𝔼𝕝𝕞𝕒𝕤 𝕊𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕒𝕟|| Magnificent Century Kösem

03

The next morning everything was quite normal. It was early in the morning as Lalezar Kalfa woke us up. We cleaned the whole Harem and then had breakfast.

It was about noon and me and some other girls were chatting in the Harem as an Ağa began to yell.

"Destur Ayşe Sultan Hazretleri!" everyone got up and bowed to her. I didn't know who she was or what she wanted, but still did as everyone else.

It was a young woman who walked hand in hand with a little boy to the doors where you would leave the Harem and go to the gardens. Two maids were following her with another baby in their arms.

After she left everyone got back to their work.

"Who was she?" Cassie asked and for the first time Yasmin didn't know the answer. A girl from behind us turned her head and began to speak.

"She is the first Haseki of Sultan Murad. She is mother of his two children. One of them is a Şehzade who is the heir to the throne." she whispered the last part.

"Does the Sultan have other woman too or only Ayşe Sultan?" I asked this time.

"No only her. She doesn't allow other concubines to even look at his majesty." suddenly she stood up and bowed.

I looked behind me and saw Lalezar Kalfa. Cassie, me and Yasmin immediately stood up and bowed to her. This women really appears like a ghost.

"Stop setting gossips and come with me." she grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the Harem.

"Where are you taking her?" I heard Yasmin and Cassie ask at the same time, but Lalezar didn't even look back.

We walked further and further in path which looked very familiar. She stopped in front of some doors and opened them.

"The Hammam? What are we doing here?" we went in and I saw two girls standing there.

"Hatun, I don't know where his majesty has seen you, but he asked for you tonight." Lalezar told me with a smile on her face. I got confused and happy at the same time.

"What? How do you know that he meant me?" my happiness disappeared at the thought of a misunderstanding.

"Your name is Calista or did I take the wrong girl?" I nodded as soon as I heard my name.

"He said 'prepare Calista Hatun for me tonight'." I couldn't believe what I've heard. I was so happy that I hugged Lalezar who hugged me back for a second and then pulled away.

"Now go and prepare yourself Hatun. You're a really lucky one." I bowed after Lalezar finished and went to the girls who washed me. It didn't take long and soon I was in a room with beautiful dresses.

I chose the most beautiful and changed into it. While the girls were putting on my makeup and jewelry, Lalezar told me the rules of Halvat.

Then after finishing I went to the Sultan's room followed by two maids and two Ağas and also Lalezar Kalfa.

My heart was beating so fast that I thought it would jump out. I prayed that the Sultan would like me and not send me away like he did with Antonia. As we stood in font of his chambers, Lalezar signaled the Ağas to knock.

After a while the doors opened and I walked in with my head not raised. I could hear Lalezar saying "Good luck Hatun."

As the doors closed, I walked to the middle of the room and bent down. I kissed the Sultan's cloth just like the traditions say.

He put his hands on my chin and brought me up to see him. Just as I raised my head, I saw the same man who helped me with my mother.

"You?!" was the only word that came out of my mouth. I stepped back from him waiting for an explanation.

"You are the Sultan? Why didn't you tell me? Oh god..." I began to ask questions not really realizing that the Sultan stands in front of me.

"Are you not happy to see me? Would you have wanted me to be an old man?" he joked and put his hands on my arms.

"Of course I am happy that you are not an old man, it's just I am shocked." I smiled at him. I really thought the Sultan would be ugly and not good looking and handsome. That would make my plan a lot easier.

"From the first day I saw you, I couldn't think of anything and anyone else." he put his hand on my cheek and gave me a soft smile. Every word that came out if his mouth gave me butterflies in my stomach.

I never thought of a man making me so weak.

"Is that why you send the other Hatun away last night?" now everything made sense. He simply nodded.

One hand of him was around my waist while the other was rubbing my cheek. He was so close that I could feel his breath.

Suddenly he crashed his lips against mine. The kiss was long and full of passion. I actually promised myself to always think about my plan and why I was here, but that night I forgot everything around me.