« You will not have the throne Mustafa , your bloodline ends right here » His father's voice grew dangerously that Mustafa felt the finality in those words that only solidified the resolve in his heart .

He wasn't going to fight for the throne anymore « I'm not interested in the throne » Mustafa replied quietly , his gaze unwavering « It was never meant to be mine was it ? All this time i've been fighting for something that you never wanted me to have » His voice was calm , even , carrying a weight that seemed to reverberate in the stone walls of the divan room .

Mustafa stood tall and spoke the words rhat would change everything « I abdicate » .

The words were simple but in that moment , in that room felt as monumental as any battle fought , his voice was steady , free of doubt that for a second even the air seemed to hold its breath .

The sultans eyes went wide , his hand falling from his cane as the full realisation of what he said settled in . His anger faltered , confusion taking place , he looked at his son the son who had been his heir , his legacy and saw someone who broke free , someone who had chosen a different path and one outside the chains of royal blood and duty .

« You abdicate ? » The sultan asked in disbelief .

« I've lived my life as a prince , as your son but now it's time to live for myself . No throne , No duties just me and whatever i can build from what's left » A tense silence followed , this was the last thing the sultan excpected to hear .

Never in years did a prince abdicate as it was considered very scandalous .

« You will leave everything behind ? your title , status and everything will be stripped away » His father explained as if reprimanding him .

« You were ready to have me killed , tell me . Is the throne worth killing your son for ? » the question hung in the air filling it with tension .

The sultan's face darkened but Mustafa didn't stop , his voice full with defiance . « I spent my life proving myself to you , fighting battles in your name , and even left at such a young age with my mother . I've seen her cry because of you , because of your wife , i've been through everything and still respected you » at one point he was ready to unmask every truth out there .

« But it was never enough was it ? » the sultan did not answer « So i will release you from this burden , I will no longer fight for this bloody throne . I leave it for you and your other sons who are more worthy of it » Mustafa had seen his father's rage , grief but never this .

« You do not understand what you have done » the sultan's voice was getting less angrier but still dangerous .

« You are no longer a prince , or my son » Sultan suleyman looked at the other side ignoring mustafa's presence now . « You will be exiled , so far from my lands and you shall never set a foot in my empire ever again »

« Where will you send me ? » Mustafa asked trying to steady his voice .

« Somwhere where you will not be remembered » and with that the guards stepped forward , Mustafa held his ground his breath even despite the tension .

« And what does that mean ? »He asked making the sultan slowly turn his head , gaze colder than the marble floor « It means you will dissapear , You will be stripped off your name , your title , from this moment on you are nothing »

Mustafa remained silent because he knew that this was bound to happen « Your family will never see you again , your son , your daughter , your wife and mother will hear no word from you »

His throat tightened at the mention of his family « You will be exiled to the end of the world , beyond the desert and the lands where your name is known »

Mustafa exhaled slowly , so this was his father's punishment .

Oblivion.

« If you dare to comeback , you will be hunted like the traitor you are » his father was done with his words , this was the end of his nightmare . of his son trying to take his throne .

Mustafa bowed down to his father out of respect one last time and retreated slowly « Just know that i've always loved you father and i have never betrayed you » with that he left the divan room walking past he executioners that were going to take his life .

The heavy doors of the divan opened with a resounding echo , and the air of the palace have shifted . The news had already spread like wildfire .

The son of the sultan , the most beloved heir has surrendered his claim to the throne .

As he stepped outside surrounded by the sultan's guards , the brightness of the day stung his eyes . The air was different , he was no longer a prince or the future ruler of the empire .

The courtyard was full of servants who were murmuring to each other in disbelief , some still bowed down to him and some were looking at him in shock .

As he was walking he spotted someone familiar ,someone he hated .

Rüstem Pasha .

The grand vizier stood there , his hands folded neatly infront of him as if he has been waiting to see his downfall . Mustafa stopped in his tracks but did not speak first

« So this is how the great sehzade mustafa chooses to leave ? not with a sword but with surrender on his lips ? » Rüstem tilted his head slightly trying to get a reaction out of him .

« Do you think your name will be remembered ? You will be forgotten » Mustafa did not flinch « Is this what you're feeding yourself ? that if i am erased you will be safe ? »

« You were a mere threat to the sultan now you are nothing » Mustafa stepped closer lowering his voice just for him to hear « I was a threat because i was loved and that will never change no matter where they send me »

Rustem tensed « My name will fade away but you ? you will always be the shadow no one trusts , you may hold the reins of power now but mark my words , this empire will crumble under the weight of your own schemes »

Rustem didn't speak again , he knew that the game was over . In a way , Mustafa had already won by not playing the game anymore .

« You've used Hurrem and my sister to climb to where you are now , you'll always be remembered as a coward and a traitor . Congratulate your sultana but don't get all excited because i will enjoy watching your downfall , Both of you »Mustafa walked away , his steps deliberate leaving Rustem boiling with anger .

Atmaca and Yahya were waiting outside for him , not sure what to wait for . A body or mustafa intact . The tension was thick when they heard the doors open , the moment mustafa stepped before them , they froze .

Yahya was the first to react running towards Mustafa , he gripped his arms to steady himself « You're back » he breathed , though there was no relief in his voice , only uncertainty.

He searched for answers in Mustafa's eyes « What happened inside ? » Atmaca followed and stood next to Yahya eager to hear the answer « Mustafa ? » Atmaca asked .

Mustafa exhaled slowly « It's done , i've abdicated »

Silence .

Yahya's grip tightened on his arms « You what ? » His voice cracked as if the words physically hurt to speak .

Atmaca's jaw clenched barely restraining his emotions «  Mustafa ,tell me you didn't » Mustafa's gaze remained steady .

« Yes i did » Yahya's hands dropped from his arms as he took a step back in disbelief « no you didn't » He let out a bitter laugh , but there was no humor in it « You fought for this your whole life , you were the crown prince »

« At what cost ? what did that bring me other than putting my life on the line and risking to lose my family . My father was about to kill me , i didn't want to die without clearing my name . I couldn't leave my family to mourn for me » He explained « I would rather leave all of this and be with my family , leave behind a father who despise me , a bloody throne »

Atmaca's face twisted in frustration «  What about the people who love you ? the people that dream of seeing you rule ? » he asked feeling bitter about this situation .

« And what happens to you ? what happens to us ? to everyone ? » Atmaca asked knowing that they had to look forward .

Mustafa's gaze flickered briefly at the guards standing behind him waiting to escort him « Somwhere far , Somewhere i won't be remembered »

Yahya inhaled sharply as the reality set in « And your family ? your mother ? your wife and children ? » Mustafa's chest tightened at the mention of them , his family .

« That is why i need you to protect them , Take care of them because at the end of day even my children have lost their title but i want them to stay wherever Stella is , Escort her and sort it out with the envoy so she arrives safely to her kingdom » he explained as the guards were starting to move him away .

« Stella has her own bloodline , her own protection and her brother will make sure she is safe » his friends were exchanging looks .

« You want her to leave the empire ? » Mustafa nodded « Yes , they will haunt her here . My father may have spared my life but he will not spare them if he sees them as a threat , take her and ensure that my children are safe and that they grow outside of this » He continued « My mother , ayse and my daughter melek are entrusted to you »

This was too much for them to take , Yahya exhaled « and what about you? »

« I will go where i'll be sent , don't look for me or worry about me » A silence settled between them but they knew they didn't have a lot of time .

Finally Yahya reached forward and gripped mustafa's shoulders « You are my brother no matter where you go , i will haunt rustem and make him pay for everything he did to us » Atmaca was full of hatred towards Rustem and this situation worsened it because he knew all of this happened because of him .

Yahya nodded , voice low « I will protect them with my life , Mustafa take care of yourself » Mustafa's gaze softened « and that is all i need »

The guards approached him encircling him , closing around him as if he's trapped in a cage . He followed them into a carriage , as he stepped in , he knew he was heading to the unknown far from everyone and everything .

Deep down he knew , he took the right decision because this was he saved everyone around him and his life .

Three days later - Amasya

The road to Amasya have never felt this long , the weight of the journey and the news they were brining pressed on both friends .

They were approaching the city that was once ruled by their prince but was no longer is . Mustafa's name was soon about to fade from its walls , his rule would be erased .

When they reached the palace , the tension grew thick but they recognised two faces they were used to , his mother and his wife .

Mahidevran's gaze flickered between the two of them « Where is my son ? » Atmaca hesitated , his throat tightening .

« He's gone » Yahya answered , his voice betraying him . « Gone ? » Stella asked barely holding her self down.

« What does this mean ? what did they to my son ? » Mahidevran sultan's voice raised scared of hearing their next words .

« He is alive but he has been exiled to the dephts of hell » Atmaca spoke but silence stretched before him , a deafening silence.

« Exiled ? » Mahidevran's breath faltered as she took a step back , whispering in disbelief.

« What does this mean ? Where was Mustafa taken ? » Stella approached them , as if it will help her understand more .

« He abdicated » Atmaca answered all of their question in two words .

« No - No mustafa would never » Mahidevran sultan's voice raised in disbelief « After everything we've been through ? »

« He had no choice » Atmaca explained « The sultan had already made his decision and the executioners were waiting by the door, there was no way out of it » Mahidevran was shocked and so was his wife .

Stella staggered , one hand put on her chest « oh my god , i knew this . I knew he wouldn't be spared »

« He did this for you , so you live because if he had been killed .. They would've killed your son mehmet » Stella's breath was about to stop , she couldn't believe the amount of cruelty .

« And what of us ? we will never see him ? what do we do ? » Mahidevran sultan was dumbfounded and was glad that her son was still alive , her only son .

« Now that he abdicated all of you lost your titles , your highness will be escorted to the old palace as sultan suleyman's consort but her highness will be sent away along with Sultana Nergisşah and Sehzade Mehmet to her country » Stella's head spinned as if she had been hit by a very harsh blow.

« Then we leave ? » Mahidevran was about to cry at that point , everything she had was gone now . Her son and now her grandchildren

« This is the only thing he asked for before being sent way , he thought of you before anybody else . We will ensure that you live an easy life » Atmaca explained to Mahidevran who stared at the ground in disbelief .

« They have erased my son and now they want to erase his bloodline » Mahidevran spoke as she inhaled sharply through her nose closing her eyes .

« My children will keep their title , i will make sure of that » Stella spoke trying to keep her ground , but inside she felt stripped off her family and her husband who she didn't know if she will see again or not .

« Mustafa wanted me to escort all of you safely , now we have to pack everything to leave » Atmaca signaled for the aghas to start preparing their departure .

Mahidevran turned towards Atmaca and asked « And what of you ? »

« I will escort all of you first then i will find a way to reach him or just make sure he is fine , i will not let him down » Mahidevran put her hand on his shoulder and patted him gently .

« May god reward you for everything you've done » Atmaca smiled with the little energy he had left .

« No one will forgive them , the people will never accept this . They will not stay silent when this unfolds , when they see that their prince has been exiled into the unknown and taken away » Stella spoke sure of what she was saying .

« We also believe that and until that moment let's just stay hopeful » Yahya agreed with Stella , She nodded though her heart ached she didn't have no choice .

She had to leave everything behind and raise her children far away from everyone « I will raise them away from everyone , but i will not let them forget who they are , they are mustafa's children and they will carry his legacy no matter where they go » She looked over at the palace where she had shared most moments with Mustafa .