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𝐀 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝐀𝐲𝐬𝐮𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
The afternoon sun streamed softly through the windows of my chamber, casting golden patterns across the floor where Osman was lying
with a book. He was only five but already could read. His dark lashes fluttered as he mouthed the words silently, his brow furrowed in concentration. I smiled faintly.  Nearby, my newborn twins, Hasan and Adilşah, slept side by side in their cradles.

Two months ago, they entered this world, bringing light after so much darkness. They healed something broken in me, though not completely. I shifted my gaze to the window, letting my eyes rest on the soft sway of the cypress trees beyond the garden. Peace had returned, at least on the surface.

A knock startled me from my thoughts. Before I could respond, the door creaked open.

And there she was.
Hürrem.

She was draped in soft green silks, her hair braided intricately. At her side were her youngest boys, Selim and Bayezid, who immediately went toward Osman.

I raised an eyebrow slightly. "I wasn't expecting you."

Hürrem gave a polite, almost awkward smile. "The boys missed their siblings. I thought they could play a little."

I nodded slowly. "Of course." I knew there was more behind her visit than she was saying. Still, I nodded and called for Fidan, who came quickly and took the boys to the nursery.

Silence settled like fog once the door closed.

"They're beautiful," Hürrem said after a moment, her eyes flickering toward the twins.

I smiled faintly before speaking "I know you didn't come here just for the children."

She took a deep breath before speaking "We need to talk, alone" she added looking at Yasmin.

I gestured for her to leave us which she did.

She looked out the window, then back at me. "Suleiman, he leaves the palace often lately. And I thought it was about state matters. But it's not."

"I found out where he goes," she whispered. "the hunting lodge."

I tilted my head slightly, intrigued by her words.

She continued. "I don't believe he's going there alone. But no one wants to tell me anything I tried many ways but couldn't get the truth."

"And you want my help, don't you?" I asked

She turned to me then, eyes sharp with frustration. "Yes, because something is being hidden from us and this is something important since no one says a word." she continued "I even tried asking him but he brushed me off. What if there's a woman?"

I stood up unsettled by her assumption and walked to the window, "And where is he now?"

She stepped closer. "At some government meeting."

"I'll go there," I said after a moment, I was there once and knew how to get there, after what she said I couldn't be calm unless I saw what was going on myself.

Hürrem blinked. "Now?"

"Yes, and you'll make sure no one notices my absence."

She nodded in agreement. I crossed the room, already loosening the sleeves of my outer kaftan, preparing to change into something dark. Hürrem moved to help me, for once our rivalry was forgotten in the face of something bigger.

"This is dangerous," she said under her breath. "But, thank you."

I gave her a hard look. "I'm not doing this for you. I also want to know what he's hiding."