"UP GIRL UP!", a voice startled me making me sit up in a flash.

   I looked towards the source of the voice only to find Sumbul aga standing on my left with his hands resting on his hips.

   "OUF! Hatun if you still hadn't stirred up from that deep sleep of yours, I would've thought something serious had happened!", he said in his usual tone.

   Still hadn't? What does he mean? How long has he been trying to wake me up? Why is he waking me up?

   "Hatun!", he half yelled.

   "What is it aga?", I finally spoke whilst rubbing my eyes.

   His impatient voice was now changed into a sweet jolly voice, he bent towards me and said : "Our sehzade awaits for you"

   "Which sehzade?", I asked with a tired voice.

   Ever since I stepped in this palace, I hadn't slept peacefully for a single night.

   "Sehzade Cihangir, obviously", another drastic shift in his voice made me feel I was annoying him now.

   "Cihangir?", I repeated, unconsciously smiling.

   "Yes hatun yes", he confirmed. "Come on get up now. Don't make our prince wait"

   Involuntarily, I got up.

   "Why is he asking for me?", I asked.

   Yes, I am aware he sent the other girl back but it doesn't means I have forgiven him for refusing me.

   "Hatun are you in your senses? Why would you question our princes desire?", he was annoyed now. "Don't talk and start walking!", he ordered before I could open my mouth.

   We walked towards the harem door where a woman stood.

   Once we reached our destination, sumbul aga started sniffing around, confusing me.

   "Gak! What's that smell?!", his nose crunched in disgust once he started sniffing my hairs.

   He whispered something in the woman's ears and basically threw me at the woman.

   "Aga!"

   "What's it hatun? Can't handle a little nudge? So delicate and petite! Ah how will you survive amongst those vicious girls who would do anything to be with our prince!", he walked away saying those words.

   I looked at the woman who held me before I landed square on the ground.

   "Who are you?"

   "I'm assigned to clean you and dress you up. Follow me"

   We had reached, what the woman named Gülbahar, called, Hamam.

   "Undress yourself", she told me.

   "What?", there was no way I was undressing myself in front of anyone.

   "Hatun don't make this difficult", she had a stern look on her rather sweet face.

   As if she could scare me.

   Slowly, I got out of my dress and stepped into the water.

   That was a scary look.

   She started pouring something in the water making it smell like vanilla which immediately calmed my mind. She poured some liquid on my hairs which smelled like strawberry, and started massaging my scalp and hairs. Just when I started to relax she announced I had to get out of the bath.

   Wrapped in a towel, I stood whilst two women brought dresses and kept checking which one should I wear.

   This was tiring.

   Why do I have to get ready so much? Can't I refuse to meet him? If he can, why can't I?

   "Hatun youll wear this", a woman said and other women got to work.

   Everything was done and I was ready to meet Cihangir. I looked at myself in the mirror one last time before heading to his chamber.

   The moment I stepped out, Sumbul aga came in front of me out of nowhere.

   "Vay vay! Hatun! Maşallah maşallah!", he exclaimed in his cheery voice. "Gülbahar you can go now, I will take her to our prince", he dismissed the kalfa.

   The silence was soon broken by Sumbul aga. "Although you are beautiful, but this lamp of beauty fades away very soon in this palace."

   "What do you mean aga?"

   "You can take the lamp of this beauty and go to the hallway leading to prince's room, but you can go inside that room using your wisdom"

   "Is this about last night?"

   "Of course it is hatun. What do you think our prince would have accepted you instead of their mother's wishes? He is a prince, you have no right over him.  He will stay with whomever he wants and you are not allowed to object."

   "Does Hürrem Sultan know about this?"

   "Our Sultana knows everything otherwise she would not have been alive in this palace till today." He stopped in front of a familiar door and looked at me. "The wisdom is in instead of going against our Hürrem Sultan, you should accompany her. Otherwise till today the one who went against her could not survive."

   He gestured me to go in and left.

   Entering the chamber, my eyes met the tray full of food.

   And behind the tray sat the prince.

   The prince who is supposed to be with any woman he desires to be. The prince who is supposed to be my friend but is someone I have no right on.

   "I was waiting for you"

   "I want to apologize for making you wait, Şehzade, ignore this mistake of mine.  Next time I will wake up at Fajr and sit ready that you will call me."

   His lips turned upwards and a small laugh escaped his lips. "Looks like you don't like getting up early"

   "How much a person changes in a single night?"

   "Come. Sit"

   I nod and sit across the tray.

   "You came to my room last night. I sent an aga to call you but you were not in the harem."

   Oh?

   "Is that so?", I asked taking a bite of my food.

   I was mad at Cihangir, true, but that could never come between me and my food.

   "Mhmm", he said taking a bite of his food.

   "I wasn't found at night so you thought why don't you send Sumbul Aga to call Katerina in the morning"

   "If Sumbul had not been there, I would have sent Fahriye Kalfa and she would have made you more angry."

   "Eek! True"

   "Maybe a person doesn't change much in a night after all", he said sipping the juice.

   "Hmmm maaayyybee but that doesn't means you are forgiven", I said pointing at him but a mischievous smile played on my lips.

   "I'm ready to do anything to get your apology", he said with a smile.

   "I'll think about it", I said now shifting all my focus on the food.