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### The Expected Things (3)

Mehmet gazed at the approaching capital with heavy eyes.

Who would become the next Padishah remained solely in the hands of the Padishah, and the moment when everything accumulated over the years would be evaluated was drawing near.

A presence was felt behind him.

“I think this is the first time I see a prince so tense. Are you worried about not being chosen?”

It was Ivan IV, who had come at the request to see the renowned Ottoman Padishah before he abdicated.

At his question, Mehmet shook his head.

“I’m more anxious about how the Padishah will evaluate me up until now than whether I will be chosen as the next Padishah.”

“I find that hard to understand.”

“You’ll understand what it feels like to meet the Padishah in person.”

Even with such words, Ivan’s doubts didn’t vanish, but he suppressed his curiosity.

After all, it was a question soon to be resolved, and he was too captivated by the scale of this grand city to think further.

Ivan, who thought Moscow was big enough, felt overwhelmed just by the sight of countless ships docked and the bustling people moving through the streets.

“Wow!”

He might not have shown it due to his younger sibling’s clumsy exclamations and Aishe Hatun’s excitement-filled smile beside him.

Before long, the ship docked at the harbor, and as Mehmet’s party disembarked, a rough voice was heard.

“Hatun, it’s been a while.”

Aishe smiled serenely at Murad, who was greeted by dark-skinned attendants.

“It’s been a long time. How is Hatice Hatun?”

“She’s waiting and has come ahead to meet you. And when did you become so paternal? I was surprised to hear the rumors.”

Cunningly asking while looking at Ivan and Yuri, Mehmet scoffed.

“Your face looks as though charcoal had been applied to it.”

“It’s just that the sun where I live is so strong. Besides, I prefer a tanned face.”

“So why did you come out to greet me?”

“You didn’t come out to greet me last time. This time I thought I’d come see you. Clean yourself up at the palace that’s been prepared. You’ll be the last.”

“That’s trivial.”

Mehmet lightly scolded and climbed into the waiting carriage.

The faces of the capital’s people passing by were filled with anxiety and doubt about whether the prince could fill the seat of the current Padishah.

Even if he conquered all of Europe, such suspicion couldn’t be avoided; the capital was firmly the land of Yusuf.

‘Regardless, one of the princes must fill that seat.’

Arriving in the capital, he felt the weight of it pressing down on him like a mountain.

After finishing grooming at the assigned palace, Mehmet’s party followed the Janissaries who had come to meet them into Topkapi Palace.

The typically bustling first courtyard, filled with ordinary subjects, was empty, and what filled it were the vigilant Janissaries and royals.

Mehmet expressed his delight to the first person to catch his eye.

“Hasna, it’s been a while.”

Even with her face covered by a veil, her vibrant aura made her impossible to miss from afar.

With the subtle fragrance of flowers surrounding her, Hasna smiled brightly.

“Welcome. And mother, I’ve missed you.”

“I feel the same. You’ve grown so much.”

While Aishe and Hasna enjoyed their reunion, Mehmet exchanged light glances with the other royals.

There was no time for formal greetings.

“The Padishah has ordered your entrance!”

With the loud shout of the Janissary officer, the firmly closed door to the second courtyard opened, and the royals moved forward through the empty space without a single official in sight.

Despite the gathering of thousands, including Janissaries, a heavy silence lingered as they arrived at the entrance to the third courtyard, the Padishah’s domain.

Respectful-faced officials lined both sides, and as the protagonists of the day stood in the center, soft footsteps could be heard.

As Yusuf emerged through the wide-open door, everyone simultaneously offered their respect.

– We meet the great Padishah!

As the echoing cry resonated in the quiet palace, a deep voice rang out.

“Raise your heads.”

As everyone lifted their heads, Yusuf declared.

“The day of change for the empire has arrived.”

*

The youth that felt like it would last forever had now vanished, as if gazing at his aged and shabby appearance.

The distant day that had once felt far away had now come.

Yusuf slowly raised his head to look at the sky. It was clear and blue, a sign that the rainy winter had passed.

Yusuf pondered.

‘Am I regretful?’

It would be a lie to say there was no regret. But it wasn’t about lingering power; rather, it was about the missed moments.

Battles where even one more soldier might have been saved, policies that could have been implemented sooner.

Holding back the inevitable human regrets, Yusuf lowered his head to gaze at the princes.

“You all look much older now.”

“You haven’t aged at all, Father.”

Yusuf made a grimace at Mustafa, who shot back the jest.

“Thanks to the letter you sent, I’ve aged two years more. Just look at the grand vizier’s face—it’s beyond words, and it’s your fault.”

“It’s said that the grand vizier’s resignation has been rejected over a hundred times already.”

“My influence surely plays a part.”

As Yusuf shamelessly countered, he wiped the smile off his face.

It was enough with light banter to ease the tension.

“I have sat in this position for 34 years, and the empire has written a glorious history. The territory has expanded beyond comparison, and the empire’s ships now sail across the globe. And this has been accomplished together by everyone here.”

Thinking back to the times when they struggled in the small well of the Mediterranean, it was an astonishing transformation, and the officials recalled those past years.

Enduring nights spent clinging to coffee and candles was made bearable by the pride of sharing in the empire’s great history.

If not for the pride that could lead one to sacrifice their life, it would have been impossible to endure such difficult times, some even felt tears welling up.

“However, the path we must take ahead is not expansion but stability. It is time for change for the subjects that make up the empire, and thus this abdication has been decided. It means that a prince who can encompass all the subjects of the empire must inherit this position.”

As Yusuf paused, everyone felt a wave of tension.

The words coming next would mark a turning point for the empire.

Examining the faces of the princes one by one, Yusuf called one name.

“Mehmet, rise.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

As Mehmet was called, the officials nodded. He had always been the strongest candidate.

Yusuf turned to Mehmet, who stood up nonchalantly.

“Do you understand why you were chosen?”

“I don’t quite understand.”

“If stability is the goal, it could be anyone, really. There is not a single inept one among those who cannot sustain the empire even with the help of officials.”

Of course, Murad, who had ruled over half of Africa, as well as Kasım, who had experience outsmarting Charles, and Mustafa, rich in navigation and trade experience, were all capable enough to govern the empire.

Orhan, who still lacked experience, was never even in the running.

“Then why me?”

“Because you are most suited to be someone who can embrace all the subjects of the empire. If you were to take this position, would you favor the Crimean Khanate and Circassians who have helped you?”

“No, I have already compensated them for what they’ve done. I can trust them, but there’s no reason to favor them.”

“That’s the reason why I chose you. Isn’t that right, Murad?”

“I have no excuses.”

Murad, the other most prominent prince aside from Mehmet, bowed his head.

While it was good that Murad was occupying and governing Africa, his thoughts had become centered around being African.

Even if he became Padishah, it was clear that he would favor Africa.

As Mehmet remained silent, contemplating Yusuf’s explanation, he finally asked.

“Padishah, may I ask one thing? Have my past deeds warranted a position on this throne?”

“Without a doubt, they have been more than adequate. Was that an answer?”

At this response, Mehmet lowered his head for the first time with a bright smile.

“I will do my best to make sure that my father has no regrets.”

How long had it been since he had heard the word “father” from Mehmet?

Yusuf smiled softly.

“I look forward to it.”

At the moment the next Padishah was determined, not long after, Mehmet’s coronation ceremony took place.

*

While abdication wasn’t unprecedented in the Ottomans, the circumstances then were clearly different.

During the reign of Murad II, it was a sudden abdication following a humiliating defeat and a near-reclusive state, whereas Yusuf was willingly stepping down from a peak of power.

It was a more challenging task than donating all his wealth, yet Yusuf carried out Mehmet’s coronation without any hesitation.

After the coronation ceremony held at Topkapi Palace concluded, Yusuf and Mehmet sat facing each other.

“How does it feel to sit in the position of Padishah?”

“I’m still unsure.”

“You will start to feel it as you deal with mountains of paperwork daily.”

The Padishah, as Yusuf knew it, was an odd role where the more one worked, the more work piled up, and to perform the job properly, an essential figure was required.

“The most important thing is whom you choose as vizier. To fill Şemsi’s place, one must be extraordinary. Do you have someone in mind?”

“I plan to appoint Ilhan Pasha, the Beylerbey of Cairo, as grand vizier.”

Cairo was known as one of the most bustling places in the empire because of the canal.

Anyone ruling that place should be able to manage the grand vizier position well, but there was one troubling point.

“Isn’t he the son of Şemsi?”

“The one who resigned was Şemsi, not his son.”

“That’s true.”

While it felt wrong to punish the son for the father’s wrongdoing.

“For the sake of the empire, someone must be sacrificed. If you plan to appoint him as vizier, make sure he cannot escape. Don’t regret it later.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Soon, it felt like a resignation from Cairo would arrive, but it didn’t matter. It would be rejected anyway.

“And don’t unnecessarily restrain your brothers.”

This wasn’t a soft encouragement to maintain harmony among siblings.

For the sake of the empire, one must be capable of dismissing even their own children; such words would never come.

It was merely advice because leaving it be would be far better.

“None of those three are in a position to replace you. Murad’s support in Africa is greater than mine. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it Murad’s kingdom.”

“I know. If food support weren’t needed, being satisfied with Beylerbey wouldn’t suffice.”

Food was a sort of leash, and it was uncertain how long it would last.

Once self-sufficiency was achieved, they could cast off the leash.

While it was not ideal from a governance perspective, it was unavoidable.

“Murad maintains African territories personally. The moment you push him away, it will scatter like grains of sand. It would be a case of losing the big picture while striving for small gains.”

“I have no intention of touching Murad as long as he performs his duties faithfully.”

“Mustafa is the same. He’s the only one capable of controlling the natives there.”

It wouldn’t do to send settlers to that faraway land, so current policies must be maintained, and only Mustafa could undertake this task.

“No need to speak about Kasım separately.”

“Just maintaining a close relationship with Ferdinand is valuable in itself.”

Mehmet, who was quick to assess the pros and cons without needing much explanation, surely understood that keeping his brothers alive was far better than killing them.

It was merely something added out of concern.

“What do you plan to do moving forward, Father?”

“I plan on having Orhan, who is in Sanjakbey in Trabzon, visit once you’ve firmly established your power, as promised. I think looking into the lives of the subjects directly will reveal areas for improvement.”

It was something impossible for a Padishah who could not casually leave the capital.

“And Aishe will come along too.”

“Father?”

Mehmet, who understood how significant Valide Hatun’s role was in managing the harem, was taken aback, but Yusuf just brazenly spoke.

“Not just Aishe; I plan to have some of my other hatuns stay with me in Trabzon as well. Surely, you wouldn’t ignore your mother’s wish after all the efforts she’s put in, would you?”

“…Let it be so.”

It was a battle he could not win from the beginning, and Mehmet quickly raised the white flag.

Of course, Yusuf, who had greatly relied on Fatima’s help, had no intention of taking Aishe without any measures.

“Hasna will fill Aishe’s absence. The child has also insisted on coming with me, so be grateful for that.”

Reassured by the fact that Hasna would remain, Mehmet recalled what he had forgotten in the flurry of the coronation.

“By the way, Ivan IV asked if Hasna had been promised to someone.”

“Tsk, another poor fool added to the list.”

With the King of France in the mix, it was uncertain when they would come to their senses.

When Ivan proposed to Hasna and was decisively rejected, the news eventually reached the King of France, who then sent a letter to the Ottomans.

Yusuf set out towards Trabzon.

It was time to take a breather for the future.