"Sultana, you wanted to see me," Iskender said when I met with him in the gardens. He had so big smile on his face when he saw me and I really felt he is the only one who doesn't dislike me in this Palace.

I already got up with fact that I will have to marry Iskender and right now I was totally fine with it. At the first moments I was sad because that wasn't Murad Pasha, but now I was totally fine with marrying Iskender.

His presence made me feel so different than it made me feel Murad's presence. Everything was different next to Iskender, but in a good way.

"I wanted to know if Sultan has said anything to you about poisoning. He didn't want to say anything to me yet until he is sure," I said to him while I stood next to him in Gardens.

"No, he didn't. He doesn't have anyone to suspect of actually, only thing is that Esmahan Sultana talked with him and said something about one maid, but I don't know anything about it," Iskender said and I was sure Esmahan would do something like this.

"She already said she thinks it's Gulcicek," I said and Iskender stayed shocked on my words.

"Sultana, I know she is jealous... But she couldn't have courage herself alone to do it," Iskender said.

"I know, and that happened while I was with Mahfiruz and Esmahan, I am actually pretty sure Esmahan has done it," I said and Iskender looked at me confusedly.

"But she is your sister, why would she do it?" He asked me and at that moment I remembered how Iskender actually doesn't have idea about the thing with Murad we don't get along anymore, and honestly I didn't want Iskender to know about this.

"We don't get along in the last time, she is angry on me because one issue," I said trying to fix up things I messed but I knew I couldn't fix it.

Iskender listened to me and he didn't say anything. I know he suspects of something now and he could easily find out what it was about and that was the last thing I wanted him to know. He was for real happy about the marriage and I didn't want him to know how that was last what I wanted to happen because I wanted to marry Murad.

At that moment it started to be awkwardly silence between us and I had no idea what to do at this moment because I actually destroyed everything in this moment. I saw Musa walking towards us and he had a letter in his hands.

He looked at me and gave me the letter in front of Iskender who for sure wanted to know what was written inside.

Sultana, in few days you will be another man's wife, at least let me see you for the last time before that happens. I will wait for you today in Summer Gardens.
Sincerely, Kapudan Murad Pasha

"Is it something important Sultana?" Iskender asked me and Musa also wanted to know what was written for sure.

"Nothing important," I said, "Musa prepare the carriage I will go to the Old Palace today," I said and Musa nodded.

Iskender acted weirdly for the whole time. Only thing I knew is that I wouldn't meet with Murad because that will bring me to so many troubles now.

"Do you want me to go with you Sultana so nothing bad could happen?" Iskender asked me and in my heart I could feel something weird is happening. I felt like he knows about Murad and someone told him about that. Maybe they faked a message to see if I would really go there and meet with Murad. And that's why Iskender asked me to follow me to make sure I am really going to meet my mother.

"If you don't have any work for state jobs today, then I would be pleasured," I said and smiled hoping it would be seen as realistic as possible.

I went back to my chambers to get ready to visit my mother and Musa followed me.

"Sultana, I am sure they are trying to make a trap for you. You played it well that you said you go to visit your mother," Musa said to me.

"I am actually going to visit my mother. I must stop Murad from doing this because he will only make us even more problems. Esmahan is trying to make this I am sure, and now even Sevgi knows about it," I said to him while we were walking through Harem hallways.

"Iskender Pasha would get so angry if he would see you with Murad Pasha. That is why he asked you if he could follow you," he said.

"I know, and I don't want him not to believe me anymore. We will have marriage in few days and I don't need this to happen," I said as I entered my chambers.

I got ready and went back to the Gardens where the carriage and Iskender waited for me. After the talk with Musa I was sure they made a trap and they wanted me to fall in Iskender's eyes and I didn't want that to happen, because I couldn't tell to myself that I have some emotions for him, and I really have.

We got really quick to the Old Palace and I have never seen Iskender acting weird like this. I felt embarrassed for the whole time in the carriage as I didn't want to say anything anymore.

He stayed in front of the Old Palace alone, while Musa and I entered the special pavilion of the Old Palace where my mother is living. I entered her chambers

"Valide," I said and she was actually surprised to see me here because she didn't except me to be here. She was still angry on me because I will marry Iskender and because I wanted to save him and not to let them be against him.

But she wasn't actually alone, Ali Suleyman Pasha, her loyal vizier Fettah Pasha was also there with her and Kapudan Murad. I was shocked to see him there and now I was sure it was a trap.

"How do you come here after you disappointed us so much?" My mother said not being even happy about seeing me after announcement of mine and Iskender's wedding.

"I came here because all of this will get us to trouble, especially you Murad Pasha. They did a trap to me trying to tell me to meet with you today," I said and everyone was confused on my words.

"Sultana, I haven't wrote you anything, I..." Murad confusedly started to tell.

"You didn't but Esmahan obviously did and they are trying to find Ali Suleyman whole time so they even started to spy me. All of you have to secretly leave now on the second doors because Iskender is in front of the Old Palace and if he catches anyone of you all of us will be in problems," I said and my mother stood up angrily.

"Why do you bring him here when you know that we have a meet up?" She yelled on me.

"Because if he wouldn't come he would be sure that I went to meet Murad Pasha and then they would accuse me and punish me," I said in the same agressive tone as my mother did.

At that moment we heard someone opened the doors of the first entrance of the old palace. I left my mother's room and went there to see Sultan Mehmed with Iskender and ten of janissaries. I knew this wasn't good.

"Handan, will you explain to me what is happening here?" My brother Sultan Mehmed asked me angrily. I just looked at Iskender who disappointed me this time so much.

"I just went to visit my mother, is there any of problem with that?" I asked him.

"Aghas, go into the room and capture everyone there and bring them here," Mehmed yelled but I stopped him.

"Maybe you should go inside and see if there is anyone who bothers you, but how much I know there are only my mother and Musa Agha," I said to him also disappointed in him, but this disappointment was nothing to compared in Iskender's.

"So you tell me that I won't find anyone there except them? Not even maybe Ali Sulemyan Pasha? Or the man you are secretly meeting with Murad Pasha?" Mehmed asked me angrily. I have never seen such an anger in his eyes.

"I don't know where Ali Suleyman Pasha is, but if I would know there would be nothing why I would communicate with him and not to tell you. And with those accusations I am meeting with Murad Pasha, you heard that of my sister who tried to poison me?" I asked him totally calm now as I knew everything was done.

Mehmed has said nothing but just walked to the room of the pavillion, and for the whole time I was praying that Ali, Fettah and Murad went away from that room.

Mehmed went inside and saw only my mother and Musa and I took a deep breath from relief from what happened.

"Dilara Sultan," Mehmed said and my mother bowed to him even though such an anger could be seen from her eyes.

"I don't know why would you think something bad could happen when my daughter visits me," my mother said faking once again as she was so well in this.

"I got a letter noticing me about the secret divan meeting here," Mehmed said but in his tone it could be heard he realised he got the "fake news", or he was only just late.

"Why would I make secret divan? What would I get from it? Don't you seem me as a threat?" My mother said to him.

"They took everything from me, my son and my power. I am thankful you gave me the pavillion to live in and I wouldn't do anything against you. I mean, you are only Ottoman male heir left alive, why would anyone be against you?" My mother lied for the whole time and she was so good liar. She hated Mehmed so much but there was nothing she could now do against him.

While Mehmed talked with my mother I left to the hallway as I couldn't listen to this anymore and Iskender was there. He looked at me for the whole time.

"Sultana, I didn't know Sultan would come here..." Iskender started to explain but I didn't want to listen it.

"You all tried to make a trap for me because no one believes me. You are with them and you are against me," I said so coldly.

"That is not true, Sultana. They wanted to make you a trap with the letter of Murad Pasha, but not here. Mahfiruz Sultana ordered me to ask you to follow you here to see if you are actually loyal or not," Iskender said and with each his word I was even more disappointed.

"There is no purpose of this marriage when you still listen to Mahfiruz and trust her after everything she has done to me. You thought I would meet with Murad Pasha while I am engaged to you, but I am not like this. The truth is I loved him since my childhood, but that stopped. I don't think like that anymore. But you obviously don't trust me," I said while I was leaving and he ran towards me.

"Sultana, I don't want you to think that I don't believe you. I just did what they commanded me. You don't know how happy I was when I found out you will visit your mother not to fall on the trap. If you even wanted to go meet Murad Pasha I would tell you it's a trap because I wouldn't want the woman I love to get in problems," Iskender said and I didn't know what should I think anymore.

"But you still called my brother Sultan here because you thought of something stupid like secret divan would be gathered here?" I asked him.

"Sultana, I swear to God I didn't say that to him," Iskender said.