First of all, Falken19, thank you for supporting me with 3 power stones! That's very meaningful for me, and your support increases my desire to write this book!
In the expansive gardens of Topkapi Palace, the leaves rustled softly in the wind, and the evening sun cast a warm glow on the elegant windows. Young Prince Mehmet was hiding among the branches of an old plane tree; his heart was pounding, and he breathed with a faint tension. He thought he was in a good hiding spot, confident that his brother would not find him. But below, Prince Osman approached him with careful, measured steps, slipping through the shadows of the trees. Osman looked up and called out with a slight smile:
"Mehmet! Come down from that tree at once."
Mehmet flinched at the sound of his brother's voice and glanced down at him. The surprise in his eyes was due to how easily Osman had found him. With a touch of panic, he tried to hide more tightly among the branches and whispered:
"Brother, if Mother finds out I skipped my lessons, she'll kill me. Please don't tell her I was hiding here. She already forces me to learn so many languages—I can't take it anymore," he murmured with a hint of rebellion. His voice trembled with childlike courage. "I'll be a brave warrior! How will learning languages or all these silly lessons help me? I'm not as smart as you."
Osman smiled gently, observing his brother's passionate yet inexperienced spirit. "My dear Mehmet, if you wish to be my sword one day when I become sultan, you must receive the proper training. Your warrior spirit is admirable, but even a sword is blunt without knowledge," he said. Osman's face shone with a serious determination, a sign of the future power he would wield despite his young age.
"But brother…" Mehmet began, his eyes drifting slightly downwards.
"That's enough," said Osman, his gentle expression hardening. "I'll speak to Kösem Sultan and ask her to lighten your lessons. This is the only favor I can do for you. But I won't put you at the head of my armies just because you're my brother. You'll need to prove yourself to me, Mehmet." There was a firmness in Osman's words, tempered with the affection he held for his brother. "Now, come down from that tree. You're going to apologize to Kösem Hatun for making her worry so much."
Slightly disheartened but influenced by his brother's resolve, Mehmet climbed down from the branches. Osman approached him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. The quiet in the garden was broken by the worried voice of a servant:
"Prince Mehmet, where are you? Your mother, Kösem Sultan, is very worried about you!"
Osman took Mehmet and went to the servant. Bowing slightly toward the servant standing with a slight stoop, he said, "Please excuse my brother's fault. He's caused you some trouble as well. If Kösem Sultan gives you any trouble about this, let me know; I'm aware you're not at fault." Osman's voice was polite yet firm. "Mehmet, apologize at once," he added.
"Do I really have to apologize to a servant, brother?" Mehmet muttered, whispering with the pride that came with his young age.
With a hint of anger, Osman furrowed his brows and said only, "Mehmet!" Upon hearing this, Mehmet quietly apologized: "I'm sorry."
The servant was touched by Osman's gentle and polite manner. Bowing his head, he murmured, "My lord, I can't accept your apology—it's entirely my fault. Please forgive me."
Raising his hand slightly, Osman said, "Enough. I'll go with you as well. I have matters to discuss with Kösem Sultan."
A few minutes later, Osman and Mehmet were walking slowly toward Kösem Sultan's chamber. The eunuch standing at the door announced in a gentle voice, "My lady, Prince Osman and Prince Mehmet have arrived."
When Kösem Sultan saw Osman enter, she took a deep breath, steadying herself. Normally, she would have been furious; but Osman's presence softened the anger she felt toward young Mehmet. With a blend of compassion and sternness, she turned to Mehmet and said, "Mehmet, do you know how worried I was? Skipping lessons—how could that be fitting behavior for a prince like you?" Her voice was stern but trembling slightly.
Mehmet lowered his head slightly. "But mother," he said with a faint tone of reproach, "why must I take all these useless lessons? I'll be a brave warrior and go to battle. Just like my ancestor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror!"
Kösem Sultan thought of the great achievements of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, whom her son admired. Mehmet's grand aspirations might have been inspired by the spirit of the mighty sultan he was named after. Yet, Kösem knew that according to the Ekber and Erşed system, Osman was destined to become sultan. Mehmet's dreams faded in comparison to Osman's future. She thought to herself: If only my son had been born a little sooner. But perhaps having a compassionate older brother like Osman was a blessing for him… At least he might live a life removed from palace power struggles.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Osman's voice. "Mehmet will be my commander," he declared firmly. "It's essential he receives the proper training. You can remove unnecessary lessons or reduce his workload. But remember this, Mehmet," he added, turning to him, "if you skip lessons again, the one you should fear won't be Kösem Sultan—it will be me." The coldness in Osman's eyes made Mehmet's hair stand on end.
Osman's gaze brought to Mehmet's mind an incident from the previous year: a eunuch had been caught stealing, and Osman had ordered his hand cut off without a blink of hesitation. Mehmet deeply loved and respected his brother, yet seeing him mete out such strict justice at such a young age left him a little unsettled. He couldn't forget this side of his brother.
On the other hand, Osman's politeness and kindness toward servants earned him admiration among the palace staff. Osman's modern spirit prompted him to thank every servant and to treat them as more than mere tools. These delicate gestures left a lasting impression on the palace residents. Yet, the punishment he'd given the thieving eunuch served as a strong reminder of Osman's unwavering resolve and taught them not to risk incurring his wrath.
Falken19, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. While writing it, I felt your support, and it made me very happy. I wrote this chapter with extra joy, knowing that my book is receiving support.