|Victoria's POV|

-The Next Day-

I walked quietly through the garden, my eyes scanning every corner...I didn't want anyone to see me.

After wandering through the flower-filled paths, I finally spotted the girl I had found in Sultan Mustafa's room yesterday.

"It's good that you came" I said as I stood in front of her "What's your name?"

"Rabia, Your highness... I'll do anything, just don't expose me" she said, her voice pleading as she lowered her eyes.

"Of course, you will, Rabia" I glanced around and lowered my voice "We'll pretend I know nothing, and you will pretend that you are still putting that liquid in the Sultan's food, and you will make Halime Sultan believe you, of course"

I sighed lightly and continued "Tomorrow we will meet in the same place, and I will give you another liquid that you'll start putting in Sultan Mustafa's food instead of the old one"

"Your highness!" Her eyes widened with concern "Is it poison? Do you want to kill the Sultan?"

"Of course not!" I said impatiently "Do you think I'm a traitor like you? I will never do anything bad to the Sultan as long as he has treated me well and with kindness" I closed my eyes, trying to control my nerves, then opened them again "You will do everything I tell you without hesitation if you want to survive"

She nodded in agreement, then bowed slightly and left... I turned and quickly returned to my room; I had important things to do tonight.

Fortunately, I found that my auntie was still keeping the herbs I bought when they attacked me... I am really sure that Mustafa's mother has a hand in this.

"Victoria, are you sure?" my auntie said, standing in front of me, holding a handkerchief to her mouth and nose to avoid the smell of the herbs spread out on the table.

"Yes, Auntie.. If the Sultan regains his health, it will be in our favor, and it will be a major blow to Halime Sultan" I began reading from the recipe book and adding some herbs to a small iron pot.

"What kind of mother wants her son to be mad?" my auntie said, still unable to believe what I had told her.

"A mother who loves power and wants everything for herself" I replied calmly, then focused entirely on what I was doing.

This is a rare book, and its recipes are very rare.. Henry told me that they are very effective, and he acquired them at a very high price.

---

-The Next Day-

I took advantage of the fact that everyone in the harem was busy with the party Halime Sultan held to celebrate sultan Mustafa's concubine's pregnancy, then I slipped out to the garden, trying to watch my steps in the darkness.

It was good that I didn't live in the harem; I wasn't forced to see everyone every day, and I was trying to avoid Nisa because I didn't trust her at all.

"Your highness" Rabia said as she noticed me approaching.

"We don't have much time" I pulled out the vial containing the liquid I had made "Put it in all of Sultan Mustafa's meals in large quantities for the best and fastest effect" I looked sharply into her eyes "I don't need to threaten you, Rabia"

"O...okay" she said, lowering her eyes nervously...I could see she was scared of the whole situation "I will do it"

I returned inside, but this time I didn't go to my room; instead, I headed to the harem, as Dilruba Sultan had invited me to the party, and I thought it would be impolite to refuse her invitation.

I sat next to Dilruba Sultan, who looked very happy, while Halime Sultan sat on her throne, as usual, with a strange smile on her lips.

"Isn't Sultan Mustafa supposed to attend the party?" I asked Dilruba Sultan in a low voice.

"No, that's not necessary" she shook her head "He might come, but he probably won't" She pointed to a beautiful girl sitting in a green dress, looking very happy "That's Sedef Hatun" I remembered her name; she was the pregnant girl "She is now living the dream of all other girls"

"She's beautiful" I said with a small smile after I averted my eyes from her.

"She's in her third month now" Dilruba sighed a little "My mother claims it should be a boy, as we need a heir to the throne"

We went back to sipping juice and watching the music and the expertly dancing girls... I wasn't really present mentally, as all I could think about was that Rabia must be putting that medicine in the Sultan's food... I sighed, hoping it would have any good effect.

After the party ended, I was really grateful that I could finally return to my room to rest a little... But before I left the harem, Halime Sultan stopped me.

"We haven't seen each other much lately because I've been very busy" she raised an eyebrow "When I heard about your attack in the market, I was very saddened"

Before I could respond, she raised her hand and continued "Tomorrow, I have an important meeting with Davut Pasha and some other ministers, and we will discuss your offer ..It might take some time"

I merely nodded and then headed to my room...I really couldn't stand looking at this woman's face, even though she was extremely beautiful... Her actions were so terrible, and what I had discovered about her made me hate her fiercely.

---

-A Week Later-

"Your Majesty, where are we going so early in the morning?" I asked, following him with a bounce in my step... Nisa had just come with the sunrise to tell me that the Sultan wanted to see me "Are we going outside?"

"No, no..." He turned to me, his eyes wide as if I had suggested something terrible.

This reminded me of something I had learned recently: Sultan Mustafa never leaves the palace walls... He was always afraid of what lay beyond, of the strange people he might meet.

"Since you love the snow so much" he said, excitement shining in his eyes "I have a wonderful idea!" He held out a bottle of ink in his hands "We shall draw in the snow!"

I couldn't help but smile at the joy in his expression... His eyes were the most beautiful and innocent I had ever seen, and I felt a warmth growing inside me.

We ran to a large patch of soft, white snow... Kneeling down, I took the small vial from him and grinned.

"Alright, what shall we draw?" I asked, pretending to be serious "Considering I am terrible at drawing"

"And who says I am good at it?" he replied with a playful shrug "We shall just have some fun and then leave"

I laughed, the sound clear in the cold morning air "Okay, let's treat it like a game or a challenge... Let us draw any piece we want from chess!"

"That is a crazy idea" he nodded, and we both began to draw, creating whatever silly shapes we could think of.

As we splashed ink on the snow, we laughed and joked with each other... I tried to draw a knight, but it ended up looking like a blob "Behold, the famous Snow Blob" I announced dramatically.

He laughed, shaking his head "Your art is truly inspiring" he teased, his smile brightening the chilly morning.

"Look who's talking! Yours looks like a confused pawn!" I retorted, pointing at his drawing, which was a funny shape.

We continued our playful contest, filling the air with laughter. Then, after a moment of silence, he turned serious and looked at me. "You know, you are just like the snow-very pure... But there are shadows around you"

His words surprised me. I felt he understood more than anyone else... I stayed quiet, sensing a connection between us...There's something... But I don't know what's going on.