Meanwhile in Topkapi Palace
Someone knocked on the doors of Bayezid's chambers. He ordered aghas to let that person in.
- Father... - Murad said and ran into his hug. Bayezid got up from his bed and hugged his eldest son Murad.
- Murad, my lion, I missed you so much. - Bayezid said as he kissed Murad's cheeks gently.
- Father, is Valide with you? She went outside today, and she didn't return. - Murad told him with sad voice, because he was really afraid where is his mother.
- We were together in Gardens, but she is not with me. How do you mean she didn't return? Its a night already. - Bayezid said as he started being scared of what happened.
- Valide went in morning, and she didn't return. Meryem Kalfa said me that she is with you. I miss my Valide. - Murad said as he started crying. Bayezid kissed him in his forehead to convince him everything is fine.
- You will now go with Meryem Kalfa, and I will go to you Valide. She is here somewhere, don't worry my lion. - Bayezid said to him and smiled, even though he was afraid if anything bad happened.
Meryem Kalfa took Murad and went with him in Aslihan's chambers, and Bayezid went to a Harem to search for Aslihan.
"Attention! His Imperial Majesty Şehzade Bayezid Hazertleri!" aghas which were standing on the doors yelled as Bayezid came to the Harem.
Bayezid was walking furiously until he saw Bulbul-aga and Rukiye Kalfa standing in Harem. He walked towards them, and they bowed to him.
- Where is Aslihan? Tell me right now! - Bayezid said to him as he was really upset where she is.
- Şehzade, isn't she with you? She went outside with you today, and she haven't returned. - Bulbul-aga said as he started being worried where Aslihan is.
- She returned to Palace alone, why did no one of you take care where she is? - Bayezid yelled on them and whole Harem was surprised by his yelling.
- Şehzade, we are sorry.. We didn't know... - Meryem Kalfa said as she was really afraid of Bayezid at that moment.
- Order aghas to go and find her. You will look at every part of Istanbul. You will find her, otherwise I will kill everyone. You need to bring her back. - Bayezid yelled on everyone in Harem.
He went outside at that moment, sat on his horse, and went to search for Aslihan.
Back to Aslihan
I sat locked in a dark room. Rustem would walk around the hut from time to time, and sometimes he would go inside and start threatening me.
I was just waiting for him to come and kill me. I knew my end was near. I knew Rustem had no mercy on me.
I could start yelling and shout for help as much as I wanted, but we were in a deserted forest. No one could even hear me. And when I tried that, Rustem would start beating me.
It's been three days since Rustem kidnapped me. For three days and three nights I sat alone, on a glass of water and a piece of bread. Not even in my most difficult days did I live like this.
Rustem set up his men to watch over me while he was gone. They were even more rude to me than Rustem, all but one. His name was Yahya, and he brought me food. He tried to have the best possible conditions.
- I am very sorry to have to keep you here, but Rustem-pasha ordered me to do so. If I let you go, he will kill my wife and children. - He told me in a sad tone showing me his pity for me.
- Yahya, let me go. Get rid of these security guards from the door. When you let me go, I will do whatever is important to save your family. When I tell the Sultan what happened, Rustem will be punished. Then no one will be able to harm you or your family. - I told him as I watched him sadly trying to persuade him to let me go.
- We can do that tonight. Rustem will certainly not be here. Then I'll let go of the rope you're tied to. When I get rid of these security guards in front, I'll give you a sign that you can get out. And then take care of yourself, because I have to run away too. - He told me and smiled slightly at me.
- God bless you, Yahya. Ask me whatever you want. I'll give you everything for this. - I told him and smiled happily at him because this gave me hope that I would escape from here and return to my family in the Palace.
- Take this, this is for you. You will need it. The palace is not very close. I'll go halfway with you, and then I have to go to my family. - He told me and handed me the knife. At that point, he loosened the rope on my hands so I could get out more easily later, and he putted the knife behind me so no one could see it. He went outside and pretended nothing had happened.
I just waited for it to get dark and night to come. I was thinking about Bayezid and my children all the time. Many times I warned him that someone would do something bad to me, but he always thought I was just imagining it. He never believed me about that, and he was sure no one would dare to do something like that to me. I hope he realizes his mistake this time, even though it may have been too late. I wasn’t sure if Yahya’s plan would work, so I was ready for anything. I was ready that tonight I will either return to Palace, or I will be dead.