변화의 바람(3)

In a short span, much happened in the capital.

Selim, who had taken over the capital, couldn’t last a month, and those who had stood by him faced a brutal judgment.

If losing their positions was all that happened, they’d count themselves lucky; the Janissary commander, who had been a great help to Selim, was tossed to the dogs.

The vacant positions were quickly filled by others, and ordinary subjects could feel the hustle and bustle of the capital all around.

Even the one place that had been untouched by this tide, the Harem, was now facing the time for change.

“Oh, what do I do?! That woman has returned!”

A disheveled woman anxiously bit her nails.

“Ahsiye Hatun, it’s too late for worrying now.”

“Daiye Kalfa! Do you think you’ll be safe?!”

Kalfa was a title equivalent to a senior court lady, and Daiye, seemingly resigned to Ahsiye’s censure, answered.

“Allah must be punishing us for our past.”

“So we should just sit tight?! That woman is definitely going to kill me!”

The fierce green eyes that had never succumbed to any threat were clear in her mind.

Who would think that she would return as Valide Hatun? This was a nightmare among nightmares.

“I must go to Eski Saray now.”

Though she had stubbornly rejected returning to the old palace, where withered flowers would rot away, that was now her last lifeline.

In that place, she might escape Valide Hatun’s gaze.

But sadly, this escape was also impossible.

“It has already been three months since the Padishah restricted the movement of everyone in the Harem. Are you planning to defy the order?”

This command was clearly a means to give her mother a chance to settle past grievances, yet there seemed to be no way to escape this trap.

As she hesitated and wasted time, a serious voice echoed throughout the Harem.

-Valide Hatun is expected to arrive!

It was the voice of the chief eunuch, Haji Nedhar Ah, and with the sound of doors opening, the women began to bustle about.

With the top-ranking woman in the Harem about to arrive, there was no way they could stay holed up in their rooms, and the two women moved outside.

The scent of women vying for the Sultan’s favor wafted in the air as the women from over 400 rooms arranged themselves to welcome Valide Hatun.

Just as Ahsiye managed to slip into the crowd, the thick door of the Harem opened gently.

As Fatima entered the space reserved for women and removed her hijab, all those gathered paid their respects.

-We greet Valide Hatun!

The women, trained in court etiquette to serve the Sultan, offered their respects without a hitch, and Fatima walked among the lowly bowed figures.

As she walked slowly, as if imprinting the place as her territory, Fatima stopped and pointed to a woman.

“You, stand up.”

“Yes, yes!”

The woman, hurriedly standing, had her chin lifted by Fatima’s thumb as she inspected her face.

Fatima swept her hand over the woman’s body.

Making her way from the chest to the hips, Fatima asked.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Nigyar.”

“Quite usable, I’ll remember you.”

“T-thank you!”

Fatima’s words elicited mixed gasps of admiration and disappointment from various corners.

If the Sultan personally came to the Harem and called for a woman without choosing, the chances were high that the woman caught in Fatima’s eyes would be selected.

The ecstatic woman bowed deeply, and Fatima moved on again.

When the women were eagerly anticipating to be the chosen ones, Fatima pointed to another.

“Stand up.”

When the woman hesitated at Fatima’s command, the black eunuchs guarding Valide Hatun glared ferociously.

Unable to withstand the piercing gazes, the woman stood, and Fatima smirked.

“Ahsiye Hatun, long time no see. Isn’t that so?”

“That, that’s right. Valide Hatun.”

Fatima approached, stroking the shaking Ahsiye’s cheek gently.

“Ten years ago, you boasted a fine complexion. How has it gotten so rough? It’s a pity. How does my skin look?”

“…You still look beautiful.”

It wasn’t just flattery; despite being in her forties, she hadn’t lost her beauty.

Fatima smiled faintly.

“Is that so? Thank goodness.”

In response to Fatima, Ahsiye was briefly relieved, but it was too soon to judge.

Fatima grabbed Ahsiye by the neck and pulled her close, whispering in her ear.

“When the Padishah was in my womb, I still feel the sting of the slap you gave me. How fortunate that is.”

“Th-that was because I was foolish back then…”

“Back then? Who knows how many times I’ve been threatened with being thrown into the Bosporus Strait. Thinking about it now, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

In the face of Fatima’s green eyes, Ahsiye’s body trembled, and soon a foul stench filled the air.

As if disgusted, Fatima pushed Ahsiye away, pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her hands, and spoke to the chief eunuch behind her.

“I’ve seen a dirty sight from the first day. Clear it from my sight.”

With a flurry, the Kalfa dragged Ahsiye away, and the women lowered their heads even further in fear.

This was a moment that clearly indicated whose hands the fate of the Harem women rested in.

*

Yusuf, having heard about the happenings in the Harem, chuckled.

“Did you make a choice that would drive someone to madness? Your mother certainly has an extraordinary personality.”

After all, a woman who had endured all sorts of humiliation to save her son couldn’t possibly be weak.

He had expected a few women would go missing, but instead, she was making them experience hell while keeping them close.

With his right-hand, Nene, out of commission, he felt a little worried, but given the circumstances, there was no reason to be concerned.

“I should soon tell them to send suitable women.”

A vigorous body in its early twenties looking for women and making children was a major task of the Padishah.

This move was intended to bolster Fatima’s power.

‘If this were during Suleiman’s era, such actions wouldn’t have occurred, but right now, it should be fine.’

Suleiman, once called the Magnificent, had loved his concubine Hurem Sultan so much that the power of the Harem began influencing politics, becoming one of the main factors in the Ottoman decline.

But now, even if Valide Hatun’s influence grew, it was still confined within the Harem, and that influence could be curtailed at any time.

Meaning, there was no need to fear unnecessarily.

‘Speaking of Hurem Sultan, she’d be around ten years old now.’

Though she was viewed as the villain who led the Ottomans to ruin, personally, his evaluation was neutral.

What kind of loyalty and patriotism would a woman, brought as a captive from the Crimean Khanate, feel towards an empire?

However, based on historical grounds, she could be criticized for her extravagance and quest for power leading the country to its downfall.

This person could be evaluated differently depending on the perspective taken.

‘Moreover, it’s meaningless to think about Hurem Sultan’s potential appearance before me.’

The fate of the Crimean Khanate that had abducted her was already considerably twisted.

“Grand Vizier, is the Crimean Khanate still requesting a meeting?”

“Yes, they are increasingly pressing their requests as time goes by.”

“Isn’t that just because they’re growing anxious?”

Shamsi’s assessment was spot on.

Since they had provided thirty thousand cavalry, it meant the Crimean Khanate had made a large bet on Selim, but now that Selim had been delisted.

The cavalry, the investment, had either been captured as prisoners or couldn’t even hope to see Yusuf’s hair.

‘If only Selim had stayed in the Cape, I could have captured him and sent an apology gift, but that didn’t happen.’

No one could have imagined Selim would dash back to the capital with Suleiman right after escaping.

Hearing that news, Mengli, the Khan of the Crimean Khanate, might tremble with fear at the prospect of facing Hasan.

The Grand Vizier, who had been cautiously gauging Yusuf’s mood, spoke quietly.

“Padishah, we can’t postpone the resolution regarding the Crimean Khanate any longer.”

“That’s true.”

He didn’t worry about the fearful Crimean Khanate betraying them.

The current Khan Mengli was the same person who had run afoul of the Ottomans, only to have been dragged to the capital by his grandfather Mehmet II.

He well understood the might of the Ottomans, and with the main force of thirty thousand diminished, he wouldn’t dare dream of betrayal.

“Of course, the problem lies with the countries surrounding the Crimean Khanate.”

“Yes. They may not watch over the weakened Crimean Khanate for long.”

The infamous Crimean Khanate known for its brutal raids would have its neighboring countries licking their lips now, seeing this as the perfect opportunity for revenge.

While they were currently cautious of the Ottomans, nobody could be sure how long they would remain silent.

“I need to make a decision soon.”

Delaying a decision may also torment the opponent’s heart, but he hadn’t definitively resolved what to do.

Yusuf’s mind quickly churned.

‘From the Ottoman perspective, the Crimean Khanate is like a subcontractor.’

There’s a reason they hadn’t fully integrated it into their territory, keeping it as a vassal.

Raiding effectively weakens the national strength of the opposition, but doing it directly would create significant friction with other countries.

If the Crimean Khanate raided, they could say, ‘We have no idea, take it up with them!’ and thus evade responsibility.

Meaning, they were like lips preventing chapping.

“If I had my way, I’d want to cut the Crimean Khanate’s lifeline, but that won’t do.”

“Expanding borders only leads to a dispersion of strength.”

There was no need to waste power in the north while having the appetizing Mediterranean before them.

Especially during this age when new trade routes were being explored, leading everyone to the sea.

“Hm, but I can’t just let it end without any punishment. Should I bring down the one responsible, Mengli?”

Mengli had led the Crimean Khanate for quite some time.

Being two years older than the late Bayezid, it was about time for him to step down without regrets.

“Then perhaps I should assess things this time,”

“What do you mean?”

“Having confirmed our empire’s brotherhood with the Principality of Samtskhe, I must now evaluate our brotherhood with the Crimean Khanate.”

Yusuf flashed a menacing smile.

*

“Damn it. Why are you still refusing! What do you want!”

In a fit of rage, Mengli threw the table in front of him, and a soldier standing silently was hit and collapsed.

As Mengli struggled to calm his breath, his son, Mehmet, boldly spoke up.

“There’s no need to worry too much. The empire cannot abandon us.”

“…That’s true.”

At his successor and co-regent Mehmet’s words, Mengli plopped back down, and his other son, Saadet, carefully spoke.

“However, seeing how they’re blatantly avoiding us, I feel uneasy.”

“Saadet, what do you know to interrupt? Stay quiet.”

At the rebuke from his older brother Mehmet, Saadet took a step back.

At only 19 years old, he had little sway compared to the elder brother, who had been in formal position for so long.

Hearing their conversation, Mengli waved his hands.

“Saadet’s point isn’t entirely wrong. We should prepare a generous gift, Mehmet.”

“Order as you wish.”

“Go fetch a gift to present to the Padishah.”

“Understood.”

The cruel cavalry of the Crimean Khanate were stirring to raid.