Your comment or support would mean the world to me! Please remember, the entire story is purely fictional.
They led me into the room with heavy steps. As the door creaked open, I was met with a profound silence. A thick carpet, woven in shades of brown and creamy white, was spread across the floor; it softened my steps yet made the emptiness of the space feel even more pronounced. In the center, a solitary bed caught my eye. It was medium-sized, its edges adorned with delicate carvings, and covered with a pristine white sheet.
Two windows stood side by side. The curtains hung like fine veils, diffusing the sunlight as it streamed inside. Shadows formed across the room, hiding some secret in every corner. Right next to the windows was a small balcony door. Slightly ajar, it allowed a gentle breeze to flutter the curtains, circulating a cool breath that cut through the heavy air inside.
In the corners, a few vases were placed; some empty, some holding wilted flowers. Their faded leaves blended with the room's quiet. But what drew my attention the most was the chest at the center. Its dark wooden panels were scratched and worn. I slowly lifted the lid, and a sharp, fabric-like scent filled the air. The chest was brimming with clothing dresses made of silk, dark-colored jackets, velvets… All retaining a hint of the grandeur they once possessed.
Leaning over the chest, I began to speak:
"Ipek, our first task is to make ourselves known…" I said.
Ipek looked at me, eyes wide with surprise.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
I lifted my head, my gaze hardening.
"We have to get rid of the sultanas. We'll… turn them against each other."
Ipek paused for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts.
"But there are only the two of us right now," she said.
I pressed my fingers to my temple, taking a deep breath before replying:
"Being few is more of an advantage… for now."
When I descended into the harem, a heavy silence greeted me. At the end of the corridor, the grand hall doors stood open, and everyone had gathered inside. Light poured through the tall windows, spreading through the gilded columns like a thin mist. Thrones were arranged in the center of the hall.
Menekşe Sultan sat on the grand throne, her head held high, eyes coldly surveying everyone. Beside her, on a separate throne, sat Fatma Sultan, the emperor's second wife. Her hair was tightly pinned in a bun, though a few strands had escaped near her forehead without disturbing her order. Her dark complexion accentuated the sharpness of her facial features, and her black dress exuded both elegance and an aura of dark power.
On the other side of the hall, women were seated on large cushions scattered across the floor. Some clasped their hands in front of them, others whispered quietly to each other. The atmosphere was heavy; hidden curiosity and subtle apprehension shone in everyone's eyes.
An empty throne remained. The attendants directed me there. I walked with heavy steps, feeling the weight of all those watching me. As I sat down, it felt as if the entire hall's attention had focused on me.
A middle-aged woman, her gaze fixed on me, asked in a low voice:
"Are you His Majesty's concubine?"
Without hiding my eyes, I answered firmly:
"Yes."
My response deepened the silence in the room. Menekşe Sultan looked at me with a contemptuous smirk at the corner of her lips. Her voice cut through the hall like a sharp blade:
"The killer concubine about to be executed."
Her words passed through me like a cold wind. Some of the women began whispering. One leaned toward her neighbor, murmuring with a scornful tone:
"How cold… How can the emperor look at her like that?"
As whispers blended together, another woman, Füsun Hatun, inclined her head toward Menekşe Sultan. Poison dripped from her words:
"Menekşe Sultan, didn't the emperor used to look only at you?"
Her words seemed to echo across the hall. All eyes turned to Menekşe Sultan. She fixed her gaze on Füsun Hatun with anger, her voice trembling with rage:
"But he still loves me!"
At that moment… I saw her lips quiver, the shadow in her eyes. Behind her words was a void. She didn't even fully believe it herself. I was as certain of that as I am of my own steps.
At that moment, Fatma Sultan suddenly burst into laughter. Her laughter echoed through the heavy silence of the harem hall, leaving a brief hesitation on the lips of the women, followed by a mocking stir. She fixed her eyes on Menekşe Sultan; a disdainful glint shone in her gaze.
"She's dreaming," she said, the thin smile at the corner of her lips spreading like poison.
Menekşe Sultan's face tightened for a moment. Clenching her jaw, she tried to hide the anger emerging in her eyes and retorted furiously:
"Fatma! End this at once."
At that instant, the harem chief standing by the door leaned forward. Hands clasped over his chest, his voice trembled nervously as he spoke:
"Ayçil Hatun… His Majesty calls for you."
The harem chief's eyes inadvertently flicked toward Menekşe Sultan. The fear in that glance circulated through the hall like an invisible storm.
Another mocking laugh escaped from Fatma Sultan's lips. Tilting her head slightly, she addressed Menekşe Sultan:
"Yes… the truth is bitter, Menekşe."
Her words echoed off the walls of the hall. The women first looked at each other, then giggles began. One by one, laughter spread like a wave through the harem.
Menekşe Sultan suddenly stood. The anger in her eyes sharpened like steel. Her voice thundered across the harem like a decree:
"Silence! All of you!! I will take every head here, do not provoke me!"
At that moment, an elderly woman beside her rushed forward anxiously. With trembling hands, she touched Menekşe Sultan's arm, her voice pleading:
"My Sultan… please, calm down."
The tension cut through the hall like a knife. I rose from my seat with heavy steps. Bowing my head, I prepared to respond to the emperor's summons. But just as I took a step, a thin but venomous voice pierced my ears from behind.
Füsun Hatun whispered with a contemptuous smile on her lips:
"You're getting excited just because the emperor calls once… We've sat with many concubines, you're not alone. They're all here just for two days."
Her words spread a chilling atmosphere throughout the hall. After the laughter, her mocking voice sharpened the tension even further. The women's eyes turned toward me; some with jealousy, some with curiosity, and others with disdain.
Of course… Fatma Sultan looked at Menekşe Sultan and could not hold back her laughter. Soon, both of them, along with the other women, began to laugh. Their laughter echoed under the high ceilings of the harem hall; it felt as if everyone was mocking me.
At that moment, I quickened my steps. I approached Füsun Hatun. Pride shimmered in her eyes as she stared at me, challenging me. I stopped before her and bowed slightly. Silence… fell over the entire hall. Everyone held their breath.
I raised my hand. Suddenly, at a moment she least expected, I delivered a sharp slap across her face. The sound echoed against the stone walls. Her head jerked to the side, her cheeks reddened.
My eyes locked with hers, a faint smile appearing on my lips.
"You're not the only one I've slapped," I said.
The hall was plunged into icy silence. A few women covered their mouths in shock. Fatma Sultan's laughter was cut short, Menekşe Sultan's face tightened. Everyone's complexion paled; their faces could not hide the horror in their eyes.
I turned my back. My footsteps echoed as I walked past the thrones; no one dared utter a word. No laughter, no whisper… Silence hung in the air, sharp as a sword.
Without making a sound, I left the hall with my head held high. Behind me remained their faces frozen in fear.
When I reached the emperor's chamber, my heart raced. I stopped at the heavy door, took a deep breath, and then slowly knocked. A brief silence followed, and then, with a firm voice, I was allowed in.
As I entered, my eyes were drawn to the scene before me. The dim light in the room reflected off his black satin outfit. His upper body was bare; muscular chest, broad shoulders tensed. His hair was disheveled, as if he had been wrestling with thoughts for a long time. The sight caught my breath, and my gaze involuntarily roamed over him. I froze for several seconds, shocked.
The emperor fixed his deep, determined eyes on me. Suddenly, he stepped forward quickly. The echo of his footsteps struck sharply on the stone floor. In an instant, the distance between us closed.
"Come with me…" he said, his voice firm yet tinged with hidden sorrow. "Let's go to distant lands. We are surrounded by wolves."
As the words left his lips, he grasped my waist. The strength of his fingers sank into my body. My breath caught, and my gaze locked with his. He pulled me toward him, pressing my head gently against his chest. I felt the powerful thrum of his heart at my ear; its rhythm seemed to compete with the turmoil inside me.
His hand held tightly at my waist, fingertips tracing soft circles. His touch was fiery, filled with both strength and possession. A conflict arose within me. I bit my lip, narrowed my eyes, and drew a deep breath.
Why is he so touch-dependent… I thought. His touches were turning into a suffocating addiction.
While in his arms, I lifted my head slightly. My eyes locked onto his face; his pupils were clouded, his breathing heavy. In a low, cold tone, I whispered:
"Did you drink?"
For a moment, he looked at me without averting his eyes. The corner of his lips twitched, his voice low but clear:
"I haven't."
I narrowed my eyes. My heart racing, my words came out icy:
"But you're still drunk."
He bowed his head, shoulders trembling slightly. When he looked at me again, I saw deep fragility in his eyes. His voice trembled almost childlike, desperate:
"My chest… it hurts so much…"
For a moment, my breath caught. There, before me, was not the strong, stern emperor, but a man in pain, lonely. Hesitantly, I stepped toward him, my voice shaky:
"What's wrong?"
My words hung in the air. He remained silent, eyes downcast, lips pressed together. After a pause, he suddenly withdrew his hand from my waist. The absence of his touch left a cold void in my body. He stepped back.
His gaze darkened, voice low and hurt:
"Leave my room, Ayçil. You don't understand me… your mind is always on revenge and power."
Something knotted inside me. I stepped closer and held his hand. My fingers entwined with his. But he swiftly pulled away, building an invisible wall between us.
I retreated silently. Lips pressed tight, heart heavy in my chest. I glanced at him one last time, then turned and left the room with heavy steps.
As I walked down the corridor, I whispered to myself:
"Perhaps he has an ailment… I will consult the doctors."
The coolness of the dim corridor settled over me, while a single thought churned in my mind: Behind the strength of that body, perhaps there was a hidden, deep illness.
By morning, the corridors were filled with silence. I walked quickly to the emperor's chamber. As I opened the door, a tightness gripped my chest. I entered and bowed quickly, with respect and urgency.
I slowly approached the bed.
"My Emperor, I-"
My words hung on my lips. I took another step; my voice caught in my throat. My eyes fell upon him. He was sleeping… breathing deeply, his face pressed into the pillow. One arm was draped over his head, and even in sleep, the strong lines of his body were evident. His black, thick hair fell messily across his forehead, shading half of his face.
My eyes involuntarily roamed over him as I swallowed. My hand rose into the air, as if I wanted to touch his hair or brush his face, but my fingers froze mid-air, unable to continue. My lips twitched with a quiet murmur:
"So… I've become your third wife."
My words merged with the silence of the room like a whisper. A heavy bitterness settled inside me. Suddenly, I quickly turned my back, averting my gaze from him and directing it toward the other side of the room.
I walked toward his desk, eyes scanning the surroundings with determination. My hands trembled, my breath quickened. The seal… where was the seal? I thought frantically. The seal was crucial; a symbol carrying the emperor's authority. But it was nowhere on the desk. I scanned the drawers and shelves with my eyes nowhere to be seen. My heart pounded in my chest; I was breathless.
At that moment, voices came from outside. Footsteps were approaching. Panic surged within me. I quickly turned and saw the tall curtains in the corner of the room. Without hesitation, I drew the fabric aside and slipped into the darkness.
The heavy scent of the fabric hit my face. I held my breath, hiding behind it. My heart raced, each beat seemingly loud enough to be heard. From behind the curtains, I heard the creak of the door opening into the hall…