chapter two

                                    

                                          
It had been a week since I arrived in the Ottoman Empire. The initial shock of waking up in a world I'd only studied—or rather, obsessed over—was beginning to fade. But the uncertainty remained.
Every moment, I reminded myself to keep my head low, obey orders, and blend in. If I could stay unnoticed, I might just survive long enough to figure out how I got here—and how to get back.
Life in the harem was not the glittering paradise of intrigue and luxury I had imagined. At least, not for someone at the bottom of the hierarchy. My days were filled with chores, lessons, and trying to avoid the other girls' glares. For all the beauty of the surroundings, it was a world of whispers and survival, not the romance I had dreamed of.
The only person I felt I could talk to was Alexandra.
She had arrived three days after me, wide-eyed and clearly terrified. I had been terrified, too, but unlike her, I had studied this world. I knew its rules, its secrets. Or at least, I thought I did.
"Why are they so mean?" she whispered one night, after a particularly harsh scolding from one of the older girls.
"Because they can be," I replied quietly, glancing around to make sure no one overheard. "It's like a game. They're testing you, seeing if you'll crack."
Alexandra looked at me with watery eyes. "What should I do?"
"Don't crack," I said simply.
That became the foundation of our friendship. She was sweet, timid, and completely out of her depth. I couldn't say I wasn't, too, but at least I had knowledge to fall back on. Every night, I repeated to myself what I remembered about the Ottoman harem system, trying to piece together where and when I might be.
The biggest clue, I thought, would come from Sultan Hasan's children. If I could figure out which ones had been born, I might be able to pinpoint the year. But so far, I hadn't heard anything concrete about the sultan, his consorts, or his heirs.
That changed when the rumours started about Şah Hamınsultan.
"She's coming tomorrow," one of the older girls whispered during breakfast. "To inspect the harem."
"Who's Şah Hamınsultan?" Alexandra asked me quietly.
"The sultan's niece," I murmured back. "His favourite. She's supposed to be sharp and ambitious, like a princess out of a fairy tale."
Alexandra frowned. "Why would she visit us?"
"To remind us she can," I guessed.
That night, I hardly slept. I ran through everything I knew about Şah Hamınsultan, piecing together fragments of history. She was the daughter of one of Hasan's sisters, Hafsa Sultan. The records about her were sparse, but one thing was clear: she thrived in this world of power and luxury. She was everything the rest of us weren't—confident, untouchable, and above all, noticed.
The next morning, the courtyard buzzed with tension as we waited for her arrival. I stood in line with the other girls, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.
When Şah Hamınsultan finally appeared, it was like the world shifted. She was dressed in crimson and gold, her presence radiating authority. Her dark eyes swept over the gathered girls, her lips curving into a faint smile as if she found the whole scene amusing.
As her gaze passed over me, I thought for a moment that I'd escaped her notice. But then she stopped and turned back, her eyes locking onto mine.
"You," she said, her voice soft but commanding. "Step forward."
I hesitated, my heart hammering. But there was no escaping her scrutiny now. I stepped forward, bowing my head.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Daphne, Sultanım," I replied, my voice steady despite my nerves.
She tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "An unusual name. Where are you from?"
"Far away, Sultanım," I said carefully.
Her lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "Far away. I see. Tell me, Daphne—are you clever?"
I met her gaze for a brief moment, then lowered my eyes again. "I try to be, Sultanım."
Şah studied me for a long moment, then turned to one of her attendants. "Keep an eye on this one. She might be interesting."
As she moved on, I let out a slow breath, my heart still pounding.
"You got noticed," Alexandra whispered later, as we returned to our chores. Her tone was a mix of awe and worry. "Is that... a good thing?"
"I don't know yet," I admitted. But deep down, I had a feeling this was the beginning of something. What, exactly, I couldn't say. But whatever it was, it wouldn't be boring.



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Thank you so much for your support guys <33
"Magic", just like my other story, will be updated every other day!