We were settled on the Ottoman boat. They separated Dmitry from us. He was at lower part of the boat, where the janissaries were, while Vika and I were at higher part.

Vika was still young and she was really afraid of everything that is happening now. Even though we didn't get along really well, she is my sister and I have to be with her and protect her.

- Aleks, why were you yelling on that man that you don't want to go to Sultan? What if he says your bad words to Sultan? You will be in problems then. - Vika said to me sadly.

- I don't care, he can do nothing to me. I don't want to go there and be someone's slave, Vika. I really don't want to do that. - I said to her as I couldn't stop walking around the boat from nervose.

- Sit down, Aleks. Walking around won't help you. - she said to me trying to comfort me as much as she could.

I continued to walk around the boat as I couldn't stop myself from being nervous.

- I can't, Vika. I will never forgive them that. They think this way we will have better life, but only thing they did is sold us for box of gold. What parent would do that? - I asked her as I was really disappointed in my father's act. I felt like if my mother was still alive nothing of this would happen.

- Aleks, maybe this is better opportunity to us than being married to someone in village. In Palace we won’t have to work in field, we will have more freedom there. - Vika continued to comfort me, but unsuccessfully.

- I wish it would be like that, but there we will lose all of our freedom. We will be slaves there. - I said to her as I was already afraid of what our future will look like, but I didn't want to scare her anymore.

- I am hungry, why they haven't gave us any food? Even though we were poor we had some food. I haven't eat since last night. - Vika said to me.

- I am going to find that Bey and ask him to give you some food, I don't need it, but I don't want to see you hungry. - I said to her and left the room.

I climbed up the stairs and went to the ship deck where I excepted to see that man. And I was right, he was there. He was standing at the edge of the ship alone.

I walked towards him trying to be calm this time because if I would have bad behaviour at him this time, he won't give my sister food.

He heard my footsteps so he turned around and looked at me. I have felt embarassed in front of him but I had to do it so I came closer to him.

- Bey, I am sorry I am interrupting you, but I want to ask you for something. - I said to him and gave him a slight smile so I could act nice towards him this time.

- Will you ask me to not send you to Sultan again, Aleksandra? - he asked me and smiled. I wondered how does he already know my name.

- I would ask for that, but this time it's something more important. I wanted to ask you if you have some food to give to my sister. She is hungry and I don't want her to become weak. - I told him.

- Of course. - he said and signalised to janissary man to send her food straight away.

- Thank you so much, Bey. - I said to him and smiled to show him I am really thankful for it.

- You aren't hungry? - he asked me. In reality I was, but I didn't need it. Vika was more important to me this time. I knew I could survive it, but she was weak already.

- I am not, thank you. - I said to him and smiled. He smiled at me and kept looking at me. I've felt embarassed because of the silence that was in this moment, and it was awkward because he was looking at me whole time.

- So, Bey, who are you? - I asked him from curiosity. I wanted for real to know who is that man.

- I am Murad, I am one of officiers of the army of Ottoman Empire. - he said to me and laughed at my question. I felt shy how is he looking at me for the whole time.

- Oh, I knew you were some officier, you are totally different than all those another men. - I said to him and came closer to the edge of boat.

When I knew he wasn't any high vizier or someone related to Sultan, I felt easier because I knew I could be calm in front of him.

- Have you ever seen the Sultan? - I asked him curiously. He only laughed at my question again.

- I did, but only once. And I hope I will never see him again. - Murad told me which made me confused.

- Why you hope you will never again? Is he really fat old man like they are talking? - I asked him as I was afraid who is Sultan in which harem I am going to.

- Even worser than that, Aleksandra. He is really old. He is so fat that they had to make new throne where he could sit. He is really evil. If he would hear you say something bad about him, he would punish you right that moment. - he said to me as he looked at me really seriously. I felt afraid of him at that moment.

- Murad, you won't tell anything to Sultan that I said to you? - I said to him and tried to look nice at him to at least make him silent about my words.

- I won't say it, but you should hope some of the janissaries won't say that. - he said to me and smiled.

I was really afraid at this moment because I didn't want to be punished by Sultan right when I arrive, and usually I was person who is not afraid of anyone and anything.

- Murad, I have a question for you. - I said to him as I turned around to look at him.

- Again, fine, I'm listening. - he said and smiled. His smile was so cute.

- Why do you have to sell us to the Palace? Isn't there any other place where you can sell us? For example to someone normal who is not that old? - I asked him curiously with a smile.

He stepped closer to me until he was standing right in front of me, where I could almost feel his breth on me, which made me feel pretty shy.

- I can buy you to be my wife, if that would make better option to you than to be sold in Harem? - he said to me as he lifted my chin to look at him in the eyes. I was so confused at this moment. I would say yes if I could, but I didnt want to be silly in front od man which I knew for few days.

I didn't answer on his question but rather I just looked away trying not to answer on it.

- I need your answer, Aleksandra. - he said and he smiled to me.

- I don't know what I should answer you on that. - I said to him and smiled.

- Would you rather be my wife or would you stay in Harem? - he came even closer to me so I could only see his eyes. He was so close to me that it seemed he would kiss me at this moment.

- I would do anything rather than going to harem. - I said to him and gave a smile, which he returned to me.