The palace gates were imposing, guarded by soldiers in ornate uniforms. It was indeed different than those of my home of España. As we passed through, I felt a shiver run down my spine. The courtyard beyond was vast, done up in marble, with manicured gardens and fountains that sparkled in the sunlight. Columns adorned every hall as men scurried around. We took a side way in without going across the real courtyard, to spare privacy I suppose, which I am a bit grateful for. My current state is rather embarrassing.

We were led into a large hall, its walls covered in rich tapestries and mosaics. The air was cool, a welcome relief from the heat outside. Our group was lined up, and a stern-looking man in fine clothes and another towel hat approached us, his eyes scanning each of us with a calculating gaze.

"Welcome to Topkapi Palace," he said in another language. A translator repeated it for us in Italian and Spanish. "You are now the property of the Sultan, Sultan Süleyman Khan Hazretdleri and his family. You will serve him and his court. Obedience will be rewarded. Disobedience will be punished."

Elisabeth's grip on my hand tightened. I forced myself to stand tall, to show no fear. I was a princess of Spain, and I would not let these barbarians break me.

The man continued, "You will be taken to the harem, where you will be prepared for your new roles. Follow the guards."

We were led down a series of corridors, the opulence of the palace becoming more overwhelming with each step. It was almost as luxurious as ours, clad in marble and even gold. Finally, we reached a set of large wooden ornate doors, which opened to reveal a large, luxurious chamber filled with women in colorful dresses. Some of the girls watched us curiously, but I looked up to see a few girls in much more luxurious clothes laughing and snickering as they watched us.

I looked down at my clothes and felt a little bit ashamed of the state I was in. When I looked back up, one of the girls met my gaze and waved her fingers at me with a cutsey smile. I rolled my eyes at the antics.

An older woman with a cane, clearly in charge, stepped forward. "I am Daye Hatun, the Sultan's mother's head servant and treasurer of the harem. I will oversee your training and ensure you understand your duties. You must learn quickly if you wish to survive here."

Wish to survive here. Somehow, I think it would be funny to play a game here and get a powerful role, perhaps become a spy for my kingdom, so we can defeat these blasted Ottomans. If I thought they were bad enough, they kidnapped girls from their homes to make them slaves!

I sent a quick prayer to Jesus Christ before I nodded, trying to mask my apprehension. Beside me, Elisabeth looked up at me with wide eyes. I gave her a reassuring squeeze, though my own heart was pounding.

Another woman and a man came up to Daye Hatun and bowed slightly. The woman had intricately curved brows and looked as though she was from somewhere in Central Asia, versus the man looked as though he was from a book about genies.

"Girls, this is Nigar Kalfa and Sumbul-Aga. They help manage the harem, and you MUST obey them and follow their instructions."

"Come," Nigar Kalfa commanded after Daye Hatun left. "Your new lives begin now."