"I'm a Sultana. GÜLBAHAR SULTAN. I gave birth to a Şehzade whereas you didn't. Don't you dare compare yourself to me and talk like that to me!" Gülbahar roared at Latife who also looked quite hyped up.

"You–"

"What's going on here?" I asked, loud enough for everyone to hear. They all stopped whatever they were doing before bowing to me as I walk in.

"Gülbahar, explain yourself why you were shouting like that, creating a scene in the middle of the Harem." I asked in a stern and annoyed voice.

"Forgive me Sultanam. But Latife Hatun got on my nerves." She replied with her eyes down and I turned towards Latife.

"What happened?"

"Sultanam, she tried to hit Geverhan Sultan because she ran into her and spilled some juice on her dress. When I stepped in to stop her, she started yelling at me." Latife explained.

"Sultana–"

"ENOUGH." I yelled before turning fully towards Gülbahar. "You abandoned your own daughter and Latife Hatun took care of her like she was from her own blood and instead of thanking her, you're showing your insolent behaviour?"

"Geverhan is a Sultana by birth, know that Gülbahar. Even though you gave birth to her, you have abandoned her and you yourself declared that she is no longer your daughter which means you rank below her because you are just a mere slave. You cannot hit her or yell at her."

She looked quite taken aback by my words before she composed herself. "Sultanam, you cannot talk to me like that either. I'm a mother of Şehzade just like you. I'm also a Sultana."

This dumb bitch.

Why is everyone trying to get on my nerves today?

Today is really not my day.

"Gülbahar," I gritted out, trying to control my anger. "Don't you dare compare yourself to me. I'm Haseki Halime Sultan. Do you understand or do you want me to spell it for you? HASEKI. Sultan Mehmed's legal wife and the mother of his children. I was never a slave and I'll never be. Get that thing inside your thick skull."

I didn't want to play this Haseki Sultan card on everyone but she asked for it. How dare she compare herself to me? Who does she think of herself?

"No matter how many Şehzade you give birth to, you will never be equal to me." I spat viciously before turning to look at everyone. "If I hear another fight in the Harem, just know that I won't be merciful."

"And Gülbahar, don't boast too much about your rank. Another wrong move from you and I'll strip you off your title." 

Suddenly she raised her head and cocked her eyebrows at me. "You can't, Haseki Sultan. I'm Gülbahar Sultan, mother of Şehzade Mahmmud. You cannot strip me off my rank."

I took a step slower to her, closing the gap between us before raising my hand and slapping her right across her face making her fall down with a loud cry.

"I can and I will." I hissed at her. "I, Haseki Halime Sultan, on this very moment strip Gülbahar Sultan, mother of Şehzade Mahmmud, off her rank for using her title for wrong doing."

"No, no you can't." Gülbahar cried out.

"AGHAS, take her away and put her in the dungeons." I yelled, making the aghas run in before dragging her out despite her yellings and crying about how she was also a Sultana.

Everyone here knew that I was serving as the regent until Mehmed returned and Mehmed himself gave me all the power and rights to all my decisions. I held equal power like the Sultan which means I can strip anyone off their rank or promote anyone.

Hümaşah came running in before her eyes landed on me and she sighed in relief. "I thought you got hurt or something happened when I heard the loud screams and yellings."

"I'm fine, Sultanam." I forced a smile at her which she noticed before she came towards me with a frown. "What happened here, Halime? Did anything or anyone upset you?"

I shook my head. "No, no Sultanam. It's just that Gülbahar again."

"What did she do?"

I explained everything to her from the beginning till the end. "That's why I stripped her off her rank and locked her up in the dungeons."

She nodded in understanding. "I will send her away to the old palace until Mehmed returns if you don't want her presence here."

I thought for a moment before nodding anyway. "That will be better Sultanam and then we can bring back Sadika. That way neither of them will meet and quarrel." I suggested to which she replied with a smile and a nod.

She was about to say something when Sumbul agha ran in like a mad man taking all of us off guard. He bowed to us. "Hümaşah Sultan, Haseki Sultan. We have bad news." He cried out and I frowned.

"What happened, Sumbul?" Hümaşah asked with a frown.

"May Allah forbid and may this be a lie, may the news be wrong –"

"Sumbul," Hümaşah gritted out. "Come to the point."

"The ship Hünkarım was on sank." He cried out and my body went numb.

There was a lot of commotion in the Harem but I couldn't hear anything. The only thing that kept on ringing in my head was Mehmed's ship sank.

His ship sank.

"Mehmed," I mumbled as I put all my strength in and stood up. "Mehmed."

"Halime, pull yourself together. They still haven't confirmed anything yet." Hümaşah scolded as she grabbed my shoulders but I couldn't focus on her.

My eyes started to blur and my head started spinning, my heart felt as if it was on fire and my lower abdomen felt as if someone was stabbing me there.

"Halime, pull yourself together." Hümaşah kept on yelling.

"Mehmed," I mumbled for the last time before I couldn't stand the pain anymore and fell unconscious.