|3rd Person POV|

-Edirne-

Dilruba Sultan stood by the window, looking out at the view.. while two young girls, Svetlana and Gülüm stood behind her silently, waiting for her to speak.. They knew what this moment meant.

"It's time" Dilruba said, her voice calm but firm.. She didn't turn to face them but spoke with such authority that neither girls dared to move.

Svetlana and Gülüm exchanged a quiet glance.. they had trained for this moment, and now it was here.

"Gülüm" Dilruba said, her eyes locking onto Gülüm's after turning "You're going to Manisa.. Şehzade Murad is there now.. he'll be easy to control if you do it right"

Gülüm smiled, the corners of her lips turning up with cold confidence.. She was ready... she knew how to get what she wanted... She's pretty, smart, attractive and so special so of course she's the one.

"Make him fall for you.. let him believe you're his everything" Dilruba smiled a little "When you have him wrapped around your finger, we will control him"

"He won't be a problem" Dilruba said with a flick of her hand, as if the task were already done "He's young.. He'll fall for it.. But what about you?"

"What do you mean, sultanim?" Gülüm raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not offended

"What if you get too caught up?" Dilruba's tone was teasing, but there was a hint of seriousness there.

"I won't, sultanim" Gülüm said firmly, "Because I'm smarter than that.. I was raised by you, sultanim"

Svetlana nodded quietly, her sharp eyes watching the exchange.. She wasn't here to play love games, she was here to make sure everything went as planned.. She stepped forward slightly, her voice calm but steady.

"I'll make sure she doesn't lose focus" Svetlana said, her eyes shifting to Gülüm.

She was calm, always calm.. She had seen enough of Gülüm's impulsiveness to know she would need to keep an eye on her... that was her mission.. she knew exactly how far to push.. she didn't make mistakes... Ever.

"Good" Dilruba said, looking between them both "Şehzade Murad is just a little boy .. But his mother, Victoria... She will be the one who suffers.. She took everything from me, and now I'll take everything from her"

Gülüm's lips curled into a smile, and Svetlana's eyes glinted with the same cold ambition.. They understood.. This was more than a mission, it was revenge.. And they would be the ones to carry it out.

"We'll handle it" Gülüm said confidently, her voice full of purpose.. she stepped closer to Dilruba, her gaze meeting hers "We'll get him, and you'll get what you want... sultanim"

"That's what I like to hear" Dilruba's voice softened with approval, but there was a darkness in her eyes.

Svetlana and Gülüm exchanged a brief, knowing look.. there was no room for error.

As they left the room, their minds were already set on their task.. the game had begun, and they were ready to play.

Halime Sultan sat cross-legged on a low cushion, her hands wrapped around a prayer bead, the Qur'an open in front of her.

Silence was filling every corner of this place, and her face, lined with age and maybe something else... She was lost in her prayers, her lips moving softly, seeking peace after years of darkness.

The door creaked open quietly, and Dilruba stepped in.. Halime didn't look up right away, sensing her daughter's approach but choosing to continue her prayer.. After a moment, she lowered her beads and looked up.

"Dilruba" Halime said, her voice gentle but knowing.. there was something.. an unease she couldn't shake "Stay away from trouble" she said out of nowhere.

Dilruba's expression remained sweet, her lips curving into an innocent smile as she approached, her hands folded together in front of her.

"What do you mean, Validem?" Dilruba asked, her tone light, almost playful.. she stepped closer, her eyes wide "I'm only focused on doing what's right, nothing more.. validem"

Halime studied her for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning her daughter's face.. she felt a pang of suspicion, but it quickly faded.

Halime gave her daughter a small, tired smile, her eyes softening for a moment.

"Tell the maids to prepare the dinner table, also, I'm in no mood for anything heavy tonight" Halime said quietly.

"Of course, Validem... I'll take care of it" She turned toward the door "I'll make sure everything is ready for you"

Halime, once again, settled into her quiet contemplation, unaware of the storm her daughter was about to unleash.

-----------

-A week later in Manisa-

Svetlana's eyes darted around the place as she walked cautiously, clutching her bundle tightly against her chest... What was inside it was far more important than mere clothing.

Gülüm walked ahead of her with her head held high, steps confident, her eyes more curious but less restless than Svetlana's, moving from one face to another, from one object to the next.

"Show me the address" Svetlana said, irritated, her patience worn thin from walking the same streets over and over again.. they had been looking for this house since morning and still hadn't found it.

"This is my job" Gülüm replied with a raised eyebrow, glancing back at Svetlana "Dilruba Sultan gave me the address, not you"

Having had enough of the endless wandering, Svetlana snatched the paper from Gülüm's hands and started reading.... Realizing that finding the house on their own was nearly impossible in a place they weren't familiar with, she decided to get a little help.

"Excuse me" she said, stopping a young boy passing by, dragging a large pot, likely selling something.

"Hmm?" the boy said, eyeing them curiously... He was sure they weren't from around here.

Gülüm, clearly annoyed and about to intervene to stop them from talking to any strangers, froze at the look Svetlana gave her, signaling her to stay quiet.

"Can you show me where this address is?" Svetlana asked, holding out the paper with the address on it... rhe boy stared at it blankly, not understanding, and Svetlana realized he couldn't read.

"Oh... okay" she said with a small smile, looking back down at the paper "It says... Hassan Efendi's house at the entrance of the Lantern District, next to the old windmill"

"Hassan Efendi's house?" The boy raised his eyebrows "Oh, I know it... It's close by" He looked them up and down "Are you visitors or something?"

"No, no, I don't know him... Just show me the way" Svetlana replied seriously, wanting to avoid any more questions she couldn't answer, ignoring the disapproving looks Gülüm shot at them, acting as though she were some kind of princess.

"Alright" the boy said, shrugging his shoulders in indifference before pointing them in the right direction.

A few moments later, the boy pointed to Hassan Efendi's house, even going so far as to knock on the door... But Svetlana stopped him, handing him a silver coin to send him away quickly.

They didn't want Hassan Efendi's house... They only needed to find the one next to it... Hassan Efendi's house was well-known, so they figured once they found it, the neighboring house would be easy to spot.

The house was small, with a brown wooden door that looked a little old... The two girls approached cautiously and knocked... Before they could even blink, the door opened swiftly, and a short man in his forties stood in front of them.

Without saying a word, Gülüm pulled a paper from under her sleeve and handed it to him, an official letter from Dilruba Sultan, ensuring that the girls were sent by her and that he would fulfill his part of their agreement.

"Wait here a moment" he said in a serious tone.

He disappeared inside quickly, changed his clothes, then came back out and gestured for them to follow him.

They walked behind him, passing through a small yard... Svetlana glanced up at the sky, the sun beginning to set... This was the perfect time... They would reach the palace just as night fell, and the help they'd arranged would get the girls into the harem of Şehzade Murad.