Resistance - Hanzade Sultan

ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ｆｏｕｒ

2 weeks later

"Sultana, your valide Melsah Sultan is waiting for you in her rooms." Esma informed me as I finished reading chapter 10 of my book. "She is with Sultana Malhun, and Sultana Kosem as well."

What does she want? I wonder to myself, especially if she is having all three of us together? Surely nothing bad happened?

I promptly got up and dashed to my Valide's rooms. I was let in immediately as the first thing my eyes set on was my mother chatting with Kosem as Malhun was still eating cookies. How much more could she eat?

I shook my head. Obviously, cookies were of no importance right now. "What is going on Valide dearest? Did something happen bad?"

"No," My mother shook her head sighing. "This is to resume the discussion on who you girls must marry. I have deemed it about time to get at least one of you married."

"And who would that be?" I asked, silently praying it wouldn't be me. As the eldest, the burdens usually were placed upon me.

"You of course, Hanzade. But not without your consent." Mother replied. 'Not without your consent' ha! That's what they usually tell the Sultanas to get them hopeful, but that's not how things ever go. It's a good thing I have read enough stories to know this one. Mihrimah can vouch for me. 

"Are the candidates still the same?"

"Yes. But I was thinking-"

"Here it goes, first 'not without your consent', then 'I was thinking' then 'why can't you' and finally 'you are getting married, no buts'" I scowled. "Why is it always this way?"

My mother's facial expression turned to one of shock. "Hanzade, since when do you have this kind of attitude?"

Well my sisters have attitudes too, but I suppose she only notices my once in a decade outbursts.

"You will do as your duty demands of you, my daughter. As a Sultana, it is your obligation. And as I was saying before, I was thinking you could get married to Grand Pasha Kiraz." She continued.

My eye brows practically touched the ceiling. "Say what now? Is he not like 40?"

"He's 36. Hardly older than you. But wait, quick question, have you even met him?" Kosem asked.

I rolled my eyes. "No, but I have heard-"

"That's it!" Malhun clapped her hands. "You can have a wedding and then meet him there."

"Great idea!" My Valide exclaimed. I groaned at the thought of that happening.

"You guys don't seriously expect me to marry a man I haven't ever even met?"

"Well, that happens a lot, especially here in the Ottoman Empire. It's only fair a Sultana does the same!" Malhun laughed.

I thought about the situation. My Mother, and two sisters wanted me to get married to Grand Pasha Kiraz, who I had never met before, who is 18 years older than me, and I am 18. Neither of my sisters have plans to get married, and they are hardly younger than myself, with Kosem being 17 and naive Malhun being 16. 

What would the Sultanas of the past do if they were in my shoes? 

I thought for a few moments, then a lightbulb inside my head shined: I could strike a deal with my family to get married.

"How about," I proposed, "If I get married to Kiraz Pasha, then Malhun gets married to the Governor of Egypt?"

"B-b-but that's not fair!" Malhun whined. My mother tapped her chin thoughtfully, and I could see she was thinking hard about this situation.

"Not a bad idea, Hanzade. I think Malhun is old enough-"

"But I'm only 16!" Malhun pouted, but then she also paused to think. "And why isn't Kosem getting married?"

"Well someone has to stay an old maid," Kosem said making us all laugh.

"But seriously though," Valide Melsah said. "If Hanzade gets married to Grand Pasha Kiraz, then Kosem could get married to the Admiral, and Malhun gets married to Governor of Egypt. Deal?"

"Deal!" Us three sisters chanted at the same time. At least I made a good exchange, but I don't know how well it would go for me until the night of my wedding, where I would meet my husband for the first time.

For now, I could laugh and joke about it. But when that fateful night comes, I am confident I will see things in a different light, for better or for worse.

word count; 718

sorry for a short chapter!