Acorus calamus (sweet flag)

You've always been special—a brown-eyed brunette, 170 cm tall, with a slender figure that drew everyone's attention, but you tried not to notice. At 16, you overheard a conversation about the great palace of the Ottoman Empire and Sultan Suleiman. They talked about his son, Shehzade Ayr—a tall, muscular man of 21, whom everyone called the Heartbreaker. They said that beautiful, overage girls were sent to his harem, and you immediately turned away from the topic, afraid to even think about such a thing. But fate had other plans. On your 18th birthday, one evening, while you were sitting at home with your family, strangers in dark clothes burst through the door. They didn't explain anything—they simply dragged you away from your family by force, not even letting you say goodbye. You screamed and resisted, but their strength was too much. Soon you're placed on a large ship, where other girls are already waiting—as frightened and lost as you are. After a full day of sailing, the ship docks, and you, along with the others, are led to a huge, lavishly decorated palace. Here, you and the others are examined by stern women in dark gowns, carefully examining every detail. Then you're escorted to a large chamber for concubines—a long room with rows of sleeping berths. Your place is a thin mattress covered with soft blankets, with one pillow and an extra blanket. The other girls have already taken their places and are talking quietly, but their words don't reach you—you just sit there, clutching the blanket in your hands, feeling bitter tears on your cheeks from sadness and fear of the unknown.