23rd August 1620, Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

The doors of the harem of the Topkapi Palace were opened to the Crimean ladies who came there for the wedding of their Khan with the Ottoman Sultana.

First in line was Ayse Hanim, mother of the Crimean Khan Mehmed. Although she looked very young, Ayse was already in her thirties, but she looked very youthful. In her eyes, you could see the strictness and coolness by which everyone knew her. Along with her, came her three daughters, Rabia, Fatma and Nur.

Ayse Hanim was dressed all in black, looking more like she has arrived at the funeral, rather than wedding of her only son. She measured everyone in harem and all the girls bow to her, she was still mother of khan of another territory and had to be respected, especially by the concubines who gathered in the harem.

"Ayse Hanim, welcome to Istanbul," Hibetullah Sultan said as she sat at the throne in the harem as she nodded Ayse Hanim who entered the harem. She nodded to her to sit down on the throne next to her since she wanted to make at least good relationship in the beginning.

"Thank you, Hibetullah Hatun, I am glad to arrive here," Ayse Hanim said with little smile which seemed to be fake, especially since she addressed Hibetullah as Hatun, because she wasn't mother of a prince, but just a Sultana who is going to marry Ayse's son now. Hibetullah even if she didn't have a son, she was respected in the palace like a Sultana and everyone titled her as she was one.

Three daughters of Ayse went following her as they nodded to Sultana and then sat down at the pillows because they were younger than the two women at the throne.

The eldest daughter was Nur, she was twin sister of Mehmed Giray and she was total copy of her mother. They two even resembled each other, they had dark eyes and even darker hair, eyes which looked so cold and gestures which showed to everyone how they held themselves so high.

The second one was Rabia, the blonde one who looked more like she was Hibetullah's daughter than Ayse's. She had nothing in common with her mother and elder sister, she had light eyes and blonde hair, but what made her so different was smile on her face.

The youngest one was Fatma, who looked like a mixture of Nur and Rabia. She was the brunette with light brown eyes, and with relaxed face, something in between beside her sisters.

"Where is the bride?" Ayse Hanim asked coldly as she didn't seem to be very fond of the dance and the music, and whole festivity, that took place in harem today.

"She should be here any moment," Hibetullah said, measuring Ayse for the whole time. Her gut said to her this wasn't a good decision and she feared Ayse would destroy her daughter's mood and turn her into a cold woman like she was. She didn't want to send her daughter to a place with those women and prayed inside herself her son wasn't like her, but at least like Rabia Hanim.

"We heard Neslihan Sultan is very pretty, I wonder how she looks in reality," Rabia Hanim said, stopping the embarrassing silence, but only thing she got was dead serious look of her mother Ayse Hanim.

"If she only could measure with the beauty of our mother," Nur Hanim said.

The atmosphere in the harem was already bad, Hibetullah didn't like this situation even for a bit and swore Orhan for doing this for her only daughter. She has been overthinking for a longer time what kind those women would be, but least what she excepted was the arrogant narcissist mother and a sister who is like mother's shadow.

"Attention! Her Imperial Majesty Neslihan Sultan!" One of the aghas who worked at the harem announced the presence of the bride. Music stopped and all the girls stood in the line to bow to the Sultana, while Ayse Hanim focused on her to see what is her daughter-in-law going to be like.

Neslihan Sultan entered the harem feeling anxious. She spent so much of the time in the latest time crying, crying over her fate and decision of her cousin to marry her to another land to someone she hadn't even known. Today was the day of her marriage and she still didn't know who is her husband and what is his family like.

She came in the baby pink dress, as when she saw her future family she barely could help herself not to gasp when she saw her future mother-in-law dressed like she was on funeral. She knew all of the eyes were on her looking at each her moviment and possibly waiting for any mistake of hers.

"Validam," Neslihan anxiously came to her mother, but anxious of the presence of another women she hadn't even known. She kissed the hand of her mother and gave her a smile which she returned.

She looked at Ayse Hanim and nodded to her, but Ayse Hanim just placed her hand in front of Neslihan waiting for her to kiss her hand. It wasn't a tradition for an Ottoman Sultana to kiss anyone's hand beside seniors of the family, but Neslihan stayed silent and kissed her mother-in-law's hand knowing all of the eyes were on her.

"So you will be wife of my son," Ayse Hanim said, still measuring Neslihan with poker face reaction on her face. She didn't give Neslihan nor Hibetullah any kind of hint if she liked her or not, but Neslihan knew no one's opinion was important since the decision was done and nothing could end this now.

"I don't know if my son would be interested in you," Ayse said looking at another side while her daughter Nur couldn't hide evil smile she had on her face. Neslihan sat on the little throne beside her mother, as the two of them were surprised of the direct words of Ayse Hanim.

"On the contrary, I really think my brother Mehmed will be pleasantly surprised when he sees you, you are even more beautiful than they say," her blonde daughter Rabia Hanim smiled to Neslihan making her feel at least bit better, but what Neslihan didn't know was if those were true words or just to stop the awkward moment that happened.

"We will see," Ayse Hanim said and gave slight smile to Neslihan, and it was really mysterious since Ayse was really mysterious woman and it seemed like no one could read her mind.

"Your Majesty," Mehmed Giray, Khan of Crimea said as he bowed to Ottoman Sultan Orhan when he entered his chambers. This wasn't the first time he sees the Sultan who was close to his age, but second since the two of them met when Orhan gave him his options of peace, and that meeting led to this day and to this marriage.

"I am glad to host you here," Sultan Orhan said seriously and it seemed like he didn't even mean his words. Only thing on his face was evil smile because he thought how well he has manipulated the whole situation and has made something that would bring him a giant favour.

"It is my honour to present you my cousins, brothers of your future wife, princes Kasim and Davut," Orhan said and showed to the two princes who measured safely Mehmed Giray. Mehmed nodded to them as a sign of respect, and they bowed to him since he had a bigger title than them.

The four men sat around the table waiting for the official wedding ceremony to happen. Kasim and Davut were safely looking at Mehmed Giray trying to see what kind of man he is. They loved their only sister Neslihan really much, she was their jewel and they wanted to protect her at all cost.

Kasim and Davut protested to Orhan when he made this decision about Neslihan, but there was nothing they could do to change his mind. Kasim and Davut knew they have to send some spies to Crimea which would make sure Neslihan is safe all the time, because in the last time there was a war between the two states and they were afraid someone could riot against Ottoman bride.

Grand Vizier came and whispered something to Sultan, which then left the three men alone while he went to do something that he seemed more important to do, since he already has seen this situation just as favour to him and nothing else.

"Khanzade, I hope you will treat our sister well. She is really precious to us and we don't want her ever to spill a tear because of any man in this world," Kasim, who was more aggressive, said this to Mehmed Giray who had more authority than him, but Kasim seemed this would be appropriate to do already in the beginning.

"There is nothing to worry, I won't make her sad," Mehmed quickly replied as he seemed to be really disappointed this day. He couldn't hide his disappointment towards this wedding, and he didn't care if anyone would realise his emotions. He lost the chance with woman he loves because he had to marry a Sultana. He chosen his state before his love, and he already regretted.

"I see you aren't very interested in this wedding," Davut, who was more peaceful, said. He tried to see what emotions of Khanzade were for real.

"I think the two of you would feel the same at my place if it was ordered for you to do it," Mehmed answered shortly.

"But you should respect her. She is Ottoman Sultana and even though if you didn't want this, you must know she didn't want this too!" Kasim hissed at Mehmed Giray who stopped eating at this point.

"Don't forget I am Crimean Khan too. Your sister will be respected, but I will have to be respected too," Mehmed said seriously. The two of princes haven't excepted this kind of reaction from him, but they had nothing to say.

"Ayse Hanim, what I wish to ask you is why you dressed like you are going to the funeral, not the wedding?" Neslihan Sultan asked her future mother-in-law as she couldn't help herself to stay silent for anymore. She saw this as huge disrespect towards her and she wanted to hear it.

Hibetullah looked at her daughter like she wished to say don't ask those things, but Neslihan knew she had to live with those people until the rest of her life.

"Because this is like funeral for all of us. To me, my son, our state, but also for you," Ayse Hanim said.

"Mother," Rabia Hanim said as she knew this was too much for everyone already. With each moment Neslihan even more regret this, she regret what she allowed Orhan to force her to do this.

Everyone was embarrassed at that moment. Hibetullah knew that her daughter would not be well in this family. She knew that Ayse and Nur would use every possible moment to belittle her. The only thing that comforted her was that maybe Mehmed would be good to Neslihan. However, like any mother, she was saddened to know that her daughter was entering an unwanted marriage where her life would not be as easy and comfortable as it was until now.

Ayse Hanim was not at all enthusiastic about Neslihan. It wasn't because of her looks or character, but because she was coming there as someone of a higher class than them and she knew that anything they did badly against her would reverberate all the way to Istanbul.

"Neslihan Sultan, it's time," one of the aghas said to Neslihan as it was time for her to redress into her wedding dress and head to the Marmara Palace, where she would spend first three days of her marriage with her husband Mehmed.

Neslihan sighed deeply and looked at her mother who hugged her. She gave her a ring which every Sultana had, a ring where there was a poison inside. The poison served if Sultana ever finds herself in a position where she thinks there is no end, she could end her life on more easy way than being bullied by someone.

Neslihan got into a carriage, which took her a few kilometers away from Topkapi. There was a smile on her face, because she knew everyone was watching her leave now, towards her married husband. But actually inside she was not happy at all and she didn't even want to see who her husband was anymore.

She felt a terrible injustice, an injustice that serves others to achieve their political goals. She came out of the carriage in a white wedding dress and a white veil covering her face, not knowing who was standing behind the door.

She went inside, into the newlyweds' quarters where she was supposed to wait for her husband. She sighed deeply as fear overwhelmed her. She didn't know anything about him, she didn't know what he was like. She was afraid what if his character was the same as his mother? What if he treated her with the same impudence and rudeness? What if they force her to lose all will to live in Crimea?

The door opened and she heard walking towards her. Her heart was beating like crazy not knowing who her eyes would please now. Who is this Mehmed Giray?

Mehmed lifted her veil and revealed her face, and the two of them met face to face for the first time on their wedding night.

Mehmed did not expect to see such a beautiful Sultana behind the veil, but his heart sank that he could not see the woman he loved in her place.

Neslihan was surprised when she saw Mehmed, because she did not expect the Crimean Khan to look like that, much better than she expected. However, she remained indifferent to it anyway because a stranger was standing in front of her.

"This marriage is only formal. We are husband and wife only for political duties," Mehmed said looking away, as he felt uncomfortable saying that to the Ottoman Sultana's face when he was expected to pay all the compliments, as he should have.

"I agree," Neslihan said but she continued to look at Mehmed making him feel uncomfortable in that moment. She knew that she would be no better with him than with his family, and she knew that she had to set boundaries immediately.

"My heart belongs to another woman. Your only duty is to give birth to an heir," Mehmed said and started walking further, not knowing what to do at this moment.

"Didn't you perhaps wonder if my heart also beats for someone else? You are not the only one who has been persuaded into this marriage," Neslihan said boldly. Although there was no one in her heart, she knew that Mehmed would not be the one to enter her heart.

"I only told you what your duties are, and we will agree on that when the time comes," Mehmed said and left the chambers.