Chapter 12

One of his trusted subjects, bowing respectfully, approached the sultan. "My Sultan, there is urgent news." Yakub gestured for him to speak, and the subject continued, "I overheard Concubine Leila and her son Shehzad Habil conspiring with Abdul Pasha. They plan to poison your tea, a slow-acting poison that will gradually take its toll on your body."

Yakub's piercing gaze hardened at the revelation. His face, a canvas of conflicting emotions, portrayed a mix of disbelief and fury. The archery field, once a symbol of triumph, now transformed into a stage for a clandestine plot.

In the aftermath of the archery spectacle, Sultan Yakub, retreated to the magnificent halls of the palace, adorned with intricate tiles and opulent tapestries. His mind, a tempest of conflicting emotions, sought solace in the familiarity of the grandeur that surrounded him.

Grand viziers and advisors gathered around Yakub, their expressions mirroring the gravity of the revelation. The sultan, now seated on a majestic throne, contemplated the gravity of the betrayal. His eyes, once filled with determination on the archery field, now harbored a storm of intensity.

"Bu ihanet, hainlikte bile sınırları aştı." (This betrayal has surpassed even the limits of treachery), Yakub declared, his voice echoing through the regal hall. The courtiers exchanged glances, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

Yakub commanding ordered the royal spy to tell him each and every detail of their conspiracy.

The royal spy then told Yakub everything he saw in details.

Flash black 

In a dimly lit corridor, where the conspirators—Concubine Leila, Shehzad Habil, and the duplicitous Abdul Pasha—huddled in secrecy. Shadows played on their faces as they whispered plans of deceit and treachery. The tension in the air mirrored the clandestine conversations.

Leila, draped in rich fabrics, her eyes gleaming with ambition, schemed with a calculated ruthlessness. "We must ensure the sultan's demise is slow and agonizing," she urged, her words a testament to the depths of her malevolence.

Back in the grand hall, the loyal subject who had uncovered the conspiracy, played the role of a silent observer in the shadows.

The dramatic tension heightened as the news of the plot unfolded. The slow, deliberate camera movements and evocative musical score intensified the atmosphere, creating a sense of impending doom.

Yakub, rose from his throne, his every step echoing authority. The courtiers, now silent witnesses to the unfolding drama, awaited the sultan's decree. With a stern gaze, Yakub declared, "Adalet, en güçlü tahttır." (Justice is the strongest throne).

Just as the tension reached its peak, a commotion erupted outside the chamber. The door burst open, revealing a group of palace guards, their expressions grave and determined.

Aylin's heart raced as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes. Just as the tension reached its peak, a commotion erupted outside the chamber. The door burst open, revealing a group of palace maids, their expressions mischievious and happy.

Aylin's heart raced as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes. One of the them stepped forward, his voice resonating with authority. "Concubine Aylin, you are summoned to the presence of Sultan Yakub. Please hurry up we need to dress you up." Aylin's pulse quickened at the mention of the sultan's name.

With a sense of apprehension and anticipation, she rose from the bath, the water cascading in shimmering rivulets down her slender frame.

As she draped herself in a silken robe, Aylin couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped her. She was not ready.

The other harem ladies were fuming in jealousy and rage. Since Aylin was still very new to the harem compared to them, then why the sultan hasn't called them yet. 

They all gave her a nasty angry look which Aylin eient bother to care about. Her maid Hana followed her behind to the chamber of Aylin. 

As Aylin emerged from the bathing chamber, her senses heightened by the anticipation of meeting Sultan Yakub, she was met by a flurry of activity orchestrated by the palace maids.

Miss Farha, the trusted caretaker of the harem girls, bustled about with purpose, overseeing Aylin's preparation for her audience with the sultan.

The chamber was adorned with luxurious fabrics and ornate furnishings, reflecting the opulence of the Ottoman court. Delicate perfumes lingered in the air, adding to the sense of elegance and refinement.

Miss Farha, directed the maids with precision as they attended to Aylin.

With gentle hands, they dressed her in a gown of flowing silk, the color of midnight adorned with intricate embroidery that shimmered in the soft light of the chamber.

As Miss Farha delicately arranged Aylin's gown along with the other maids, the young concubine's mind was filled with a whirlwind of emotions.

She couldn't shake the sense of unease that gnawed at her heart, knowing that soon she would be summoned to the sultan's chambers.

"Miss Aylin, you mustn't fidget," Miss Farha chided gently, her voice a soothing melody amidst the flurry of activity. "You must look your best for the sultan."

Aylin's dress, reminiscent of the starlit sky, hugged her curves with a grace befitting a concubine of the sultan. The neckline was adorned with delicate lace, framing her collarbones and accentuating her ethereal beauty.

Aylin forced a small smile, though her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. "I know, Miss Farha," she replied softly, her voice tinged with melancholy. "But I can't help feeling nervous."

Miss Farha's expression softened with understanding as she continued to fasten the intricate clasps of Aylin's gown. "It's only natural, my dear. But you must remember your duty as a concubine of the sultan. Your beauty and grace are gifts to be shared with him."

Aylin's gaze drifted to the window, her thoughts consumed by memories of her family and the life she had left behind. "I miss them," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustle of fabric.

In her hair, the maids carefully placed jeweled pins, each sparkling with the brilliance of precious stones. A veil of sheer silk draped over her head, adding an air of mystery to her ensemble.

As the final touches were made to Aylin's ensemble, she couldn't shake the sense of sadness that weighed heavy on her heart.

The prospect of giving herself to an older sultan, a man she had never met, filled her with a deep sense of apprehension and longing for the life she had left behind.

With a heavy sigh, Aylin prepared herself to face the unknown.