-Ten Years Later-

|Nurgül's POV|

They say time heals all wounds, yet I have borne the heavy burden of loss in my heart for years.

Gratefully, Bayezid and I have forged an indomitable alliance. My focus over these years has been on navigating crises and resolving challenges, all for the sake of preparing Bayezid-now in his twenties-for the glorious victories he envisions. He is captivated by his ancestors' great campaigns, claiming to have gleaned invaluable insights from their experiences.

He is twenty-five now, the moment has finally arrived for me to step aside and allow him to take center stage. Though I should have relinquished control long ago, my desire to ensure stability held me back.

I stood in front of the mirror in my black dress and my crown studded with black jewels, nothing has changed at all... I started looking at my face closely in the mirror because ruling the state the past ten years made me busy even looking at myself.

"Has my son returned to the palace?" I asked Fahriye Kalfa calmly.

"Yes, Sultana" She put her other hand on her cane that she started using two years ago "Of course he will return, Today is a very big day"

"That's good" I nodded with a smile "I have to talk to him about something important before the wedding"

"About what, valide?" She asked, her curiosity piqued as she moved closer.

"It's time, Fahriye" I smiled at her and we exchanged a few glances... She understood what I was talking about.

I left my room followed by some maids ‹Destur Valide Nurgül Sultan› The Agha announced this loudly as I passed by the harem.

Before leaving, I saw Yesemin... Yasemin Sultan is my son's favorite and the mother of his daughter Safiye and his son Mehmet.... My relationship with her is very good. I was the one who sent her to Beyazid and I never made her suffer. Even if Beyazid caused her sadness, I always defended her and made him regret his mistakes.

"Valide" she smiled as she bowed to me "I was coming with the children to visit you before the party"

"Go to my chambers, I will finish something important then I will be back" I ran my hand through my five-year-old granddaughter Safiye's hair and then placed a kiss on my two-year-old grandson Mehmet's forehead... I never expected that at 44 I would be a grandmother, but I love it.

"Okay, Valide" she smiled again and continued on her way, holding her daughter's hand.

I made my way to my son Bayezid's chamber, anticipation swelling within me. As I approached, the guards opened the door, and I entered with a smile illuminating my face.

"Valide" he opened his hands with a smile then approached me and placed a kiss on my hand "You look so happy"

"Today is my daughter's wedding, so of course I am very happy" I nodded "Come on, sit down, I want to talk about something important"

A flicker of concern crossed his features, mingled with surprise, yet he simply nodded, and we settled onto the couch. The silence stretched for a moment before I decided to shatter it.

"I have been thinking about it for a long time" I took his hand in mine "Aslanim, how proud I am of you and how great it was to be by your side in every step you took... You have never opposed my opinions and you have never disappointed me before"

"Why do you say that, Valide?" His eyes widened, brimming with unasked questions.

"From today I want you to become independent, you are now a wise and reliable man" I said, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence and this reminded me of the day he was going to ascend to the throne "My time as Regent is over now I want to devote myself only to my duties as Valide Sultan as well as to acts of charity and worship"

He fell silent for a moment, the weight of my sudden decision settling upon him especially since he had become accustomed to me being a part of all his decisions.

"But mother..." He was silent again watching my eyes and after a few seconds I saw the confidence and strength emanating from them... Yes this is the reaction I was waiting for from him "Whatever you see fit mother as you said I will never oppose your decisions and since you saw that I am now completely ready to bear responsibility alone then that is what will happen"

"Yes this is the courage required... This is how I and your father, the late Sultan Mehmet Khan, raised you" I smiled and looked into his eyes with tenderness.

"But that will never change the fact that I will share with you everything" He raised my hand and placed a long kiss on it then looked at me again "I also wanted to share with you something that has been on my mind for a while"

"I'm listening" I replied curiously, just by his looks I could tell that it was something important.

"Since the beginning of the preparations for Aysun's marriage, something has been on my mind" He sighed a little then a beautiful smile appeared on his lips "In the coming period I want to marry Yasemin just like you and my father"

I smiled happily at his decision "That would be a great thing my son"

"Okay, don't tell anyone, I want it to be a surprise for her" I nodded in agreement then he took my hand again and kissed it.

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After returning to my room, I found all my children there except Aysun, who seemed to be very busy preparing herself. As she says, today is her wedding with the love of her life, the young man she had been seeing for ten years, and I knew about it.

What I told her was that love is not forbidden, but when she insisted on getting married at a young age, I refused because I was worried about her... I wanted her to be at an appropriate age to make this decision rationally, and now that she is twenty-four, I think this is a more than appropriate age for her.

I sat on my throne and raised my head to look at my family, the family I fought to protect... the family that my dear husband Mehmet left for me.

"Valide" my twenty-one-year-old son Orhan approached me, whom I will soon say goodbye to because his brother allowed him to become the governor of Amasya.

"My brave son" I gave him my hand and he kissed it.

"Mother" my quietest daughter came closer and also placed a kiss on my hand... Aydan is nineteen years old and she also got engaged only a month and a half ago.

"My beautiful daughter" I smiled at her tenderly then my eyes moved to my youngest son... Şehzade Murad who is seventeen years old.

"My beautiful mother" he kissed my hand too then looked into my eyes "May you live long"

"Amen" they all said which made me feel a wave of emotions but I quickly stood up "I will go check on Aysun and give her her gift" I gestured to the maid and after she gave me a small box I headed to my daughter's room.

"Mother" she turned to me when the door opened then bowed... I couldn't answer her because I was busy looking at her beauty in her white dress, she looked like an angel.

"If your father was with us today he would definitely be touched to see his beautiful eldest daughter wearing her white dress" I approached her and hugged her.

"Okay mom I've been trying not to cry" She wrapped her arms around me tightly.

"Why did you change your mind about getting married? Should we tell your fiancé that we cancelled the wedding?" I said jokingly waiting for her reaction.

"No no mom... I don't want to leave you but I want to marry him" She replied after her face turned red with embarrassment.

"I have a gift for you" I started to open the box "You can also consider it a gift from your father" I took out a ring with a medium sized diamond and started to put it on her finger "Your father gave me this ring the day you were born" I took her face in my hands "You brought us so much happiness as we wished throughout the months of pregnancy that you would be a girl... and we got a beautiful princess"

"Thank you mommy" She looked at the ring and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Come on we don't want any tears today.. we are very happy" I raised my hand and started wiping her eyes.

"But mom..." She lowered her eyes a little then looked at me again "Since today is such a happy day why are you wearing a black dress again?"

"My beautiful daughter" I raised my hand to straighten her hair "We have talked about it more than once and I have been doing this for years you should have gotten used to it"

"Yes I did and I respect it very much" she hesitated a little "But even on my wedding day?"

"What matters is that you are wearing a beautiful white dress" I smiled gently "For me you know how happy I am for you and the color of my dress does not express anything"

She smiled understandingly then hugged me again.

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The wedding went very well, everyone was happy and this made my heart happy, seeing my family in their best state makes me very proud... What made the wedding even warmer was the presence of my sisters and their children also Hafize, Razye and their children as well.

I was now sitting in my chambers with Yasemin and my granddaughter Safiye after my grandson Mehmet fell asleep and the maid took him to his bed.

"How beautiful you are, Grandma" Safiye said then raised her hand and started to pass it through my hair that was hanging down.

I smiled warmly because hearing compliments from children is always wonderful "You too, my dear... In fact, we named you after Safiye Sultan, one of the most beautiful and elegant sultanas" I said calmly watching her eyes because I know that words please our little spoiled girl... she really spends a lot of time in front of the mirror.

"Now she will be unstoppable, Sultana" Yasemin laughed as she watched her daughter who started asking some questions about Safiye Sultan.

I heard the door and then Fahriye Kalfa came in and stood in front of us "Sorry for disturbing you Sultana but" she looked at Yasemin "Sultan Bayezid wants to meet you now"

I could see the excitement in Yasemin's eyes as she stood up quickly "If you allow me Sultana" she asked with a smile.

"Yes of course" I put my hand on my granddaughter's shoulder "Let her spend the night with me"

"Thank you Sultana" She replied quickly and then left excitedly which made me remember myself years ago.

"Grandma" Safiye pulled me out of my memories with her calm voice and it seemed that she was saying something but I didn't pay attention.

"Do you want to see something beautiful?" I asked her excitedly and when she nodded with a wide smile I stood up and took her hand "Come on"

I pulled her with me to my private room then sat her on a sofa and opened a large closet "What are you looking for Grandma?" She asked curiously.

"You will see" after a few seconds I pulled out a painting that was very dear to me "oh I found it"

I turned to her and smiled when I saw her eyes wide waiting to see the painting impatiently "you always said you wanted to see me when I was young" I sat beside her and showed her the painting that Mehmet had drawn for me when I was eighteen, the first day we spent in the garden ...I still remember every second of it.

"Ooh" she put her hand on her lips "you look so beautiful and your blonde hair is beautiful too" she turned to me and I felt like she was making a small comparison "who painted you?"

"your grandfather Sultan Mehmet" I put the painting from my hand "he was a great painter"

"Where is he now" she asked innocently playing with her fingers.

I sighed a little then smiled "He watches over us and loves us very much"

"That day I heard my auntie Aydan Sultan say that you and my grandfather lived a beautiful love story" I was shocked by what she said... a five-year-old girl would understand all this?

"Yes, exactly" I smiled and ran my hand through her hair.

"Please tell me about it" She looked at me with the most innocent look ..How can I refuse after that? Of course not.

"Okay.." I put her on the bed and sat next to her "It all started twenty five years ago, I was eighteen and your grandfather was twenty-one..."

After making sure that she was asleep, I placed a kiss on her hair, then stood up and looked back at that painting again with a smile.

If there is one lesson I have gleaned from the passage of the years, it is the importance of cherishing my memories with Mehmet. There is no need to transform those beautiful moments into sources of sorrow; they were from the outset meant to enrich our souls with joy. When I visit Mehmet's grave now, I no longer shed tears of lamentation as I once did. Instead, I share my life's news with him, filled with a sense of happiness.

Even during his lifetime, he welcomed my words with open ears and a patient heart, and in this quiet communion, he continues to do so.

I went out to the other room and started wearing a long cape "Fahriye Kalfa"

She entered the room "Yes, sul...." Before she could finish, she noticed what I was wearing "Again at this time, Sultana?"

I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror "Yes I have to tell him about our daughter's wedding"

She smiled helplessly then went out and followed her... It wasn't long before I was again in front of Mehmet's grave, for the millionth time maybe, visiting him and my two sons brings me comfort and removes all my worries.

I smiled a little "Hello dear... I'm here again to tell you about Aysun's wedding....." I probably spent more than three hours telling him all the details about all our children and grandchildren.

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I am Nurgül... Some refer to me as Nurgül Sultan, others as Haseki Nurgül Sultan, and still more as Valide Nurgül Sultan... Yet, personally I prefer simply Nurgül-or as Mehmet fondly called me... The Butterfly.

Though I was sent to bring an end to the dynasty, fate had other plans;

I ended up saving the dynasty.