Three years had passed—three years since Aysun had been stripped of her former life and remade into the perfect servant of the royal family.

It wasn't so bad after all. She had become Hatice Sultan's most trusted servant. They spoke freely in the privacy of Sultana's chambers, where the weight of titles and expectations could momentarily be set aside. Hatice, always poised and regal before the court, allowed herself moments of vulnerability in Aysun's presence. She would sigh and unburden her heart about her worries; lately, it was mainly about her love for Ibrahim.

And Aysun listened. She never interrupted or judged. But when Hatice needed more than silence, she offered her wisdom in a quiet, measured way.

"Your heart is too kind, Sultanım," Aysun had once told her, adjusting the delicate embroidery on her mistress's gown. "You believe people will see the truth as you do. But that palace does not run on truth; it runs on power and fear."

She had been present during gatherings in Valide's chamber when Valide Sultan, Hatice, and Mahidevran gossiped about Hürrem. While Aysun stood to the side, she heard every word, which is why she understood the whole issue from its core. The whole palace was reshaped by the ambitions of one woman—Hürrem Sultan. The red-haired concubine had given Sultan Suleiman a son, Şehzade Mehmed, securing her place at his side and pushing aside his baş kadın, Mahidevran. And recently, to the delight of everyone except herself, she had given birth to Mihrimah Sultan. Hürrem had gained influence over the Sultan, whispering into his ear and dismantling the power of those who stood in her way. The Russian woman had immediately gotten on Valide's and Mahidevran's wrong side. Hatice, however, was a different story. She tried to get along with Hürrem, defended her from Valide, and everything was fine until today.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞

The air in the Sultan's chamber was heavy with the weight of decisions waiting to be made. Hatice Sultan stood before her brother, her hands clasped together in a rare display of uncertainty. She had never begged for anything—she was an Ottoman princess, daughter of a sultan, sister to the most powerful ruler in the world. And yet today, she awaited his verdict like a mere supplicant.

At her side stood Ibrahim, his expression carefully composed. He was a man of ambition, but more than that, he was a man of loyalty—a devotion that had carried him from slavery to the rank he held today: Grand Vizier of the empire.

For weeks, they had waited for Sultan Suleiman's approval of their marriage. At first, the idea had seemed impossible—a sultana marrying a former slave. But Ibrahim was no ordinary man anymore. He had proven his loyalty time and time again, not just as a statesman but as a brother to the Sultan himself. After many days of contemplation, Suleiman was almost sure it was a good decision.

For the first time in months, Hatice allowed herself to believe it was possible. The Sultan was ready to grant them his blessing, or at least that's what she hoped for.

Suleiman exhaled slowly, pressing his fingers to his temple as if the weight of the empire itself rested upon this decision. "I decided that it's not appropriate to deal with this matter right now," he said at last, his voice measured but distant. Then he turned to Hatice—not as her brother, but as her Sultan. His gaze was firm and unreadable. "We will discuss this another time."

The words felt like a slap.

A moment ago, their future had been within reach. Now, it was slipping away.

____________________________

The corridors of the palace had never felt so long.

Hatice walked aimlessly around the harem, her silk gown trailing behind her. Inside, she felt hollow. Her brother's words still echoed in her mind.

"We will discuss this another time."

As she stepped into her chambers, the heavy doors shut behind her, and the weight of the night settled upon her. The flickering candlelight did little to chase away the darkness pressing against her chest. She had been so close to securing her future with Ibrahim. And yet, everything had slipped from her grasp.

Aysun stood by the window, waiting silently as always. Hatice had once thought of her as nothing more than a servant, a shadow in the palace. But over the years, she had become something more—a quiet observer, a trusted hand, someone who understood how to move unseen in a world ruled by power and whispers.

As Hatice sat on her divan, looking devastated, Aysun immediately made her way toward her.

"Sultanım, what happened?" Aysun asked in a worried tone.

She didn't get an answer. Instead, Sultana looked at her with eyes full of tears. After a few moments of silence, she finally spoke, telling Aysun the whole story. Then she began to lose herself in her thoughts again.

"I need your help, Aysun," Hatice suddenly turned back to her.

"What would you like me to do, Sultanım?" Aysun replied.

"I need to know what changed my brother's mind so suddenly. I know you are capable of figuring this out."

She bowed her head slightly. "Don't worry Sultanım, I will find out."

____________________________

𝐀𝐲𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I couldn't believe what I was just told but I also knew that there's nothing granted in this palace. I felt so bad for Hatice Sultan, she was too innocent to be a victim of intriguers. I did what I was told and went to the harem to investigate if anyone had seen anything suspicious. From the girls I was close to, I learned that Hürrem Sultan was at the Sultan's chamber right before he summoned Hatice and Ibrahim.

I took this hint and decided to move closer to the red-haired sultana's chamber. After a while, I spotted Nigar Kalfa slipping quietly through the halls, her posture tense. I followed her, knowing that she was one of Hürrem Sultan's loyal servants. Nigar entered one of the side rooms, and only moments later, Hürrem joined her.

I pressed myself against the cool marble wall, just outside the door, carefully making sure there was no one else in the corridor.

"It worked" Hürrem spoke happily

" Sultanım," Nigar's voice was careful, "Don't be so sure. His Majesty did not refuse the marriage. He only said he needed more time."

Hürrem let out a soft, amused laugh. "More time?" she repeated.  "Nigar, you know my abilities. I only had to remind him of one simple truth - " she paused for a moment "Ibrahim is still a slave."

So do you - I thought to myself

"All I did was make him realize how powerful his Grand Vizier has become. How he commands armies, how he wins the favor of foreign rulers, how he moves through the court like a king." Hürrem's voice was sharper now.

"But Sultan trusts him" Nigar countered.

"For now, it looks like he trusts me more, besides
I never said that I'm done," Hürrem continues "I have to make sure that his collapse will be long and painful"

Everyone knew that she was not on the best terms with Ibrahim so it wasn't shocking at all that she wanted to sabotage this marriage as if it succeeded he would be untouchable.

Nigar hesitated before speaking again. "And if his majesty does change his mind?"

Hürrem scoffed. "Then I will remind him again. And again. Until he sees what I want him to"

I think I heard enough.

Quietly, I backed away from the wall, slipping into the darkness of the corridor before someone could notice my presence. My mind raced as I hurried back to Hatice's chambers.