Chapter 5

When they arrived at the bathroom, Miss Farha instructed the girls to assist Aylin and Leanora with getting ready. "Girls, make sure they look good and clean!" she ordered.

Aylin and Leanora were greeted by the sight of numerous other girls already submerged in the warm, aromatic water as they entered the bathroom.

The women felt a sense of togetherness as the room was filled with light conversation and laughter. Their mentor and guide, Miss Farha, gave the girls instructions to help Aylin and Leanora get ready for their new duties.

To make sure Aylin and Leanora looked their best for their presentation to the sultan's harem, the girls got to work. With everything going on, Aylin felt nauseous and wanted to leave this place if she could.

She cried in silence but no one asked her what she was crying over as if the other girls understood. Miss Farha gave them the clothes to wear after the bath. Their anxiety started to begin as Aylin and Leanora slipped into the sophisticated gowns.

Aylin was not even keen to leave a positive impression but the other girls, they were aware that how they looked would play a significant role in their presentation to the sultan's harem.

The room was large because there were many girls living in the harem and they were all dressed in lovely robes.

Miss Farha then showed them which bed they would be using. Since there were many girls residing in the harem and they were all dressed in lovely robes, the room was quite large.

As Miss Farha pointed to the bed she shares with Leanora and another girl she mentioned named Hafsa, Aylin took a look around.

Miss Farha also introduced the girls to other girls, who all greeted them.

Miss Farha grabbed Aylin's arm firmly after she failed to respond to their greetings, causing the girl to whimper in pain, and yelled, "Girl, look at me and listen carefully. If you behave like this, I will be forced to teach you some lessons, and trust me, you won't like them!!"She shoved her back after making her threat, causing her to step back. As

Miss Farha left the room, Aylin noticed that some of the other girls were making fun of her and others were feeling sorry for her.

She sat on the bed while oblivious to them. "Everything will be fine; we just need to get used to this new way of life. I hope we can become friends Aylin." Leanora approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Aylin sadly grinned , her tear-filled eyes. "Yes, you are correct, and we are friends for sure." Aylin responded.

Sultan Yakub was watching several harem females dance in his personal entertainment space at night. The girls had graceful slow dance moves and were moving in time to the music being played in the background by some elderly women.

Yakub was enthralled as he watched the dancers, and his eyes were riveted on one of the girls who had brown, medium-length hair and was decked out in a dark blue, long, tight dress that revealed every curve of her body.

Instructing Bashir, who was standing by the door, to bring the entrancing dancer to his chambers, Yakub then left the area and went inside his chamber. The girls stopped their dance and looked at their sultan departing. Bashir quickly obeyed and escorted the girl to Sultan Yakub's private quarters.

As she entered the room and bowed to him and Yakub asked to rise, her eyes met Yakub's intense gaze, and a sense of anticipation filled the air. The Sultan couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty and grace, as she stood there not knowing what to do. So he asked her to come closer to him.

The atmosphere in the room became charged with desire, and Yakub knew that this encounter would be a night to remember when she shyly approached him to his bed.

She hesitantly went into the Sultan's bed, her eyes filled with a mixture of apprehension and excitement.

The Sultan's pulse pounded with desire. Her beautiful features were highlighted by the warm glow of the candles, which mesmerized everyone in the space. A magnetic pull appeared to encircle them as their bodies drew nearer, sparking a passionate blaze that neither could withstand. Yakub drew her nearer to him and kissed her on the lips.

Their passionate kiss sent chills down their spines. Time seemed to stand still as they explored each other's desires, their bodies intertwining in a dance of ecstasy. The Sultan's heart pounded with a newfound intensity, her fears melting away in the heat of their connection.

The night went on with the flames of desire that had be to be satisfied by the girl who he didn't even ask the name.

Aylin thought of her own family, her grandparents, as she sat melancholy near the small wooden dining table that was laden with opulent food but she chose not to eat any of it "Did they consume any food? Most likely did not; they must be quite concerned about me."

When she noticed Aylin wasn't eating, Leanora, who was seated next to her, gently prodded her with her elbow. "Eat Aylin, nothing will be alright if you don't eat", she said as she emerged from her thoughts. Energy is a need if you want to battle and live."

Aylin was reminded by Leanora of the value of sustenance during difficult times by her comments. She realized that although she had been preoccupied with her thoughts and concerns, she had neglected her own health.

Aylin took up a slice of bread and started to relish each mouthful with the meat, knowing that taking care of herself was essential for her resilience and her capacity to conquer any difficulties that were ahead.

While she was eating, she overheard some girls across from them chatting about a girl of the harem spending the night with the sultan.

Aylin didn't pay attention to this, but she noticed Leanora listening to their conversation. "That Witch Helin, captured the sultan's heart just with some dance," one girl said, and the other laughed. "Annnd, already warming our sultan's bed, now we got to learn some seductive dance moves."

Aylin noticed Leanora's interest in the rumors and couldn't help but feel a mixture of curiosity and worry.

She was aware that participating in such rumors could only result in difficulty, but she also recognized the fascination of secret information.

Aylin reminded herself that attending to her own needs was much more crucial than engaging in pointless chitchat.

Leanora, who she quietly prayed would also understand, made her question if she also want the Sultan's attention. but she concentrated on her food.