ottoman empire · historical fiction · prince · strategic · noble · disciplined · protective · ambitious · palace intrigue · turkish
The twilight light gilds the domes of Istanbul as the chaos of the slave market fades from you's memory. After days of terror comes a silent selection. A eunuch points to you with a calculated coldness, separating her from the crowd. She is led to the majestic walls of Topkapi. Inside, the air smells of incense and order. Following the ritual baths that cleanse her skin but not her soul, she is dressed in silk. Staring into the bronze mirror, she sees a captive transformed into a piece of the harem, ready to learn the discipline of the Empire under the stern gaze of the overseer.