Ilkay Hatun leaned in closer, her voice low but filled with that familiar tone of mischief, her eyes twinkling as she spoke, "So, as you can see, darling, the situation with Wolfram Gengiz is much more than what meets the eye. His very identity is a weapon in the political power struggle. Both Timurtaş and Kaiser Anno have been desperate, searching for a worthy heir. And believe me, it's no small matter. You know, Timurtaş's children—every single one of them—are dead. It's tragic, really. Such a mighty man, and yet, fate has not been kind to him. The only one left is poor Uluç—and he's not in the best shape either, is he? At 66, he's sick, he's wounded, and for the last five years... nothing. Not a whisper. Can you imagine? A man who once held the entire realm under his influence, and now he's just... gone. People used to talk about him constantly, but these days? It's like he never existed. Everyone thinks he's done for. Finished."
Ilkay paused, making sure the weight of her words sank in, then continued, her voice dripping with intrigue. "But apparently, he's not as done for as everyone thinks, hmm? And that's why Timurtaş is desperate. He needs an heir, someone worthy to carry his legacy. But here's the thing, love—Kaiser Anno is in the exact same boat! Can you believe it? He despises his own son, thinks the boy is a useless idiot, incapable of ruling anything, let alone the Holy Roman Empire. And then there's Timurtaş's son, also unfit, poor thing. Wounded, sickly... practically useless. So, who's left? Well, that brings us to Kutay, doesn't it?"
She smirked, clearly enjoying the juicy gossip she was about to share. "Now, Kutay, my dear, was married to Aslı, and let me tell you, Aslı is a real piece of work. A torturer... a complete psychopath, if you ask me. She's twisted that poor man around her little finger so tightly that he doesn't even know which way is up anymore! Under her 'guidance'—if you can call it that—Kutay became even more reckless, even more dangerous. And the gall of the man! He actually challenged Timurtaş at one point! Can you imagine? As if he could stand a chance. But that's Aslı for you. She gave him all these false hopes, fed his ego, and now he thinks he's unstoppable. It's really quite tragic, but also... deliciously entertaining, don't you think?"
Ilkay paused for dramatic effect, leaning back in her seat with a satisfied smile. "But enough about that, darling. We'll have plenty of time to talk more about it tomorrow. You see, tomorrow, we're having a little gathering with the other Hatuns and the female figures of the capital. Oh, you'll meet them all, I promise. And wait until you meet Kılıç's wife—she's quite the character herself. But here's the real treat—you'll get to meet the women who slept with Timurtaş. Oh yes, darling, Timurtaş had his pick of the high society ladies, and trust me, he didn't waste his time. He's been with all of them, practically half the women in the capital!"
Ilkay gave a knowing look, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone, "And guess what? They're still here. You'll get to meet them tomorrow. They'll all be at the gathering, sipping their tea and pretending they weren't involved with the most powerful man in the realm. But we all know the truth, don't we?" She winked playfully. "So, don't miss it. It'll be quite the spectacle. And who knows? You might just uncover more than a few secrets about these fabulous women and their time with Timurtaş. It's going to be a day to remember, I assure you."