Captured For The Sultan’s Pleasure

Princess Azeezat saw the Sultan staring at Roksolana, who refused to acknowledge him or his presence. Lady Miriam walked to Roksolana and tried to make her get up, but the Sultan stopped her by saying it was okay. Roksolana stood up, took the chest of ornaments, and took it to the Sultan. Without a word, she dropped it at his feet and turned back to lay In the bed.

“You rude maid. Do not forget that it was the Sultan that made you a Lady.” Lady Miriam said to Roksolana, who didn’t even respond.

Jamal cleared his throat and everywhere became silent. He stared at the chest which Aabdeen now carries in his hands and wondered if he hadn’t made a mistake by ordering the beating. Roksolana never wears ornaments. It was even because he forced her that made her start wearing ladies’ clothing. But still, he wasn’t going to apologize to her. He was the Sultan and he would do however he pleases.

“The royal dance for the concubine is in three days. Every lady in the kafes is expected to participate.” The Sultan said.

“Yes, Sultan.” Everyone chorused.

“I’m not dancing,” Roksolana spoke up.

“How dare you?” Lady Miriam shouted at her.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said every lady in the harem and that includes you,” Jamal responded to her.

“And I just told you I’m not dancing,” Roksolana retorted, standing up.

“Then expect the death of people from your sultanate.” The Sultan said.

Roksolana gasped, her eyes wild and round. Had the sultan just threatened her? Perhaps, she made a mistake in defending him before Asleem.

“You dare not.” She said, pointing to the sultan.

“Dare me,” Jamal answered, staring at Roksolana in the face.

Before Roksolana could think about a reply, Jamal walked out of the room. He couldn’t believe that he had lost his patience with her so easily when he had come here in the first place to see how she was faring. He had even thought that telling her about the dancing competition would make her feel better and happy since she loved dancing. Besides, he had wanted her to participate in the competition and win so that she could be the harem leader. That way, no one would be able to bully her anymore. When he arrived at his house, he saw the general standing in front of the house and wondered why.

“Why are you outside?” Jamal asked the general.

“Just thought I should wait here for you, Sultan,” Sodeeq replied.

Jamal felt like something was bothering his friend. He gestured towards the door and they both got in. Sodeeq asked the Sultan for a few days off work, so he could attend to some personal matters which Jamal granted his friend. After the other man had left, Jamal turned to Aabdeen and ordered that he should make sure Roksolana was present at the royal dance competition. After that, he relaxed on his bed and fell asleep, his thoughts still filled with the stubborn woman.

Three days later, Roksolana watched as the women in the kafes began to run helter-skelter trying to get ready for the dancing event. She had learned from some of the ladies that anyone who placed first would be the harem’s leader and got a separate house to live in. She had also learned that that was how Lady Miriam got her private residence, not because she was the Sultan’s favorite as everyone often said. Roksolana was still contemplating whether the Sultan meant the threat he had issued or not when Azeezat rushed into her room.

“Is this okay?” The princess asked, feeling shy.

Roksolana looked at what the princess was talking about and saw that she had some bangles on her wrist. They were of different colors but they complemented each other nicely. The bangles also went well with the woman’s choice of clothing. But, apart from the bangles, the princess didn’t put on any other jewelry, yet she looked really beautiful. Roksolana acknowledged that the princess could be putting on rags and she would still be very beautiful to look at. Roksolana nodded her head and saw the princess exhaled deeply.

“But, why aren’t you dressed up yet? There are only thirty minutes left before the competition starts.” The princess said as she plopped down on the bed.

As Roksolana opened her mouth to respond that she wasn’t going regardless of the Sultan’s threat, Aabdeen walked in the door holding Asleem who had ropes around his upper body binding him. Aabdeen bowed down slightly to her before speaking.

“The Sultan said that this man I’m holding would be the first one to die if you are late even for a minute.” He said.

Roksolana moved towards Aabdeen to get Asleem freed, but the words she heard next stopped her.

“The Sultan also said that he doesn’t see this man or I come back in fifteen minutes to now, he’s going to kill a man from your sultanate for each minute we are late,” Aabdeen warned her.

Roksolana sat down next to Azeezat when she heard the words. She watched as Aabdeen walked away from the room, dragging Asleem with him. Asleem gave her a look of contempt she would not forget in a hurry. Azeezat patted her shoulder and quietly disappeared when she heard the others saying that it was almost time. Roksolana began to regret her decision of becoming a concubine. What was the essence of being one when she couldn’t even protect her people with the position? Why be a concubine when it only puts the people she wanted to protect in more danger? She stood up from her sitting position with anger. If the Sultan wanted her to participate in the competition by force, then she would.