We have spent a great evening at the beach , it was rare for us to spend time together without any disturbance . Soon as we got back , i checked on nergisşah who seemed more relaxed than earlier .

She wasn't crying anymore but she kept turning around and pushing her covers away , i took off my cloak and set it aside .

« Was she able to sleep at least ? » i asked kneeling down to her crib asking the girl that was standing next to her .

« A little but she would wake up and call for you » i smiled and carried her gently in my arms , pressing a soft kiss to her forehead her tiny fingers wrapping around my hair and pulling some hair towards her .

« Aren't we a bit agressive » she squealed as she kept tugging on my hair . « I will be back » i remembered that i had something very important to do .

I put a scarf around my head and left my room to search for someone , « Tell Yahya bey and atmaca that i want to see them » i ordered one of the aghas standing on the hallway making my way to the garden .

This was the best thing i could do , i had to get informations from them to know what is our position now and especially what is happening back in the capital .

I waited for some time before i saw his figure , walking towards me but there was only Yahya bey .

« Sultana » he bowed down to me as he approached me « Yahya bey » i said looking at my surroundings .

« I don't think you know why i called you , but whenever i ask Mustafa he tells me to not bother myself but i want to ask you » He raised his head to meet my gaze and i could obviously see a hint of worry in his eyes .

« I will not lie but the situation is very bad sultana , i don't know how much do you know but there has been a secret alliance formed to protect his highness and the sultan found out about it » I raised my eyebrow confused about this situation .

« Who has a hand in this ? » i asked « Piri reiss and other former pashas , they are all united to protect his highness from the sultan's wrath » I knew this would only bring him problems

« Does the sultan know about this ? » i asked the hardest question, and the answer would change a lot of things .

« Yes , he knows » he fell silent « even sehzade mustafa found out about it lately but of course hurrem sultan and rustem pasha made the sultan believe that he created the alliance » i was mind blown by the actions of hurrem sultan .

This woman was so power hungry that she'd rather see the empire torn apart than to allow mustafa stand in her way . My hands clenched into fists at my sides as i tried to steady my breathing .

« This woman will not stay at ease until she destroys everyone and everything .. » i snapped as i thought about how rejoicing for her this was « she wants to force the sultan's sword on mustafa's neck but i will not allow this »

A wave of frustration surged through me , Mustafa was walking straight into their plan and he had no way of defending himself . but even if he had the sultan was already blinded by his wife's thoughts .

« Where is atmaca ? » i asked heading back to the palace « He went to the capital to get more informations and talk with Sehzade Cihangir »

« He stays hurrem's child at the end of, we can not trust him » i said stopping in my tracks .
« You will keep me updated yahya , from now on you will report to me just like you report to mustafa » he agreed and bowed down to me one last time before leaving .

At topkapi palace -

Mihrimah sultan visited her brother Cihangir who was one of the biggest supporters of Mustafa , She tried many times to get him to Selim's or Beyazid's side but he was very loyal to his older brother , he saw him as an angel and the purest of them all .

Cihangir looked up noticing his sister who walked inside and took a seat , he was confused on why she came to see him .

« What is happening ? » he asked setting aside the poem he was writing . She offered him a seat next to her , making him rise from his seat and join her .

« Things are getting tense Cihangir , a storm will break out soon » she said referring to mustafa but he didn't give any reaction , he was used to this . Used to hearing the rumours about his brother .

« Brother Mustafa and the persian shah are writing to each other , they have formed an alliance » She dropped the information forcing him to move away from her in disbelief .

« his majesty will never forgive such treason » She added trying to catch his reaction .

Cihangir stared at her in disbelief not believing a single word coming out of her mouth « Are you hearing yourself mihrimah ? » he managed to ask wishing she was lying .

« The persians letter to mustafa's letter was captured , this is the end » his heart dropped to the floor « Mustafa would never do this , and we both know it » he defended his brother just as she excpected

Mihrimah exhaled sharply , her patience wearing thin « it doesn't matter what we know , Cihangir . it matters what our father believes »

« I am aware of every steps he takes , this cannot be true » he answered trying to think of a solution to help his brother .

« Do you mean he'd let you know before he revolts ? » she asked her voice rising a bit .

Cihangir's fists turned red from how tight he was clutching them . He had always known that his mother and rustem were determined to destroy mustafa but not to this extent , this was something else entirely .

Mihrimah reached for his hand but he pulled it away « Cihangir , i am telling you this because i don't want you to suffer when this happens »

He stood up abruptly and pointed his finger at her «  you're also involved right ? you have a hand in this . Do you know how big of a sin it is to stand between a father and his son ? » he paused .

« If there'll be a bloodbath we will all drown in it » she swallowed the lump in her throat because deep down she knew she had a hand in this .

Cihangir left his room in a hurry and asked to see his father before he takes a decision . He was thinking about one thing : His brother's safety .

He stood outside his father's door waiting for lokman agha to let him in , his fists were sweating and was visibly anxious because he knew how severe his father can be .

« Come inside your highness » Lokman agha opened the door for him this time he sensed a sudden change in the atmosphere .

He took the first step in only to be welcomed by his father's back staring at the fire .

« Father » Cihangir spoke up getting no reaction out of his father « I have heard something » this time his father raised his hand sparking a dead silence inside the room .

« If you have nothing to talk about you can leave » the sultan dropped these words on his son leaving him no chance to utter a sentence.

« Mustafa would never do such a thing , he loves you so much this cannot be real . Mustafa is the last person on earth to betray you » With this suleyman turned around to face his son who was obviously in a very vulnerable position .

« Do not believe these lies » he was abruptly cut off by his father's gesture , he called in the guards who opened the door signaling for him to leave .

Cihangir knew that there was no thing he can say to appease the situation , so he looked down at the floor and retreated . He stopped infront of the door and looked at his father one last time

« Think throughly father , i believe in your judgment but don't let your anger consume you and lead to a disaster » with that he turned around to leave swallowing the lump in his throat .

At Amasya

Atmaca was back from the capital , this time brining bad news . As soon as he arrived , he had asked to meet prince mustafa and yahya bey .

His heart was heavy and didn't know how he'd deliver these news to the prince.

The three of them were gathered inside the prince's room , Mustafa and Yahya were both impatient for what Atmaca was going to say .

« Disaster » he dropped the word leading them to confusion « the sultan has received a letter that was supposedly sent by you to Shah Tahmasp » Mustafa's eyes darkened .

« What letter are you talking about ? » he asked stepping closer towards Atmaca .

« It's a trap » Yahya added quickly . « A letter was intercepted on its way to the persians » Mustafa stilled , his breath shallow .

« Hurrem sultan has crossed all boundaries » his eyes darkened as he knew who was behind this immediately.

« Your highness , this is a very serious accusation » Yahya added sparking a reaction out of Atmaca .

« If the sultan believes this .. the only punishment god forbid will be execution » The word hung in the air and all of them were swept in a flood of thoughts .

Stella's POV

I was seated by the window , my hand absentmindedly running through my belly as i was feeling some sharp kicks every now and then .

Pain came suddenly sharp , unforgiving like a dagger twisting deep in my abdomen . I gasped gripping the sheets beneath me as another wave tore through my body .

« Call for the midwife » the girl sitting by Nergisşah yelled as she opened the door rushing out of the room .

My breath laborde , a thin sheen of sweat forming on my brow . The doors burst open and the midwife and some other girls came inside rushing to my side .

« Sultana i need you to lay down and focus on your breathing » She said helping me lay on my back , the pain intensified and felt my whole body aching in pain .

I barely registered the movements around me , the hurried footsteps that were rushing to my side . I let out a strangled cry as another contraction hit , stronger than any other .

« It is time sultana , you must push » I gritted my teeth barely able to nod at her words , i pushed with all my strength.

The world blurred around me , there was only pain , exhaustion and only the desperate need to bring my child safely to this world .

And then after what felt like an eternity, a sharp cry pierced heavy . Tears slipped from my eyes as my chest was rising and falling in uneven gasps as the midwife finally held the child in her arms .

« Congratulations, it's a son »

The doors flew open and mustafa rushed inside , his eyes finding mine instantly . He didn't care about anything except me at the moment .

He reached for my face « Are you fine ? » he kissed my forehead but i had no energy left to answer , i grabbed his hand and nodded .

He then looked at the midwife who wrapped the baby in a soft blanket before putting him on my chest . « Congratulations your highness » Mustafa's eyes flickered , his gaze glistened shifting from worry to something indescribable .

He took the child carefully in his arms , He was so small , his fists curling as he let out another cry . Mustafa brushed his thumb over the baby's cheek

« My lion » he whispered pressing a gentle kiss on the baby's face before looking at me with much admiration and love .

« Call my mother » he said without looking at the others , he was solely focused on the newborn .

« Have you thought of a name ? » i whispered looking up at him , his expression softened .

« Mehmet » he said and with that i saw the figure of Mahidevran sultan next to my door .

The name settled between us , carrying an unspoken promise between us , a legacy . I felt my chest tighten not with sadness but with the bittersweet understanding of what this name meant .

Sultan mehmed the conqueror and his deceased brother at the same time .

One of the girls handed me the scarf as i put it around me , Mustafa stood up still holding mehmet in his arms .

« Your name is mehmet » he repeated three times , he whispered one last time his gaze lingering on our son .