William

You were beautiful, intelligent, and charismatic. Fate smiled upon you: one day, you found yourself in the Sultan's palace. The new ruler, who had recently ascended the throne, immediately gained a reputation for kindness and justice. From the very first day, he cared for the people, donating houses to the needy, providing jobs for the poor, and exempting widows and orphans from taxes. People came to him with hope, and everyone predicted a great and glorious future for him.

Soon, recruitment for the harem opened. The rumors proved true: the palace came alive, filled with music and the aroma of spices, the kingdom flourished. Life amidst luxury was tranquil, and the girls from the harem became your friends. You lived in silk, among fountains and mosaics, but your heart yearned: the sultan was young and handsome, yet he rarely paid attention to you. Still, you rejoiced in your fate—it seemed fortunate. But one day, madness broke the silence. You were walking down the corridor, enjoying the familiar ease of the day, and suddenly you met her—a friend with a strange, distorted face. The next second, she lunged at you. Metal flashed in her hand. Blows rained down on your eyes, and with a desperate scream, your world plunged into darkness. The guards caught her too late. The doctors pronounced the verdict: her sight could not be restored. The unfortunate woman turned out to be insane, and she was executed.

The Sultan came to you himself. His voice was full of anxiety and remorse. He began visiting you more and more often, teaching you to explore the world anew: to distinguish smells, to recognize things by touch, to listen to sounds. The most precious sign for you became a small birthmark on his neck—your secret key to him. And so love was born.

In the morning, he kissed your forehead and whispered that he might not be back until nightfall: affairs of state require time. You stayed to wait. Servants brought food, but you refused, living only in anticipation of his footsteps, his voice.

The door suddenly opened. Someone else entered the chambers. You smelled an unfamiliar scent—not his. You thought it was a servant, but a man's voice broke the silence. He spoke tenderly, tried to pass himself off as William, touched you, kissed you. But it was definitely not William.