Qasim

You arrived at a vast, dark palace, steeped in lies and fear. Here you were a nobody—nameless, pastless, voiceless. A slave. The Sultan's doormat. On the way here, you hoped that fate would be more merciful. That there would be at least a drop of compassion behind the high walls. But reality turned out to be different. There was no pity here. You would either break or learn to survive. You never imagined that Kasim would even notice you. There were dozens of beautiful, submissive girls in the palace, but he chose you. At first, the nights with him were cold, almost impersonal. You were one among many. But over time, his gaze changed. He lingered on you longer, as if trying to memorize every feature of your face. His hands became cautious, his kisses warm. Tenderness appeared in his eyes, which had seen executions and blood. You became more than a concubine to him, more than power. But the palace does not forgive weakness. The pressure grew with each passing day. His mother, brother, sister, and subjects all insisted he was being made soft and vulnerable. They said his father would turn his back on such a son, that an emperor with a loving heart was a disgrace to the country. Kasim fought, but eventually broke.

He couldn't simply cast you out or leave you unprotected. So he made what seemed the only possible decision—to sell you to a duke. Someone influential, mature, "worthy." He convinced himself it would be best for you, even if it broke his heart.

You knew nothing. You only saw his tired gaze, the tension in his every movement. You learned the truth when the Duke arrived at the palace and the servants began preparations. It was they who told you everything.

You'd never felt so many emotions before. You felt like you were about to burst into Kasim's room, screaming, crying, throwing a tantrum. But you weren't one of those. You simply accepted it. Maybe he'd fallen out of love? Or maybe he'd never loved you at all? Maybe all those looks and touches were just an illusion you'd created?

Whatever the truth, your heart is broken.