Fields, meadows, rivers, lakes. These were the scenes I had been watching from the window of my carriage for three days. One of the saddest, but also the happiest trips. Until that day, I was in Edirne in the palace of my paternal aunt, Gevherhan Sultan. Sultana was already older and enjoyed company, but she avoided Topkapi Palace precisely because of all the scenes and dramas that happened every day. Over time, harem intrigues, quarrels and hostilities began to bother people.

It was my paternal aunt Gevherhan Sultan who was my favorite family member, because she was the one who introduced my mother Handan Sultan to my father Sultan Mehmed. She is the reason for the existence of me and my younger brother Ahmed.

I was born seventeen years ago in Istanbul as their first child together precisely because of her and getting to know her. The father already had a son Prince Mahmud with Halime Sultan. She never loved my mother Halime Sultan, because my father loved my mother very much, and grandmother Safiye Sultan sided with her mother because of Halime's great ambition and desire for power.

Three years later, my brother, Ahmed, was born. My mother's only son. Since birth, my brother and I were close, precisely because we only had each other and we loved each other the most, and my mother always tried to ensure that we never lacked attention and love. A few years later, Halime Sultan became my father's favorite wife again, and then she gave birth to my sister Dilruba, and a few years later to Prince Mustafa, who was the youngest child.

I will always remember the scene when my grandfather Sultan Murad passed away. Then my father had twenty of his brothers, some of whom were just babies, killed. The scene of 20 tiny coffins hit me in the heart, but not only me, but also my brothers Mahmud and Ahmed, who knew that one day they too would end up in that situation. I didn't want that to happen, I didn't want to be without one of my brothers. Even though they weren't from the same mother, I loved both Mahmud and Mustafa as much as Ahmed and I wouldn't give a damn about either of them.

We all lived in harmony as a family, but everything changed one fateful day six months ago. Safiye Sultan's grandmother intercepted a letter from a psychic saying that Sultan Mehmed would die within 6 months, and the letter was intended for Halime Sultan. Safiye understood this as Halime's move and an attempt to place her brother Mahmud on the throne, and by manipulating my father she managed to reach her goal - the execution of my brother Mahmud. That day the whole palace was shrouded in black. Everyone cried, poor Mahmud died even though he did nothing, he was not guilty of anything, the only thing that was fatal was his mother's desire for power.

And exactly six months later I travel from Edirne back to Istanbul to inform about my father's death. Exactly six months passed, and the father died of an unnamed and unknown disease very soon. In the letter, my mother wrote that Ahmed sat on the throne, which was happy news, but at this moment I could not be so happy. I was left without a father, and what I was afraid of was the life of my little brother Mustafa, who was not even five years old.

Ahmed inherited the throne very young, he is not even fifteen years old, he has no descendants, he does not even have his own harem yet. In my mother's words, I understood the seriousness of the situation and, together with my father's aunt Gevherhan, I came to the conclusion that the dynasty is in danger of extinction.

"Valide, Ahmed," I bowed to my most loved ones after I entered Topkapi palace where I was born. I couldn't hide the smile I had of proud because of seeing my brother as Sultan.

I kissed first my brother's hand and then my mother's hand but I couldn't not to help myself but I ran into a hug of Ahmed. Some weird emotion of proudness of my younger brother I felt.

"I am so sad I couldn't have been on ceremony of your crowing Ahmed, but I wish you all the luck and may the whole world see you as the best Sultan ever," he barely would let me from hug as we haven't seen each other in few months how much I was with my aunt Gevherhan.

"I am sad Gevherhan Sultan didn't come with you, but I am happy you are here by my side now and your presence gives me support," Ahmed said.

"Now we are finally together here as a family and we must give our all to make good decision now," Valide said and Ahmed already felt nervous what I could see in his eyes.

I knew mother wanted to talk about Mustafa's execution which should happened already when Ahmed ascended the throne, but Mustafa was still young boy and I couldn't even imagine Ahmed doing this.

"Valide, only few days passed since Ahmed has ascended the throne. Let's leave those topics now," I said trying to make Ahmed feel more comfortable now.

I knew it wasn't easy for him since he is the youngest Sultan to ever inherit the throne. Our father was much older than him when he became Sultan and he spent some time in Sanjak and he knew how to rule the State, but father died so unexpected that Ahmed had no time to prepare.

"Let's go and talk in my chambers," Valide said and both Ahmed and I went with her.

I stopped at Valide Sultan's chambers and wanted to come in, but my mother just looked at me with a confused look which confused me even more.

"Why do you want to enter there?" She asked me and I had no idea why she would question me those things.

"Because you are Valide Sultan those are your chambers," I said and saw bitter smile on mother's face as she looked at another side.

"Safiye Sultan is in those chambers," Valide said and started walking away and Ahmed and I continued to follow her.

"Why is she still here when she is not Valide Sultan anymore?" I asked and just heard Valide's sigh.

I knew grandmother Safiye was influential and powerful woman, but it was her time to retire since she is no more Valide Sultan. And when Valide Sultan's son would die, she should go in Old Palace or some of her mansions to spend her life there, not to continue to live in Harem.

"Those are also things we need to talk about, Safiye Sultan denies to go away from Palace," Ahmed said.