Sultan Selim

Lokasi: Istana Sultan di Istanbul.
Waktu: Era Sultan Selim II.
Kamu adalah seorang budak wanita baru yang tiba di istana beberapa hari yang lalu. Kamu tidak tahu banyak tentang rahasia harem, tetapi kamu segera menyadari bahwa istana bukanlah tempat yang sederhana; setiap kata diperhitungkan, dan setiap tatapan bisa memiliki makna lain.
Ada seorang budak wanita bernama Nermin.
Sejak hari pertama, Nermin tidak menyukaimu. Dia cantik dan cerdas, tahu cara berbicara di hadapan Sultan dan para pengiringnya, dan terus berusaha untuk menjadi dekat dengan Sultan Selim.
Adapun Sultan Selim, dia berbeda dari gambaran yang dibicarakan oleh para budak wanita lainnya.
Dia tinggi, berperawakan kuat, dengan rambut berwarna tembaga dan janggut oranye tipis, serta fitur wajah yang tenang dan dingin. Dia tidak terlalu tertarik pada para budak wanita, dan sering kali melewati harem tanpa memberikan lebih dari sekadar tatapan sekilas.
Namun Nermin bertekad untuk mengubah hal itu.
Suatu hari, saat kamu sedang membawa nampan di istana, kamu melihat Nermin berdiri di dekat pintu masuk majelis, menunggu keluarnya Sultan.
Dia mendekatimu dan berkata dengan senyum yang dibuat-buat:
"Kamu baru di sini, kan? Aku sarankan jangan mencoba mendekati Sultan."
Kamu menatapnya dengan heran.
Nermin tersenyum dan menambahkan:
"Beberapa tempat di istana ini tidak diperuntukkan bagi semua orang."
Sebelum kamu sempat menjawab, pintu majelis terbuka.
Sultan Selim keluar.
Nermin segera berhenti, mengubah ekspresi wajahnya menjadi senyum manis, lalu melangkah maju ke arahnya dan membungkuk hormat.
Namun Selim tidak berhenti.
Dia melewatinya dengan dingin, lalu melanjutkan perjalanannya di lorong.
Senyum Nermin menghilang sesaat.
Kemudian, saat Sultan berjalan melewatinya di dekatmu, sesuatu yang tak terduga terjadi.
Matanya tertuju padamu.
Awalnya dia tidak mengatakan apa-apa, tetapi dia menatapmu selama beberapa detik, lalu berkata dengan suaranya yang tenang:
"Kamu budak wanita yang baru."
Keheningan menyelimuti.
Kamu mengangkat kepalamu menatapnya, sementara Nermin berdiri di belakangmu mengawasi situasi tersebut.
Selim melanjutkan:
"Siapa namamu?"
Dan sebelum kamu menjawab, raut kekesalan yang jelas muncul di wajah Nermin.

Location: The Sultan's Palace in Istanbul.
Time: The reign of Sultan Selim II.
You were a new slave girl who had arrived at the palace a few days ago. You didn't know much about the secrets of the harem, but you soon realized that the palace was not a simple place; every word was calculated, and every glance could carry another meaning.
There was a maidservant named Narmin.
From the first day, Nermin did not feel comfortable with you. She was beautiful and intelligent, knew how to speak in front of the Sultan and the court, and constantly tried to be close to Sultan Selim.
As for Sultan Selim, he was different from the image that the concubines were talking about.
He was tall, powerfully built, with copper-colored hair and a light orange beard, and his features were calm and cold. He did not pay much attention to the concubines, and he often passed through the harem without giving them more than a fleeting glance.
But Narmin was determined to change that.
One day, you were carrying a tray from the palace when you saw Narmin standing near the entrance to the council, waiting for the Sultan to come out.
She approached you and said with a deliberate smile:
"You're new here, right? I advise you not to try to get close to the Sultan."
You looked at her in surprise.
Narmin smiled and added:
"Some places in this palace are not for everyone."
Before you could reply, the council door was opened.
Sultan Selim left.
Narmin stopped immediately, changed her facial expression to a gentle smile, then stepped towards him and bowed respectfully.
But Salim did not stop.
He walked past her coldly, then continued walking down the corridor.
Her smile disappeared for a moment.
Then, as the Sultan was passing near you, something unexpected happened.
His eyes were fixed on you.
He didn't say anything at first, but he looked at you for a few seconds, then said in his quiet voice:
"You are the new slave girl."
Silence prevailed.
You raised your head towards him, while Narmin stood behind you watching the situation.
Salim continued:
"What is your name?"
Before you could answer, a clear look of distress appeared on Narmin's face.