"Valide, I wish to make very important decision very soon," Murad said as we were having dinner together me and him alone because we had to talk a lot about state job. He was 17 years old but he was very intelligent for his age.

"What is it about my lion?" I asked him hoping nothing bad would come to his mind as a mother I was always afraid of that.

"Venetians are against us, they sabotage our merchant ships and don't allow them to pass. They started making troubles here in Istanbul and they don't listen to me, so I think I will have to go in a battle for them to finally realise who is Sultan Murad Khan and that they can't behave like this," Murad said and in one hand I was proud on him for being so brave but at another hand as his mother I didn't want him to go to the war because he was still young and he didn't rule for more than few months and I didn't want anything bad to happen.

"I am proud on you my son how brave you are, but I think we can make sure those things end without a war," I said trying to make sure I would take this into my hands as I was born as Venetian and I could very easily handle this if they would agree to listen to me.

"Valide I am not so young, my late father Sultan Ahmed Khan already had Osman and Mehmed at my age and he went to the battles, so can I," Murad said and thought this was only reason of my fears but he was my greatest fear as the military wasn't in very well situation now and I didn't know how loyal they are still to him after everything that happened with Osman.

"Murad, my brave lion. Allow me to try it by the diplomatic way. I was born venetian, I can try to do something. If that won't be enough, then you should start a war. Never start it before you try to make peace by diplomatic ways," I said as I patted his shoulder but he seemed kinda nervous about my words.

"Valide, I think I know the best what I am doing. I know you only want to help me, but I should decide what I wish to do and only by this way I will know if anything good or bad will happen and am I a good leader," he said and I understood what he wished but right now the State wasn't in a condition where it could go in a war without being sure it will win for hundred percent.

"I am afraid for you as a mother, I never wish to involve into your politics and the way you rule my brave lion. I just want to help you because after the latest things that happened I am not sure if the state treasury has enough money for such a big thing like a campaign especially after Venice which is so hard to win because you must have boats to go there," I said trying to make him trust me, because I knew what I was talking about.

"There is no place that Ottomans can't conquer, Valide, remember that," Murad said to me and it was very easily seen in his eyes he wish to conquer so many things like his ancestors did.

"I lived in Venice for the first fifteen years of my life. You think Venice was without a reason built in the lagoon with many canals? It was built that way so the enemies couldn't reach us and it made Venice unable to being conquered by any of another powers, because you can't enter there with so many big ships and fight when the whole city is like a labyrinth where your soldiers would only lose and you would get nothing from that war," I said.

He didn't answer me anything and my son was this way for the first time now. Of course as a young man and as a Sultan of the whole world he had a wish to be famous and magnificent like his ancestors, but beside wars he had to learn about finances and strategies and all the other things that were necessary which I always learned together with Ahmed.

"I will do it your way this time Valide. But only because I know you know Venice better than I do and if you say it will be that hard, I will believe you and give you responsibility to do it diplomatic way. But if you won't be able to make peace that way, I will go on the campaign immediately," he said and made smile on my face because he has chosen the best possible option.

"I am glad you trust me. I will give my everything. But beside that, you know you will have to calm down the people here because sipahis are rioting every often and after Osman's death they think they can themselves change the leaders the way they want. You must make peace with them and make them listen to you," I said changing the topic about very important thing which scared me even more than war because sipahis weren't loyal even to some of my viziers but to someone we had no idea with and it was like fighting against the enemy we don't know.

"Kemankes and I were discussing about this topic. He has the same opinion as you do, but I will think more about it. I can't make peace with everyone because they should be the one afraid of me, not me being afraid of them," he said.

"Sultanim, we have very happy news for you," Kalika said as I returned from harem after having a dinner with Murad. It was already late at the night and usually I would worry but Kalika had a huge smile on her face.

"I hope it is something good," I said.

"Our Sultan's favourite Ayse Hatun is pregnant," she said and I was so happy my lion will finally get a child because he really should have a son and heir to the throne and his own children no matter what and this meant I would become a grandmother.

"Thank you God! Kalika please prepare chambers for Ayse I want her to feel good now since she is pregnant and she should stay away from Harem dramas as I don't want her to stress over any stupidities," I said as I wanted to go and visit Ayse, but Kalika stood there and it seemed she has something to say to me more.

"And Sultanim, there is one more thing but I do not know how to tell you that," she said and seemed really nervous this time.

"Don't you tell me something that will destroy my joy after finding out I will have a grandchild," I said as we continued walking together towards the Harem.

"I don't think I should stay silent on this, the concubine Maria which you gave to Sehzade Bayezid, she wants to talk to you and she said that is really important, she was waiting for you so long so I guess it's really important," Kalika said and I saw she is worried about this and then I knew I should be worried too because I trusted her so much.

Instead of visiting Ayse I first headed to my chambers where Maria Hatun awaited for me. I only hoped nothing bad happened to Bayezid or her as I said to her million times she has to make sure she drinks pills as Bayezid can't have children while he is still a prince.

"Sultanim, I am so sorry for coming here late at night and interrupting you, but you must know about this because if Sultan finds out he will be really angry on Sehzade Bayezid," she said kinda angrily and I wondered what has Bayezid done when she behaves like this

I thought she would catch his heart bit more, but I saw he didn't really since he called her only once a week and other times he rather went outside so I thought maybe I choosed the wrong concubine, but since she informs me about everything what Bayezid wouldn't have told me I knew I didn't chose the wrong one, but just the loyal one.

"What is it?" I asked.

"He is going out every day almost. I was very afraid where he is going, and when he returned I heard him talking with one agha. He explained how he again visited the woman he loves," she said and at that moment I couldn't believe what I have heard.

"I decided to risk everything, because I love prince. Together with Yusuf Agha, I followed him outside and we saw him in a bar where he was with one of the greek women. He kissed her in the middle of the streets, he loves her," Maria continued as she started crying and I couldn't believe how she did this.

"Kalika, call Bayezid immediately!"