|Ayleen's POV|

-Three Days Later-

I slowly began to stir in my sleep as I heard the sound of Nuray waking up, her cry signaling that she was about to burst into tears.

I opened my eyes slowly, brushing my hair aside with my hand, but as I did so, I felt a shadow move towards the balcony.. I froze, trying to process what was happening.. It must be Orhan.

I took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself.. I knew he didn't want to talk to me, and I had nothing to justify my mistake.. But I couldn't help myself.. I had to at least take a quick glance and see if it was really him.

My feet stopped dead in their tracks when I saw the scene before me.. A tall woman stood in the shadows, her face hidden, holding Nuray in her arms, who was moving her hands, preparing to cry.

"Who are you?!" I called out, my voice filled with worry as I moved closer, but I stopped in my tracks when the woman quickly raised her left hand, signaling for me to stop.. She took a few steps back, edging closer to the balcony's edge.

"What are you doing?! Give me my daughter!!" I shouted again, my hands trembling with worry and anger as she neared the edge with my child in her arms.. I felt like I was on the verge of losing everything.

"What's happening?!" Anastasia rushed in from the other room, adjusting her disheveled hair.. but when she saw the scene before her, she gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

"My child never had the chance to see the light of day, while your daughter is here, receiving everything life has to offer" The woman's voice trembled with pain as she raised her head, tears streaming from her eyes... It was then that I realized who she was... It was Rukiye.

"She's just a child" I said, my own tears streaming down as I slowly moved closer "Please, give me my daughter" Anastasia grabbed my hand when she saw Rukiye edging closer to the balcony, as if she was planning something... something unthinkable.. I couldn't even bring myself to think about it.

I urgently signaled for Anastasia to go get help, my focus never wavering from Nuray, whose cries were slowly driving me to the brink of madness.

"Please, you won't gain anything by hurting an innocent child" I cried, my voice breaking with desperation, my heart shattering with every word.

"You have everything, why do you need more?my child should have been here too" Her words were drenched in sorrow, her voice trembling with defeat, not anger.

"Please, look" I pleaded, raising my hands in a desperate gesture, trying to soothe her "Your child is now an angel.. hurting another child won't bring you peace... I swear, you won't be punished.. just give her back to me"

"My life was supposed to be different... my child should have felt the love of both parents" she murmured, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks "They took my baby... they made me lose my innocent child"

"And will what you're doing fix that?" I screamed, my patience running thin as I saw her balancing Nuray on one arm, edging closer to the balcony's edge "Please... don't do this... don't make another mother suffer the same way"

"Everyone is mocking me and my child" she said, her voice frantic "She told me you're not even worth it... that if I got rid of your daughter, my baby would finally rest in peace" Her words came out like the ramblings of a madwoman, and I couldn't make sense of who she was speaking about.

She froze as the sound of footsteps grew louder.. Sibylle, Isabel, Sumbul, and others I didn't even recognize began to enter, but my mind was consumed with one thought.. I had to get my daughter back.

"Stop!.. all of you" I said, raising my hands, signaling for everyone to halt... I quickly refocused my attention on Nuray, who was crying louder with every passing moment.

"I'll do anything you want, just please have mercy on this little girl... you can't do this to her" I pleaded, my hands slowly reaching out towards her, trying to reassure her with my eyes.. even though I could hear the footsteps getting closer behind me, I ignored them, focusing only on the possibility of losing my daughter.

"Please... look at her... what has she done to deserve this?" I pleaded once more, my voice trembling "Imagine your own child in this situation" Rukiye seemed to hesitate, just for a moment.

She looked back over her shoulder as if afraid someone might interrupt her, but she didn't seem to fear anyone.. she just didn't want anyone to stop her from doing what she had in mind.

"Please... think about it" I continued, stepping closer and for a moment, I saw doubt in her eyes as she looked at me and then at Nuray, who was still crying uncontrollably.

Slowly, she extended her arms, and in a moment that felt like an eternity, I reached out and took Nuray into my arms, relief flooding me.

I pulled her into my embrace, clutching her tightly.. But all of that crumbled when I heard Orhan's voice behind me, furious... I looked up just in time to see Rukiye standing at the edge of the balcony, and then... she jumped.

"What's happening here?!" Turhan Sultan rushed forward, wearing her nightclothes, but I couldn't respond, couldn't even summon the strength to stand.. I could only hold Nuray, trying desperately to soothe her.. she couldn't understand what was wrong, but somehow, she knew something was terribly out of place.

"You all need to go inside" Orhan said, his voice laced with an undercurrent of anger, as if the very situation was pushing him to the edge.

He reached out, gently brushing his fingers against Nuray's cheek, his touch careful as if searching for any sign of harm.. then, he wrapped his arms around me, lifting me up, and guiding me inside.

"Everyone... out" Orhan snapped, anger sharpening his words "You will all be held accountable for letting this happen" by the time he finished speaking, the room was empty, the others having retreated in silence.. only Turhan Sultan remained, her eyes fixed on me and Nuray, her face filled with concern.

As I sat on the couch, my hands trembling uncontrollably, Turhan Sultan gently took Nuray from my arms, while Orhan guided the glass of water to my lips.. After I drank, he settled beside me and I already knew what he was about to say.

"Tell me exactly what happened"

»»-----　♔　-----««

-The Next Day-

"I'm going to the church tomorrow morning to pray" Isabel said, pacing back and forth in front of me, her steps quick and restless "It feels like the disasters just keep coming, one after another" Her constant movement was making it hard to think clearly.

"I just don't understand... someone is targeting you" Sibylle said, her eyes filled with worry as she fidgeted with her fingers, a sign of her own nervousness.

"Yes, Orhan also mentioned that there's someone behind Rukiye" I sighed, holding Nuray close and pressing a kiss to her forehead before continuing "She kept saying someone was messing with her mind, but I have no idea who she was talking about" I drifted off, my mind consumed by the haunting events of the night before.

"But surely you have some suspicions, Your Highness" Anastasia said softly, carefully folding Nuray's clothes "There must be someone you suspect"

I paused, locking eyes with the girls.. It felt as though they all shared the same unspoken thought.. Even Anastasia wasn't just talking for the sake of it; there was something she was hinting at... someone.

"Rana" I whispered, unable to stop myself from voicing the name that had been lingering in my mind and It seemed like everyone around me had already come to the same conclusion "I still can't shake the feeling that it's no coincidence she wasn't at the shop with us that day, and how pleased she seemed to see me struggling"

"She's been everywhere, and it seems like she knows everyone in this palace, even the lowest of servants" Anastasia added, her tone almost calculated, as if she'd been waiting for the right moment to say it aloud.

"Alright... I'm just going to say it" Sibylle exclaimed, standing up, her frustration evident as if she might burst.m "I think she's in love with your husband... No, I'm certain of it... it's glaringly obvious"

"What the..." I froze, my mind racing to catch up with what she had just said "She... loves him?"

"Look, just think about it" Sibylle said, waving her hand dismissively "You've been so caught up in everything, you haven't had the chance to see it"

"I..." I trailed off, words failing me as images of Rana flooded my mind.. especially her interactions with Orhan.. the way she looked at him, the smile she reserved just for him... It all clicked into place.

"It didn't even matter whether he was there or not" I said, my voice tinged with frustration "She talked about him constantly.. She hated me for no reason.. and she was always trying to get closer to the Valide Sultan and the children"

"And do you remember what I told you about how Orhan lost two children before they were born?" I whispered, the realization settling over me.. the girls' eyes widened in silent understanding, and I didn't need to say another word.. they knew exactly where I was going.

"Also, the fact that Feyza Sultan died during childbirth seems suspicious" Isabel added, slapping her hand on the table as if sealing her words.

I paused, taking a moment to process.. these were serious accusations, and they couldn't be brushed aside as mere suspicions.. I had to uncover the truth. If this was real, not just my life, but everyone who stood in Rana's way, was at risk.

We were all snapped out of our thoughts by the sound of the door opening.. a servant of Turhan Sultan stepped inside, delivering the news that the Sultan wished to see Nuray to check on her health.

I pushed all my thoughts aside, trying to shake off the anxiety that had been consuming me.. With the girls' help, I gathered myself and Nuray, then made my way toward Turhan Sultan's quarters.. my mood, already dark, soured further when I saw Fatma Sultan sitting next to her.

"Valide" I greeted quietly, slightly bowing, still upset by the way she had treated me that day, but she seemed to have already forgotten the matter.

"Ayleen, sit down" she gestured warmly.. I stepped forward, gently placed Nuray in her arms, and then sat beside her, trying to steady myself.

"I heard about what happened last night and wanted to check on you" Fatma Sultan said, her tone serious, her usual wide smile replaced with a somber expression "I was about to visit your room.. I don't even know how I didn't hear anything last night"

At first, I didn't respond.. I studied her intently, my mind racing with suspicions.. Was she involved in this? Or was she simply an irritating presence, someone who couldn't possibly be behind something so sinister?

"Perhaps you were just in a deep sleep" I said carefully, trying to mask my unease "Last night felt like a nightmare, but thank God we made it through.. my daughter is fine, and she always will be"

"Insha'Allah" Fatma Sultan nodded, offering a slight smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.. She seemed on the verge of saying something more when Turhan Sultan interrupted her.

"Where is Rana?" she asked, her smile warm as she cooed over Nuray.

"She went to check on Zeynep Sultan" Fatma replied, her voice filled with an odd sadness "She's so worried about her"

"There's nothing to worry about" Turhan Sultan replied, her voice tinged with frustration "We've spoiled her too much. She's gone beyond every limit"

"Has there been any news from His Majesty?" Fatma Sultan asked, her gaze briefly flickering toward me before returning to Turhan Sultan "What is he thinking? Will there be any punishments? You know we don't want this for our sultanas"

That was the moment I shot Fatma Sultan a deadly glare, my anger unmistakable.. How could she? It was as if she was doing this on purpose, bringing up something like this at the very moment when someone had just tried to harm my daughter the night before.

"I believe he has made up his mind and will share his decision with me tomorrow" Turhan Sultan replied, drawing my attention back to her, making my chest tighten with unease "Although what happened with Nuray last night deeply disturbed him and has been weighing on his mind"

She sighed, casting a glance at Isabel, who stepped forward to take Nuray into her arms.. When she looked back at me, I silently gestured for her to take Nuray to my chambers, my mind spinning as if it were on the verge of exploding.

"I heard he went to that scoundrel Mansur's dungeon today" Turhan Sultan continued, her voice laced with disgust "We should hear of his execution tomorrow, and it will be well deserved.. Asim Pasha will be here in a few days, and I'll finally bring up Zeynep's marriage proposal, which we've postponed for far too long.. and now it's causing us problems"

As I heard this, my stomach twisted with anxiety, a feeling I had grown all too familiar with lately.. the past few days had been nothing but a series of shocks and moments of overwhelming tension.

Despite my anger toward Zeynep for what she had said to me that day, I couldn't deny that I cared about her.. I couldn't help but wonder how the coming days would be even harder for her... and for me, as this chaotic situation showed no signs of ending anytime soon.