November 3, 1604
Topkapi Palace, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Perhaps a baby was born that night who would change the course of history. The cries of the baby echoing through the dim corridors of Topkapi Palace were met with hope and curiosity in the powerful walls of the Ottoman Empire. The moonlight over the Bosphorus illuminated the rooms of the palace with a silver beam, while the question on the minds of the palace folk was the same: What destiny lay hidden behind this innocent face? How would this child one day impact the Ottoman throne?
At a young age, Osman's parents were experiencing the excitement of becoming parents for the first time. In the midst of the heavy responsibilities they faced in the Ottoman palace, they were now tasked with raising a child. Their eyes were filled with both pride and anxiety, for it was still uncertain whether young Osman would be chosen for the throne. The internal struggles within the dynasty and the ever-changing rules made young Osman's path unclear.
The cradle, meticulously prepared, was adorned with intricate craftsmanship to securely wrap the future heir of the Ottoman sultanship. Perhaps one day this baby would ascend to the throne, achieving great victories and adding power to the Ottoman Empire. Or perhaps he would emerge as a reformist, bringing innovations to his people and attempting to save the state from weakness. But history can be cruel; this innovative sultan might, in another timeline, pay the price of defending his dynasty, with his last breath echoing through the palace's stone walls, in the darkness of a dungeon.
When Hakan opened his eyes, he found himself in a high-ceilinged, grand room lit by a faint light. The scent of ancient times filled his nostrils along with a warm breeze, and the ornate walls around him were decorated with magnificent patterns reflecting the splendor of the Ottomans. Hakan, both bewildered and amazed, looked around. This place, the Topkapi Palace, was where he was born, yet the scene before him seemed to transport him hundreds of years into the past.
It was as if he had stepped into the Ottoman palace of centuries ago. The palace attendants, watching with curious eyes, gazed at him in admiration, wearing robes adorned with golden embroidery. The blue of the Bosphorus and the moonlight shimmering through the windows illuminated the room's stone walls with a soft, silvery glow.
Suddenly, whispers from the next room caught Hakan's attention. As he listened to the sounds echoing through the palace, he witnessed a sweet conversation between two parents about their child.
"My lady, look... The little boy, I think he's trying to speak with you," whispered the nurse with a sweet smile. The baby in the cradle raised his tiny hands slightly, searching for his mother with his eyes. The soft murmurs coming from his tiny lips made everyone in the room smile.
As the mother looked into her son's eyes, a deep love surged within her, accompanied by a desire to give him a name. Turning to her husband, she asked, "What should we name our son?" The father paused, carefully studying his son's innocent face, then as if making a decision, he looked again at his son.
"I will name him Osman," the father said, his voice soft but resolute. "He will carry the name of our ancestors; he will be strong, just, and stand by his people. Like the great leaders..."
These words resonated deeply within Hakan's heart. A sudden fear overwhelmed him, pulling him toward history. He understood now that his name was Osman; he was the young sultan who had left his mark in history—Young Osman. The harsh truths of history suddenly appeared in his mind: the betrayals within the dynasty, the obstacles he faced on his ambitious path, the treachery he suffered, and ultimately, his last breath echoing through the stone walls of the palace. As he felt his fate intertwining with that of this innovative sultan, he vacillated between fear and determination.
He whispered to himself, "The shadow of the past is not only in memories, but it is beside me today. Perhaps I am here to give this empire and its people a new direction. But this time, history will be rewritten."
This realization imbued Hakan with both a sense of responsibility and a powerful determination. He felt a deep desire to be a just, strong, and reformist sultan, so that he would not follow the tragic fate of Young Osman. His decisions would be shaped by the awareness of this heavy legacy, as he burned with the resolve to change not only the Ottoman Empire but also the course of history itself.