Chapter 2

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"Nafise Hanim, this is Manisa Palace. Prince Mustafa lives here with his mother, Mahidevran Sultan and his Harem," Ibrahim Pasha explained to me as our carriage arrived in front of the Palace I hated from the first day.

Only person that came with me from Persia was my servant and my best friend Maryam Hatun. I was glad that close to me I have at least someone I knew, because from now on I am going into an unknown. Into a place I was learnt to hate since young age. A place about which I only listened the worst things.

"Nafise Hanim, don't be afraid. We will go now out and meet them first, marriage ceremony won't be today," Maryam said as she putted my hands into hers. She knew this wasn't easy for me and no one would wish to be on my place now, but I was sacrificial lamb of my family.

I stepped out from the carriage followed by Maryam, Ibrahim Pasha and dozen of servants that were following us who Ibrahim took that anything bad wouldn't happen during our long trip.

We walked through the big gardens where it could be easy to smell the scent of roses, my favourite flowers. But even that didn't make me relax and feel better in this hell of a place on Earth.

Ibrahim Pasha went to meet Prince Mustafa while Maryam and I continued to walk towards the Harem where we met Mahidevran Sultan, Prince Mustafa's mother.

"Sultanim," I bowed to her showing at least some of respect as there was no need of having problems at the first day of my arrival. I didn't want to be here but I still knew that I couldn't return to my home anymore.

"Nafise Hanim, welcome. You are even more beautiful than they spoke about you," Mahidevran said measuring me as she gave me a little smile.

"You too, Sultana. I heard a lot about you," I said trying to be polite towards her.

"We appointed chambers for you, follow me and I will show you them," Mahidevran said and I went to follow her.

We passed through the Harem where were around hundred of girls who all bowed to us. They were all waiting for their time to be noticed by the Prince.

They all had dreams about being with Prince and then giving birth to a son, so they could become Sultanas and rule this Palace and later rule the world.

Servants opened the doors of my chambers which were really big and luxurious. Obviously Mahidevran wanted everything to be perfect for her future daughter in law.

"Thank you so much, Sultana. I really like them," I said once again trying to sound polite towards her. She walked to the sofa which was in the middle of the room and sat there, pointing me to sit down next to her.

She was silent for few minutes. I knew she has suspicions about me because at the end I am daughter of their enemy and no one would feel safe having member of your enemy's family close to yours.

"I know you also didn't want this marriage, my Mustafa didn't too," Mahidevran said to me. She seemed really normal to me and that's what I liked from the first moment.

"I couldn't have said anything about this, Sultana. I am sorry it had to be like this. Everyone will be happy except for the Prince and me," I said looking down at the floor.

"It is not your fault, but I must warn you about girls from Harem. Some are here for years and they are waiting for Mustafa to notice them, and now you arrived and they will pull all their hate towards you. You must be cautious," she said.

"I know about it, I don't want to get in troubles with them. I knew many of them would give their all to be on my place now," I said.

"Maybe you and Mustafa will fall in love, no one knows what the future will bring us. This is political marriage and you both know about it, and at the end you can't run away from it. Maybe in few years you will be happy because of this decision," Mahidevran said and I knew that this wouldn't be true because I could never allow this to happen.

"Only God knows that," I said and looked at the floor without any will for this.

"You will be aware of Fatma. She is Mustafa's favourite and mother of his only son. She usually does a lot of troubles and she might be the first one to try to do something bad to you," Mahidevran said like she is worried for me.

"Every woman would be jealous of sharing her love with another women, so I can understand her. But you shouldn't worry, I know how to defend myself," I said and she stood up so I did too.

"I like you, Nafise, and I am sure my son will too. As I see you have pure heart and you are well mannered. I hope God will allow you to find your happiness," Mahidevran said and left my chambers.

"Mahidevran Sultan is so elegant woman, she is so beautiful even if she is not that young anymore," Maryam said as she was overwhelmed by Mahidevran's presence.

"I think she is fine, but I won't be able to stand here. Did you hear her about those other women who would do anything bad to me? It seems like I will have to make things clear at the beggining," I said and Maryam was confused by my words.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"I am daughter of Persian Shah and I am member of Safavid Dynasty. I am not like them here, if anyone dares to even raise their voice on me, I will look at that as personal insult and it won't be good," I said to her.

"But you said you don't want this marriage?" Maryam asked me once again confused.

"Of course I don't want this marriage but I won't let anyone treat me bad here. They will know their places." I said.

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