had disliked some of the classes, especially those about protocol and language, I tried to reassure her, reminding her that as she grew older, she would find joy in things she couldn't yet appreciate.

I stood at the top of the stairs, exchanging a few quiet words with Sümbül before heading back to my room, my gaze passing over the girls and servants moving from the outside to the inside.

"Sultanim, perhaps you should retire to your room and rest.. Let me have them prepare a drink for you to bring some color back to your face" Sümbül suggested, his voice laced with genuine concern as he gestured toward the door.

"I was already planning to go, Nuray must have woken up by now" I said, turning to him and whispering softly "If you suspect anyone behind the letter left on His Majesty's desk, let me know" I spoke these words with caution, ensuring no one overheard, as I had decided to confide in Sümbül.. someone I could trust, and who knew all the daily details.

I need to find out who tried to set Zeynep and me up with Orhan.. During Turhan Sultan's scolding, she told me that a letter had been found in His Majesty's office, and until now, they still don't know who did it, despite the guards undergoing an extensive investigation that is still ongoing.

I sighed, nodding at Sümbül, and before I could move from my place, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of some girls' conversation.. Their voices, loud and careless, drifted toward me, as if they didn't mind who was listening.

"Rumor has it... His Majesty is angry at Ayleen Sultan" one of them said, and I felt my attention shift towards them.

"Well, finally... We've been waiting for it" the second girl, with blonde hair, remarked with a broad smile.

"Coming from the girl who hasn't even set foot in his chambers once," replied another girl with black hair while laughing "At least I've been there twice"

By that point, I couldn't even understand why I was still standing there, listening to their idle chatter.. Was I deliberately torturing myself, letting their words gnaw at my patience? It almost felt like I was tempting fate, testing just how much I could endure before snapping.

"Maybe we'll get our chance too" one of them chimed in, playing with her long hair "We all want to be sultanas... Actually, Rukiye can tell us how it feels since she was almost there"

The comment was directed at a girl sitting across the room, her head lowered as she read a book.. without much thought, I recognized her.. the one Zeynep had told me about, the girl who had lost her child.

It was painful to think of the way they mocked her, especially given how she had been so visibly upset during my own pregnancy celebration.. I couldn't bear to listen to their cruel words any longer, so I signaled to Sümbül to step in before this went too far, and hurriedly made my way back to my room.

As I walked, my mind tangled in thoughts of Orhan, and just as I focused on my path, she appeared.. Rana.. with Her medium build, black hair, and defiant eyes made me feel as though she were cutting straight through me.

"Helena... Finally" she said with a smile that seemed both smug and mocking, causing me to halt in my tracks.. I had intended to walk right past her, ignoring her completely, but her words caught my attention.

"Ayleen Sultan" I corrected her with a raised eyebrow, bracing myself for whatever she would throw my way and I already knew what was coming.

"Go easy on yourself... Ayleen Sultan" she said, her gaze drifting over my face, her smile stretching unnervingly wide "I know it's hard, but this is life.. Honestly, I feel sorry for you.. I don't get why they're so upset with you" She leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a whisper "You've always been from a different world.. You can change your religion, your name, but your roots will always remain.. a mistake like this was bound to happen"

"You're acting like you weren't supporting it" I said, raising an eyebrow, standing tall and steady "Stop following me around and sticking your nose in my business"

"At least I wasn't in that shop, and I didn't make His Majesty turn against me" she shot back, toying with a piece of her veil, clearly trying to provoke me... It worked, but I kept my composure, refusing to let her see how much it stung.

"Go mind your own life" I shot back, eyeing her from head to toe "Maybe learn some manners while you're at it.. Upon our next meeting, I expect a proper bow, befiting your station before me.. or I'll start thinking you're a disrespectful, uneducated hanim sultan"

The shock and anger that flashed across her face was enough to make me smile internally.. I turned away, walking swiftly towards my room, feeling a strange sense of relief.. After all, I had nothing left to lose, and if anyone dared to cross me again, they'd get a response they wouldn't forget.

As I entered my room, I was met with an unexpected sight.. Sibylle and Isabel stood side by side, their heads bowed in a way that seemed almost rehearsed.. A few steps away, Anastasia stood in the same posture, but her gaze was fixed on the balcony, as if waiting for something.

"What's goi...?" I whispered to Isabel, my gaze instinctively drifting toward the balcony.. but I froze when I saw him.. Orhan.. standing there, holding Nuray in his arms, gently rocking her back and forth.

I tried to steady my breathing, forcing my emotions into submission, but the sight of him.. so near, yet so far.. was enough to stir a whirlwind inside me.

I found myself edging closer to Sybille and Isabel, unable to bring myself any closer to the balcony.. The mere thought of encountering him, of the coldness or the silence between us, was more than I could handle.

"How long has he been here?" I asked Isabel in a hushed whisper, my gaze still fixed on the window.

"Not long" she replied softly, her gaze lifting to the window as well "He arrived while Prince Ahmed was still here.. they talked for a bit, then he took Nuray and went out to the balcony"

I nodded, unable to look away from the sight.. Watching him with Nuray, in such a peaceful moment, reminded me of when I used to be a part of those moments.. now, all I could do was watch from afar.. He seemed so calm, so at peace with everything, while I felt like I was slowly losing my mind.

A few moments later, Orhan turned and made his way back inside.. as he drew closer, I thought maybe Nuray had fallen asleep in his arms, but I was mistaken.. she was still wide awake, her tiny fingers moving restlessly, gripping at his clothes.

My guilt gnawed at me, but I forced myself to stay composed.. I glanced at Anastasia and gave a subtle gesture, asking her to step aside.. Without thinking, I moved closer, drawn to him, needing to feel the presence of the man I could no longer reach.

True to his nature, Orhan remained calm and composed.. he didn't brush me aside.. Instead, he stepped toward me with quiet intent, placing Nuray in my arms with gentle care before turning and walking out of the room without a single word.

His quiet gentleness, his wisdom, and the calm with which he handled everything.. these were the qualities that had always drawn me to him... Now, they were the very things that stirred a deep sense of longing and regret within me.