“So, you ready?” I ask Mehmed who was taking forever to arranged his robe. I swear, he's like 21st century girls. Taking forever to dress up.

“Yes. Wait a minute.” He kept on looking at the mirror arranging this perfectly arranged clothes.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Once a monkey, always a monkey. Now, come on let's go. You look fine.” I said as I tug on his sleeves and he turn around with a glare.

“Did you just call me monkey?” He narrow-eyed me and I just shot him my innocent smile.

“I'm the most handsome Şehzade and you just called me a monkey. You're not only crazy but blind too with a bad taste.” He said and I snort at him.

“Whatever floats your boat Mr so called handsome. Now, lets go. I can't wait to get out of there and have some fresh air.” I pulled him out with me while he rolled his eyes at me.

“Slow down crazy woman. You'll trip and fall down taking me with you.” He said releasing my grip on his sleeve.

“Attention. His Highness, Şehzade Mehmed is coming.” The door man shouted as we walk towards the Harem.

We walk past the Harem where girls were standing in a line inside the Harem looking at us. Someone of them glaring at me while the others were too engrossed looking at Mehmed like he was some kind of a candy.

“Şehzadem.” Someone from inside called and we stopped. A girl came running out, maybe of my age? Or a little older than me. She bowed her head while he stood there with a smile on his face.

“Gülfem.” Mehmed said as they both smile at each other. Aww how romantic. I feel like I'm the third wheel.

Gülfem Hatun. One of Mehmed's favourite concubine. She wasn't able to become a Sultana because she gave birth to a girl. And she was the one who betrayed Mehmed at the end.

“So, shall we go.” She said and Mehmed look at her in confusion.

“Where?” Mehmed asked.

“To Hümaşah Sultan's palace.” She replied while glancing at me.

Mehmed turn and look at me with a confused expression which I turned because I had no idea what on earth was going on right now. Who called her?

Her smile turn into a confused one. “What happen Şehzadem?” She asked Mehmed who had this I-don't-know-who-am-I looks on his face and it looks ridiculously funny that I almost burst out laughing.

A woman came towards us. She look the age as my grandmother except my grandmother was more beautiful than her.

She bowed her head before Mehmed. “Forgive me, Şehzadem. When you told Sumbul agha to arrange a carriage to go to Hümaşah Sultan's palace with a girl. I thought you mean Gülfem, so I told her to get ready.” She said without raising her head.

“Daye Hatun, how can you be so careless.” He said to her in a stern voice and I felt bad for her. “If I mean to go there with Gülfem, I could have told her myself.”

Everyone went silent and I swear, not even a fly flew by.

“Everyone go back to your own work.” Mehmed shouted before walking away and I ran after him holding my dress with one hand.

I caught up with him and tried my best to shut my mouth. But who am I kidding, I am Andria a.k.a the chatterbox.

“Those red roses look more brighter today.” I said looking at him. He stopped and turn towards me with raised eyebrow.

“Andria, there are no red roses out here. It's white.” He said and I stare at him with a blank face. To lighten the mood, I made a fool out of myself. Great.

He shoke his head and burst out laughing while I just stood there with a blank face.

“Are you done? If you're done, lets go. Sultana must be waiting for us.” I said and he grinned. I started walking away and he followed close behind.

One of the guard standing there open the carriage door for us and I went in first followed by Mehmed and Sumbul agha.

After a long twenty minutes of hell, we finally reached.

The palace was no where close to Sultan's palace but was very beautiful. A woman in her early thirties came towards us with a man closely followed which by no doubt was her husband.

“Sultana.” Mehmed said as he kissed her hand and I did the same.

“You must be Andria.” She said smiling at me and I nodded smiling at her.

“Yes, Sultanam.”

The book was right. She have an angel face with a warm welcoming smile and a kind heart by no doubt.

“This is my husband, Zülfikar Pasha.” She introduced her husband and I bend slightly.

“Nice you meet you, Pasha.” I said and be gave a small smile.

“You too, Hatun.” He said but no one corrected him so just mentally shrugged and leave it.

She lead us inside and I look around the palace in amaze. If Topkapi palace was magnificent then this palace was another level.

She lead us into a room and told us to sit saying that the food will be a little delayed.

“Thank you for saving his life, Andria. We can't thank you enough.” She said as she took my hand into her and I just smiled at her.

“You saved the life of a Şehzade. The Şehzade of Ottoman dynasty. Ask whatever you want to.” She said.

I shoke my head at her. “I'm sorry Sultanam but I can't. I didn't save him because he was a prince or for money or anything. Even if anyone was there in his palace I would have done the same.” I said and she nodded.

“So, where are you from Andria.” She asked and the maids started brining in the dishes, laying it on the table.

“I am from Rome, your highness.”

She nodded as she ushered us to start eating.

To be honest, the food was so good, like so so good that I almost didn't want to leave her palace and stay here with their cook for the rest of my life.

After the dinner, we had lokma with sharbat, turkish delights that we're too good that I had to control my moan everytime I had it.

I made up mind. I'll stay here forever if they're willing to feed me this forever.

“Do come and visit again.” Hümaşah Sultan said as they walked us out. She was really a kind woman with a warming smile.

“Have a safe journey.” She said as we climbed into the carriage. “And I would love to spend more time with you again, Andria.”

I smiled at her. “I would love to do that too, Sultanam.”

The carriage started and she waved at us. Mehmed and Hümaşah Sultan really have a strong bond. She love him like a son and he respected her like a mother. After all, she took on the role of their mother figure after their mother passed away.

Hümaşah Sultan was so kind and loving to me too like I was one of them. I never imagined a royal to be this kind and loving.

“What is that?” Mehmed asked pointing at my sleeves. I look down and saw that my white sleeve was now turning red.

I quickly lift my sleeve and saw that the bandage that was on my wrist was now soaked in my blood.

“I accidentally cut myself with a knife when I was in the rose garden with Hümaşah Sultan.” I said as my vision become blurry slowly slowly.

“Andria.” Mehmed call out worridly and I look up at him and gave him a small smile before everything turned black.