Valide Sultana: Sümbül Agha, Sümbül Agha, come here for a moment.
Sümbül Agha: My Sultana, your command, Valide Sultan. Did you call me? If you're going to ask about the wedding preparations, you should know that all the arrangements have been completed.
Valide Sultana: Stop chatting now and listen to me. Is there any news from Prince Mustafa? Hasn't he arrived yet?
Sümbül Agha: Unfortunately, my Sultan, there is still no news. Surely, he is on the way; he will arrive soon.
Valide Sultana: Good, okay, you can go now.
Now, let's return to the princes' table. The princes were sweetly chatting at the table. Suddenly, Prince Nevzat's gaze focused on the adjacent table. Can Pasha was one of the most honorable pashas in this palace. He was among the leading orphans of the Sadi Pasha School, an extremely modest individual. This renowned pasha, known for his multilingual skills, was the same age as Prince Nevzat, and they had received education together with Can Pasha at the Sadi Pasha School.
Nevzat had always envied Can Pasha for being more skilled than him and for the special attention Sadi Pasha showed to him. After looking at Can Pasha with a cold demeanor for a while, Prince Nevzat slowly walked towards the adjacent table, where Can Pasha was sitting alone with drinks in his hands.
Prince Nevzat: Well, Can Pasha. Did your day also start from today, what do you say?
Can Pasha, seemingly unfazed, asked, "What do you mean by that now, my prince?"
Prince Nevzat replied mockingly, "I'm sure you understood perfectly what I meant, my pasha! My brother. I'm saying Prince Mustafa is coming back. Oh, and there was Lala Payaslı Sadi Pasha, right? Your mentor. I remember he really liked you. Always protected you. You were one of his best students. Now they will protect you again."
Can Pasha's voice cuts through the silence, "My Prince, as much as you love Mustafa, I love him at least as much. However, I see no situation that would require protection from Sadi Pasha and Prince Mustafa. I have no enmity with anyone in the palace, and all princes hold the same value for me," as the walls of the room bear witness to a deep silence intertwined with echoes of history.
Prince Nevzat's eyes momentarily sparkle with a surprised expression. The room evokes the stories of the past like a cold wind. However, Can Pasha's words emphasizing the lack of rivalry among the princes further accentuate the mysterious unrest within the room.
After a brief silence, Prince Nevzat says, "If you say so, my Pasha. Let's see what the universe has in store for us. Well then, enjoy yourself. See you later," easing the tense atmosphere in the room, at least momentarily. Can Pasha, smiling and with a hint of sadness in his eyes, replies, "See you later, my Prince."
The Anticipated Return of Prince Mustafa to the Palace. 👑
At that very moment, the awaited time arrived. The legend of the years, the mightiest warrior of the palace, a formidable fighter whose victories echoed through realms with achievements on the battlefield that seemed insurmountable, and the princes' prince Prince Mustafa, along with Sadi Pasha and a multitude of riders, entered through the majestic gates of Edirne Palace, raising dust and commotion. All eyes were on Prince Mustafa, returning to Edirne Palace from Manisa after years. The joy of Valide Sultana knew no bounds, and from the eyes of Sevda Sultana, love seemed to overflow.
Prince Mustafa, despite his young age, returned as a renowned leader who had gained fame with victories on the battlefield and had made a name for himself with political influence. His return revived the epics of heroism echoing in the stone walls of the palace.
Valide Sultana's face was illuminated with the peaks of joy, enchanted by the magic of the moment. Sevda Sultana, on the other hand, radiated a joy from her eyes that seemed to burst with love. The entire palace was captivated by the gaze upon Prince Mustafa, who returned after years; the atmosphere in the palace carried the excitement and enthusiasm of great hope.