Five months went by in a blink of an eye.

I inhaled the cold air before rubbing my hands together. Gülnihal and I strolled around the garden, admiring the beauty of the garden that was covered in snow which made it more beautiful.

I cradle my bump protectively with my hands as we made our way towards Mehmed who was practicing sword and archery with the guards but stopped as soon as he saw me.

He grinned at me as he walked towards me and I smiled at him. He embraced me into a hug before kissing my forehead.

“Why did you call me here?” I asked him.

He winked at me. “You'll know soon.” Before turning back towards the guards. “Enough practice for today. You can go back.” He dismissed them and Gülnihal too before wrapping his arm around me as we walked.

“So. . .?”

“What?” He replied acting dumb and I shot him an unimpressed look making him smile at me sheepishly.

“Nothing. Just wait for some minute.” He said and I let out a sigh before nodding.

Mehmed has been really protective of me since the day one of my pregnancy. He is scared that something might happen to me, scared that they might do something to me like they did to his mother.

Unsurprisingly, his dear aunts did everything to get on my nerves. They called me witch who has caste a spell on their Şehzade. They turned half of the Harem against me but anyway who cares. As long as Mehmed is with me no one can do anything to me.

“Are you cold?” He asked as he rubbed his palm on my arms and I shook my head smiling at him.

“No.”

“Are you sure? Cause we are about to enter the coldest place in the palace.” He smirked and I cocked my eyebrows at him.

“Don't tell me we are going inside the place where meat are stored.” I said referring to the olden royal kitchen fridge and he shot me an amused look before shaking his head chuckling at me.

“No. We are going towards the lake.”

“The lake where we first met?” I asked and he nodded grinning at me.

“Yes. The lake where we first met and you punched me on our first meeting.” He ended with a laughed and I huffed in annoyance and embarrassment.

“That was because you got on my nerves.”

He shook his head with a silly smile on his face making me scowl at him.

“So you mean you'll punch the Sultan too if he gets on your nerve?” He asked and I scoffed.

“Of course not. He is kind and smart enought to not get on a women's nerve.” I shot him a sassy smile.

“Oh yeah? So you mean even if I become a Sultan you will still punch me if I get on your nerves?”

“Yes.” I replied stretching the ‘s’ long.

He laughed at me. “You are something else darling.”

“But you still love me.”

He smiled before peaking my forehead. “Of course, my love.”

The lake was frozen and look freaking beautiful but that wasn't what caught my eyes. The two beautiful horse tied to the trees caught my eyes.

“Do you like it?” Mehmed asked me as we walked closer.

I turn my gaze towards him. “Like? I love it. Its beautiful.”

“Its for you. These two are lovers like us.” He said.

“You sound cliché.” I hit his chest playfully before peaking his cheeks. “But I still loved it. Thank you for your gift.” I said before pulling myself away from Mehmed and walking towards the horses.

The one was a black beauty and the other one was white with some black brown spots making it unique. The black was male and the white one was female.

“Do I get to name both?” I turn back to find him standing some feet away from me. He nodded as he started walking up behind me.

“Of course, my love. Just don't give them weird and unpronounceable names.” He chuckled and I glared at him before sticking my tongue out at him.

I rubbed the sides of both the horses smiling at the two beauties. “Dusk and Cora.” I whispered.

Mehmed came up behind me, with his chest pressed up against my back before wrapping his arms around me and I melt in into his touch.

“Dusk like the beautiful dusky night of Istanbul and Cora. . .?” Mehmed asked.

“Cora means a girl or a maiden in Greek.” I said and he burst out laughing.

“Did you just name female horse a maiden?” He asked as his laughed his ass off and I huffed in annoyance.

“Hahaha.” I imitate him before ushering the guards standing a little far to take the horses away before walking off without waiting for Mehmed.

“Halime. Wait.” He called out as he ran after me with a stupid grin on his face. He caught up with me before wrapping his arms around me but I ignored him.

“I was just teasing you my love. The names are cute. Just like you.” He kissed my cheeks and I gave in.

“You are forgiven.” I said dramatically and we both burst out laughing. He had some work to attend so he went away while I walked in inside the Harem and the door man announced my presence. The whole Harem lined up in a line and went silent.

I walk pass them just to be stopped by someone's annoying sneer. I turn back to see Şah Sultan sitting there with Hafsa Sultan with an ugly sneer on their ugly face.

“Sultanam.” I acknowledged their presence but didn't bowed to them.

“Who allowed you to enter the Harem you witch.” Şah Sultan spat and I scowled at her.

“Pardon me Sultanam, I didn't get you.” I said and they both stood up before walking towards me.

“Who allowed you to enter the Harem?” Şah Sultan asked again but this time more louder.

“On the first place, who stopped me from entering?” I fired back earning some gasps from the concubines. Yeah Sultana's can be savage too.

“You witch, you dare to question. Who do you think of yourself. You are just a slave who has bewitched our Şehzade.” She yelled at me while I just gave her a bored look.

“We all know who is the real witch here.” I shot back eyeing both the witches with an annoying smirk. “And. . . . I'm tired of telling you people, I'm no slave. I was never and will never be a slave.”

“Look at the arrogance of this woman. You are a slave Halime. You are nothing infront of us. You are just equal to the dust we the real Sultana's of the dynasty step on.” Şah Sultan replied and Hafsa Sultan nodded in agreement.

“You are nothing to us Halime.” Hafsa Sultan added.

“And from today, you are not allowed to enter the Harem.” Şah Sultan declared and some girls let out a mocking laugh but instantly shut up when I turn to look at them.

“It's up to Hümaşah Sultan whether I can enter the Harem or not.” I gritted out with a fake smile and she let out a mocking laugh.

“Who is Hümaşah to stop Şah Sultan.” Hafsa added making Şah Sultan smirked.

“I'm the sister of the Sultan. No one can stop me. And you a slave, dare to talk back to me?” Şah Sultan said before raising her hand at me just to be stopped by Hümaşah Sultan.

She glared at Şah Sultan before swatting her hands off glaring at her.

“You want to know Hümaşah is and what she is capable of right?” Hümaşah asked with a crazy laugh making all of us shock.

She suddenly raised her hand and slapped Hafsa Sultan taking us all off guard. Women can be crazy when they are angry.

“I decide who enters or stays in the Harem not you.” She yelled at both of them. “You might be the Sultan's sister but I'm the Sultan's daughter. I'm the first born to Sultan Mustafa and Haseki Handan Sultan. Disrespect me again and you'll face the consequence, aunt or not.”

“Come on, Halime. Lets go.” She said and I beamed at her before nodding and following her out not before shifting those witches a smirk.

It feels great to have someone who have your back.

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