Meeting Grand Vizier Esad

THE GRAND palace of Grand Vizier Esad Fahrettin looked imposing as Kosem stood in front of its silver gates. The guarding soldiers glanced at her with disdain seeing she was only wearing her crumpled satin dress with no footwear to spare. The determined look behind her unruly hair did not waver even if two hours had passed since she remained standing in front of the enormous gate.

A minute later, the galloping of the horses and the marching footsteps of the soldiers alerted the soldiers guarding the gate. In haste, they opened the enormous gates producing a loud screech. "Hey, hanim! Get out of the way! The Grand Vizier is coming!" But the soldier's warning fell on deaf ears as Kosem remained standing in her spot. Eyes filled with determination more than ever.

What the soldiers failed to see beneath the young stature of Kosem was the boiling malice and sadness through her peculiar set of eyes.

Kosem saw the incoming Grand Vizier riding his black stallion. Though old, he sat atop his horse with grace and power that the second powerful person of the empire would surely possess. He sauntered from his estate with confidence as if he owned the Ottoman Empire himself. In a way, with the current situation in the empire, he kind of owned a big power in the Ottoman Empire.

Amid the glaring sun at his back, his imposing silhouette would leave anyone in awe – but not Kosem. His thick grey beard and headdress meant that he was heading to the main palace.

With the help of her knowledge as Clara, the archeologist, who studied the history of Sultan Suleiman, she knew that this would be the time that Grand Viezer Esad would start gathering allies that would corner Sultan Suleiman five years from now.

A solemn thought pierced Kosem's train of thoughts. 'I need to be the successor of the Grand Vizier. But first, I need to earn merits to raise my standing in the bureaucracy and the Grand Viezer will be my ticket. I need power.'

The Arabian horse neighed at the sight of the small girl at the center of the pathway. Though she was already a fifteen-year-old girl, she barely reached the armpit of the shortest soldier around her. This was due to the constant abuse and starvation that the original Kosem endured until she killed her parents yesterday.

Embarrassed by their failed attempt to remove the little girl away from the Grand Viezer's way, the soldiers grabbed Kosem's neck in one swift move earning a cry from Kosem – and that was what Kosem was waiting for. She wanted a reason to cry. After all, the Grand Viezer had a misplaced love for children after the death of his only son many years ago.

"Stop! What are you doing to that child?" The deep and ominous voice of the Grand Viezer rang with a warning which made the soldiers stop breathing. The soldier, who held Kosem's neck, let her go immediately as if he was burnt from their touch. Trembling after being subjected to the merciless Grand Viezer, the soldier could only swallow his despair when the Grand Viezer nodded his head to the other soldiers. In a moment, the fearful soldier was dragged silently – away from the Grand Viezer's line of vision.

Kosem's eyes glared at the retreating back of the audacious soldier before turning her attention to her target. Tears started to pour as she would use her identity as a child to gain favor for the man in front of her. After all, this was only the weak link of the Grand Viezer to his humanity – and Kosem would make sure to use it wisely.

"Child, why are you here? It is dangerous to stand in front of a gate." Gone was the ominous voice replaced by a gentle one that made Kosem internally scoff.

In her small voice and trembling small hands, Kosem reached out, showing the ring that symbolized the promise that would play a big role in Kosem's revenge. In her past life, she found out about the promise of the ring after being betrothed to Sultan Hazeyn Suleiman.

"You are Feraize's child? Why do you have this? Did he send you here?" Grand Vizier Esad held the ring between his wrinkled and large fingers. His cobalt-colored eyes stared at her peculiar ones.

Like what she planned, Kosem cried some more. "My parents are dead, Grand Viezer Esad Fahrettin. And my beloved father wanted me to give this to you."

The familiarity, pity, and understanding washed in front of his eyes – and Kosem saw it all. She wondered how such a man would be able to covet the Sultan's seat when his eyes were as clear as crystal.

Kosem immediately reined her thoughts. 'No, you are showing such vulnerability because you saw me as an inconsequential person who will not threaten you. If it is, then I am on the right track.'

Grand Vizier Esad Fahrettin looked at his advisor, who was still sitting atop his horse. Without delay, the wrinkled grand vizier stepped down from his mount. "It looks like I will be coming late to work today. Inform the main palace that I have a small business to attend to."

"As you wish, Grand Vizier." The middle-aged advisor brought half the soldiers with him as he galloped away from the crying Kosem and the Grand Vizier. The latter then turned to Kosem with a smiling face. "Let's go and find something to eat as I explain why your father asked you to bring that to me, alright?" He offered his large, callous hand to Kosem which the latter reached for it as she sniffed.

The moment that they walked towards the grandiose palace hand in hand, Kosem knew that she was walking the right path. Her memory of being chased by arrows as Hazeyn cradled her corpse burnt a deep scar in her soul. Kosem could not let go of her past life, not until she could make sure that Hazeyn will not die from treason or betrayal.

'You don't deserve to be chased out like that, my king.'