“You’re from the harem, right? Judging by your fine clothes, you must be an Ikbal (woman who sleeps with the Sultan) or a Hatun (Sultan’s concubine). I don’t know how I ended up here, but it would be disastrous if it’s known a man is here.”
Anais nodded at his words. The man sighed and released her.
“I’m sorry. I was panicking. How did I end up here… Oh! Are you Irenean?”
The man who had just insisted on being quiet shouted and then covered his own mouth. His large frame crumpled down to the size of the bush, looking both comical and pitiful.
“You’re speaking Irenean too, you know.”
“Ah, so I am.”
How surprised must he be to not even realize what language he was speaking? The man muttered alternately in Irenean and Kamari before saying,
“…I’m feeling a bit better now.”
Anais couldn’t help but narrow her eyes at him. Perhaps reading the distrust in her eyes, the man introduced himself first.
“I’m Hashim, a legal scholar. I work at the palace next door.”
The man spoke kindly, but Anais’s face visibly paled upon hearing his answer.
“Is the Sultan’s palace next to this garden?”
“Yes, it seems so. I never imagined I’d wander into the harem…Ha-Hatun?”
Hashim cautiously addressed Anais, seeing her pale face. Transparent tears were now falling from her emerald eyes.
To think the garden and palace were directly connected. Even if she managed to escape the garden, it would be impossible for Anais to leave the palace alone. The desert might have been a more likely possibility.
Hashim, not understanding why Anais was crying, fidgeted uncomfortably.
“Hatun. Are you alright?”
“I’m not a Hatun.”
Anais shook her head. She was not a Hatun. Nor was she an Ikbal.
“My name is Anais de McKain. I’m the daughter of Count McKain of Irene.”
Her own name, yet it felt so unfamiliar to say it herself. No one in this harem called her Anais. Even Dalia, the only one she could converse with, called her Anesa after hearing her name.
“When I came to my senses, I was here. I was forcibly brought here.”
“How terrible…!”
Hashim’s face turned pale like Anais’. In principle, the women of the harem were the Sultan’s slaves. As such, most of the harem women either entered voluntarily to be chosen or were sold as slaves.
“Please let my family know about my situation. If I was sold, my family should be able to pay the price.”
Anais pleaded, but Hashim shook his head.
“Even if we did that, it would be difficult to prove your identity. According to the law, you can’t meet your family without receiving a concubine certificate. Do you have any clothes or accessories you were wearing?”
“That’s…”
Come to think of it, when she came to her senses in the harem, her clothes had already been changed.
“If you officially become an Ikbal or Hatun, you might be able to meet your family. How about that?”
“I want to leave this place.”
Anais said firmly, squeezing out her last bit of strength. A look of undeniable trouble etched itself on Hashim’s handsome brow.
“I understand Miss McKain’s wishes, but if you’re not careful, you could face great hardship for the crime of disrespecting the Sultan.”
In the end, it meant leaving the harem was impossible. She had barely held on, but each of Hashim’s words became despair, weighing down on her entire body. She didn’t even have the strength left to shed tears.
Perhaps to encourage the despondent Anais, Hashim added.
“How about this? Now that I know the way here, I’ll teach you Kamar language here from time to time. As you learn Kamar, you might find an opportunity that could be useful someday.”
“Kamar language…, ah!”
For a moment, something flashed through Anais’ mind. If she learned Kamar, there was a plan that could succeed. Anais grasped Hashim’s hand as if it were a lifeline.
“Really? Will you really teach me?”
Hashim seemed surprised but didn’t pull his hand away. Instead, he gave a gentle smile as if to reassure Anais.
“Yes. Let’s meet here every day. I can spare about an hour. There seems to be a passage behind here. Let’s use sitting on the bench as a signal.”
“An hour is good for me too.”
“But…”
“Yes?”
“Could you please let go of my hand?”
Hashim’s face was so red as he said this that Anais burst into laughter.
It was her first laugh in a very long time.
****
After that, Anais met Hashim every day under the pretext of taking a walk. Fortunately, the bench where they first met was in a secluded area away from people’s eyes and hidden from the servants’ view, allowing the two to focus on their studies for the short time they had.
Anais was a passionate student, and her skills improved so rapidly that it surprised Hashim.
As time passed and she put in the effort, she could somewhat understand the orders Dalia gave to the servants.
“You finished your meal today. Well done.”
Dalia was delighted when Anais didn’t leave any food. Now that she could understand Kamar, Anais deliberately acted as they wanted. She ate the meals and drank the tea they gave her, and didn’t resist when they undressed her, bathed her, and groomed her.
Anais hoped their guard would lower.
–She’s a foreigner but a beautiful woman. She’s scheduled to be presented to the Sultan soon, so take good care of her.
The content of Dalia’s instructions to the servants wasn’t particularly pleasant, but it was helpful. It meant that the time for Anais to execute her plan was approaching. Anais just smiled as if she knew nothing. Whether conscious or not, smiling was convenient as it could hide her hardening expression.
‘So that’s why you taught me things other than the rules.’
Perhaps thinking Anais had given up, Dalia recently taught her not only about the rules but also about life in the harem. The harem’s system, etiquette, lifestyle, and even the arts of the bedchamber.
Today was no different.
“Usually, you have time to prepare when the Sultan grants an audience, but if you suddenly have to meet the Sultan, you must close your eyes.”
“Why is that?”
“Among the harem women, only the Haseki Sultan, who is the Sultan’s official consort, can see the Sultan’s face.”
Dalia paused for a moment before continuing.
“It’s now a rule, but originally it was requested by Kamar, the highest goddess of the night and the first Haseki Sultan. She wanted to prevent other women from seeing and admiring her beloved Padisha.”
“I see.”
“Be careful, Anesa. They say the Padisha’s bloodline has the power to seduce the opposite sex.”
