8 months later

"Zevki Hatun, you have been overdue for your checkup. Are you sure you want to skip it again today?" Ayla Hatun asks me worriedly. She has been my closest companion these past couple of months as I've been pregnant.

I have mostly remained in the shadows, except for Sultan Süleyman calling on my every week to talk, though unfortunately it has been mostly about the baby. I have tried to engage him in talking about politics and foreign affairs, and he also showed me this beautiful new emerald ring he is carving, though he didn't say whom it would be for, so I was a little disappointed.

"Ayla, mind your business. I will go when I feel like it is appropriate to."

"But it isn't for giving birth, it's for ensuring the health of-"

"Ayla Hatun. Leave now before I get mad." I growled. My maid quickly scurried away. 

I was feeling a little more grouchy lately because of the baby eating all my food and not letting me nor my stomach enjoy anything, so one shouldn't blame me if I get angry over anything that has to do with the child.

"Perhaps I shall read a book or something." I leaned a little to my left since I didn't really want to get up and do anything, and picked a random one off of my shelf. It was a book of poetry, and I couldn't really read much of the writing, or actually any of it. In fact, I don't think it's Arabic at all. 

"Ayla Hatun, can you summon Nigar Kalfa?"

My maid, who was standing outside of my room, peeked in and nodded before disappearing again. Moments later, Nigar Kalfa was back here.

"So how is the mother of an heir doing?" Nigar laughed, sitting down on my couch.

"Nobody told me it would be this boring and tiring."

Nigar smirked at me. "Well, you could've asked too. But anyways, what is wrong? What do you need?"

I put the book beside Nigar and patted it's cover. "Can you read this?"

Nigar looked the book up and down, then opened it up. "Hmm... I believe it is in Russian. So then it must be thrown out. You won't need it anyhow, Zevki."

"What, why?"

"Because we try to encourage everyone to speak Turkish and Arabic, or even Persian, instead of other, old languages around here. You should know too- we wouldn't allow Spanish or Italian books here."

Nigar sighed. "I'll take the book away. But you? You should focus on your baby."

"Whatever..." I shrug. "Can I go take a bath? Or is that not considerate enough of the baby?"

"Do what you want, okay?" Nigar rolled her eyes before leaving. 

I called in Ayla. 

"Prepare me some fresh clothes, and towels too. I will take a hot bath in the hammam."

"Yes, Zevki Hatun." Ayla went on to grab new towels and things for me, and I waltzed off to the harem hammam. 

As I walked down the hallway alone, I briefly heard a sound of somebody walking, carefully behind me, but when I turned around all I saw was a shadow, but then it was gone again. I am too pregnant to have to deal with mysterious moments around here, so I didn't go to investigate or do anything of the sort.

Now the hammam: it was a big place and was usually occupied by many girls and hard to wash in, but thankfully, nobody was using any of the tubs, or even showering at the moment. I caught a glimpse of a group of two maids leaving and laughing, but now I had the place for myself. 

There were no maids to help me, so I lit some nice candles for a pleasant smell, threw in a cup of rosepetals, and then pulled the pump to start up the water. Ayla Hatun also came with my things later and did the rest of the work, put in some sweet soaps, and then helped me change and get in. 

"You may now leave, Ayla thank you."

"Zevki Hatun, are you sure? It would be best if I stay beside you."

"My room is sort of dirty, can you clean it please?"

"All right." Ayla Hatun left me to do her work now, and that gave me peace and quiet in a realm of darkness, in a nice warm marble tub illuminated by candlelight. It was almost a special feeling. 

I reclined back in the tub, and breathed in deeply, exhaled deeply as well. This was a good scent. I should probably see if they make perfumes this way, or replicate this smell somehow. Maybe call it the bain agréable à la rose de Zevki. That of course, is French for the Pleasant Rose Bath of Zevki. I'm surprised at myself for still remembering some French, because Arabic and Turkish is definitely time consuming and almost sort of requires me to forget my past languages and lifestyle. But no matter, I am still thriving here at least.

I could hear footsteps again, obviously to impose upon my peace, so I groan and call out, "Ayla Hatun, what did I tell you about cleaning my room and leaving me in peace?"

The footsteps still got closer and I recognized them not the sound of Ayla's feet.

"What, who are you-" A woman grabbed my hair and plunged me under water as I screamed.

"Help!" I yelled, but nobody could hear me. I tried to push back, but the water was thick and the woman was strong. I kicked around my legs, splashing water, but to no avail.

Finally, after I felt as though I was drowning, the woman leaned in closer and lifted up my head so my ears could hear.

"You will regret taking my Süleyman away from me," The woman said. I know that voice. 

But I could not recognize who it was. I saw a glimpse of red hair, but my eyes were burning so it may have just been in my dreams. She pushed me down one last time and then vanished. I managed to get my strength to get up a bit, but all I could do, and really all that came out of my mouth, was not a sound but simply vomit.

Then I remembered I had a baby. I looked at my stomach and screamed for help, for anyone, and a few minutes later, Sumbul Aga and several others rushed in, saying they heard the screaming because they were right near.

"What happened, Hatun?" Sumbul demanded.

"A w-woman, t-t-t-tried to d-d-d-drown me right now. I b-b-barely survived."

"Oh Allah," Sumbul cried. "Help me get her to the Nurse, now!"

They all picked me up and began carrying me through the harem to the nurse. Woman around me whispered and looked, because I was simply in a single towel and didn't finish even washing myself. 

From the corner of my eye, I saw two green eyes looking at me from the balcony. With red hair. The same red hair that was drowning me only minutes before. It was Hürrem. I knew it, and something has to be done.

They put me down on the bed and began inspecting me, as the Valide Sultan and Sultan Süleyman rushed in only a few seconds later.

"Zevki Hatun, what happens? What of our baby?" Süleyman asked worriedly. "Doctor's please save our child."

"Does anyone know what happened? How could she have been left alone?"

"Well Ayla Hatun said that Zevki told her to leave her alone." Nigar sighed. "But that's against the rules, so she will certainly be dismissed now. And Zevki should have at lease 3 servants follow her in the future."

"Zevki, can you tell me what happened to you?" Süleyman asked once more.

I motioned for him to lean in a bit.

"Hürrem. It was Hürrem." I moaned quietly. 

Süleyman's brows went up and his eyes flashed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes..." I sighed, before fainting in the bed. My eyes slowly closed on the drama that had just unfolded before my eyes, on my eyes.