Ilkay Hatun continued, her voice steady but with a trace of emotion as she recounted a memory. "When Kara took Wolfram under his wing for training, I was the one who set out with them by ship, heading for Constantinople. It was during that journey that I first laid eyes on Wolfram, this boy they called Cengiz. He looked every bit the German they said he was, tall and blonde, with those sharp blue eyes. But what caught my attention most was not his appearance, but the name they gave him. We had all heard the rumors, how Timurtaş, the greatest ruler of our time, had taken the grandson of Kaiser Anno—this boy named Wolfram—as his own. And you know, there's a story behind that name."
Isaakios, intrigued, leaned in closer. "Wolfram… what's the story?"
Ilkay Hatun sighed, glancing out the window as if searching the past for the right words. "Wolfram's mother was named Martha, did you know that? She was a beauty, admired by many, and Timurtaş... he had always been taken with her. I remember hearing how they would often be seen together at tournaments, especially in Fulun's city, where Martha was well-known for hosting prestigious events. Timurtaş—can you imagine, at the age of 97—still trying to win her heart, bringing her ice cream, pide, döner… he even elevated her tournaments. His presence alone turned her events into the most prestigious gatherings in the realm. People flocked to them, not just for the sport, but for the chance to see the great Timurtaş himself."
Isaakios's eyes widened as he listened, the image of Timurtaş courting a woman in his late years seeming almost unbelievable.
Ilkay Hatun smiled slightly, the memory vivid in her mind. "But there was more to it. The whispers grew louder. It wasn't just admiration; there was something real between them. It's said they had been together more than once. Kaiser Anno... he began to suspect something, especially when Wolfram was born. Martha chose the name 'Wolfram'—which means wolf. Why? Because of Timurtaş. She was thinking of him when she named her son."
Isaakios furrowed his brow, absorbing the weight of her words. "And did Timurtaş know?"
Ilkay Hatun nodded slowly. "Yes. Timurtaş knew. Kaiser Anno knew too. That's why they say Martha was poisoned shortly after giving birth. The official story was complications, but we all knew the truth. Kaiser Anno had her killed because he suspected Wolfram was not his grandson, but Timurtaş's son. And Timurtaş... he never forgave himself. Even though he didn't kill her, he felt responsible. The love of his life, gone. And because of him, she was carrying a child—their child—when she died."
There was a heavy silence between them as Isaakios took in the story. He had heard rumors, but this was confirmation from someone who had been close to the heart of it all.
Ilkay Hatun's voice softened. "Timurtaş was broken after that. For nine years, he disappeared into a deep depression. It was as though he carried the weight of her death on his soul. But then, out of nowhere, he reemerged. And you know what brought him back? Wolfram. He realized that the boy might be his son, Martha's child, and he couldn't leave him alone. So, he took Wolfram under his protection, trained him, even mentored him. It was his way of keeping Martha's memory alive, even as he carried the grief of her loss. And Wolfram... well, he grew up in the shadow of these powerful men, Kaiser Anno and Timurtaş."
Isaakios leaned back, his mind whirling with the revelations. "So, Wolfram was at the center of this all, a child of two worlds, caught between the Holy Roman Empire and the Turks."
Ilkay Hatun nodded, her gaze distant as she continued to reflect on the past. "Yes. And the burden he carries... it's unimaginable. A boy raised by Timurtaş, the legend, and yet his mother was taken from him because of that very connection. Wolfram has lived a life marked by tragedy, but also by greatness. He is a symbol of everything that came before, and everything that is yet to come."
Isaakios shook his head in disbelief. "To think, we are sitting here now, discussing him as a ruler, a man in his own right. But to know he came from such a tangled, tragic story... it makes you wonder how much of that will shape his reign."
Ilkay Hatun smiled, a mix of sadness and pride in her eyes. "It already has, Isaakios. It already has. Wolfram is more than just a ruler. He is the legacy of two empires, and the blood that runs through his veins is both his greatest blessing and his greatest curse."
As they sat in silence, Isaakios couldn't help but feel a deep respect for Wolfram. The boy who had been trained by Timurtaş, the boy whose mother had been poisoned because of a forbidden love. This was the man who now ruled, and his past was as heavy as the crown he wore.