Chapter 5: The Shadows of Topkapı Palace

November 9, 1605 

With Osman's birth, a delicate happiness had permeated every corner of Topkapı Palace; yet now, that happiness had given way to a profound silence. The palace rooms had lost their former colors, and cold walls were draped in somber shadows. The lively atmosphere of the corridors had turned pale and gloomy with the sudden passing of Handan Sultan(Ahmed's Mother). This loss was a devastating blow, especially for Sultan Ahmed, who had relied solely on his mother and himself for guidance. Ahmed now felt like a child within the stone walls of the palace, stripped of his last safe harbor.

The guard at the door bowed respectfully and announced, "My Sultan, Mahfiruz Sultan and Prince Osman are here to see you, sire."

Trying to conceal his grief but unable to mask his deep resentment, Ahmed responded, "Let them in." When Mahfiruz Sultan entered, she could see both the sorrow and the anger in Ahmed's eyes. He paused for a moment, his expression tense, before demanding, "Why have you come?"

Mahfiruz Sultan, understanding his anger, calmly approached him and replied, "My lord, I heard of Handan Sultan's passing and wanted to check on your well-being. I came only to remind you that you are not alone." Silently, she hoped that perhaps Osman's presence might bring a glimmer of solace to Ahmed's heart. "Perhaps Osman can add a touch of hope to his spirit," she thought.

Meanwhile, Osman, with slight hesitation, stepped away from his mother and attempted to walk towards his father. As he wobbled, his small, clumsy steps amused him, though a flicker of embarrassment ran through his mature soul. However, this fleeting feeling of embarrassment mixed with the palace's cold and solemn air to create a momentary sense of comfort. When he finally reached his father, Ahmed leaned down to pick him up, lifting Osman into his arms. Osman looked into his father's face, and with a shy voice, murmured, "Father…"

At the sound of his son's first word, Ahmed felt an indescribable joy within him. Trying to hide the tears forming in his eyes, he embraced his son tightly. "There aren't enough words to say how proud I am of you, my son," he whispered.

An old nurse watching this moment from a distance beamed, smiling as she remarked, "Oh, my Sultan, the young prince spoke so early, masha'Allah! The son of such a noble ruler was bound to mature early."

Mahfiruz Sultan observed this tender moment with a smile. Gently, she moved closer to Ahmed and softly said, "My lord, we will always be by your side." Watching the proud expression in his mother's eyes, Osman felt a sudden pang of embarrassment. The fact that his mother was proud only because he had spoken filled him with an odd sense of shame. My spirit feels like it has lived a lifetime, yet my mother seems to see nothing more than this small body. Those looks... they make me feel like a child, even though I know there is so much more within me.