A/n: Neylan Hatun, in this story, is a woman who becomes a favorite of the Sultan Selim II and chronicles the adventures of the Harem in her diary.
Historically however, Neylan Hatun was a favorite of Sultan Selim, most likely killed when Murad III ascended the throne. But then again, this is my story so please read it and let me know what you think of it when you finish :) I might write another "chapter" in her diary some other time if people like the whole story and all. Also thank you for almost 300 views (3/19/24) on Muhtesem Yuzyil imagines!!!
Vocabulary:
Destur: Make way, Ben: I am/I'm, MashAllah: Thank Allah, InshAllah: Allah willing, Merhaba: Hello, Güzel: Beautiful, Hazretdleri: His/Her highness
"Neylan Hatun, get your but over here!" Gazanfer-agha had called to me from the other side of the harem. I groaned as I made my way over to the chief Harem eunuch.
Hello, greetings, Merhaba, ben Neylan Hatun. Since about 3 months ago, when I was kidnapped from my home of Greece and brought to the Ottoman Empire, I have been serving in the harem. Sultan Selim II had ascended the throne nearly a year ago upon Sultan Süleymans [may he rest in peace] death. I still haven't been noticed by him, and since his wife Nurbanu had her hands on the necks of every girl who came near him, I planned to finally take a shot. Someone must take down the snake, right? InshAllah it will be I.
Sultan Selim already had a teenage son, Murad, who also had a favorite (Safiye Hatun), but they are not much of a hope for the survival of the dynasty, if you know what I mean. I understood that the previous Sultan had a main consort who pretty much owned his heart, but Hürrem Sultana was one of a kind. And Mahidevran Hatun, as I believed she was called, still exercised some influence. Sultan Selim even promised to restore her wealth- outrageous, really!
I kept scribbling notes as I walked over to Gazanfer. In one swift motion he grabbed my diary and waved it around above us, infuriating me.
"Eh agha, give it back!" I started jumping in the air like crazy, trying to get it. We kept keeping this up for a minute, until the doormen called out,
"Desturrrrrr!!!!! Chief Consort/Haseki Nurbanu Sultan Hazretdleri!"
All the ladies of the Harem, and even Gazanfer-agha lined up in the halls on both sides to bow to Nurbanu. I got my diary back and began taking more notes.
She [Nurbanu] walked by us like the breeze, acting cool and above us all. I couldn't say I didn't envy her. She was rather beautiful, but nothing exceptional. The only thing that secured her high position was her wits and the relationship she maintained with the deceased Hürrem Sultana.
The story went that Nurbanu, who was of a wealthy Venetian family, got captured and enslaved in the Ottoman Harem. When they arrived, Hürrem happened to pass by and Nurbanu fell on her knees in front of her and begged to be sent home. However, the Elder Sultana took a liking to her (seeing something of herself in Nurbanu) and decided to send her to one of the Princes. Selim was the one she got, and Nurbanu quickly took control over him and forced her own set of rules on the drunkin', including the biggest one: no women besides her, ever. Hürrem obviously didn't care, and neither did her daughter Valide Mihrimah Sultana, Selim II's sister, who took over as the Queen Mother upon the Sultan's ascent to the throne.
"Neylan Hatun!" Hatice Kalfa yelled. I snapped up, and quickly penguin ran to her. A few other Harem girls were standing with me too. "Mihrimah Sultana wants to see you girls. Impress her."
"Valide? Us? wHat did we do?" A girl murmured under her breath.
"Hush hatun, mind your language. This is Valide Sultan we are talking about," I reminded the girl, who shot me a dirty look and rolled her eyes. I in turn, raised my chin and proceeded to follow Hatice Kalfa. Be the bigger person here, I thought to myself, smirking.
Older Mihrimah btw^