Chapter 56 Beat but not broken

• Roksolana walked gently back to the harem, careful not to let anyone see her. Her legs wobbled each time she moved due to the pain she felt. Her first thought as she left the house had been to go to the kitchen so that she could go to Seyiddah for comfort. But she knew that the Sultan would come there to look for her if he couldn't find her in the harem. She wanted to avoid putting the people in the kitchen and her friends in danger of his wrath. As the building of the harem loomed in front of her, she looked around from the shadows. When she was sure that there was no one outside, she dashed into the house. Luckily for her, the hall was silent. She made her way to her room and rushed into the bathing room to clean up. The water made her feel better and lighter.
• She got back to the room and met Azeezat sitting on her bed, patiently waiting for her. Roksolana wished she knew ways she could make the princess go away. True, she enjoys the company of the princess, but she wasn't in the mood for a chat or gossip right now. She just wanted to lay down and rest her brains. But since she knew that there was no way out, she cleared her throat to get the other woman's attention.
• Princess Azeezat looked up instantly, and Roksolana didn't fail to see the lines of worry that etched itself on the princess's beautiful face. She walked over to the princess's side, sat beside her, and held her hands. Roksolana noticed that the princess's hands were trembling in hers.