The door to the Room of Ablution creaks open. Valide steps in, clacking her carved ebony cane against the tile, the single ruby in its center shining a beam of purple-red as the morning light streams and bends through it.
She scowls at me. “What are you doing at this hour?”
I turn to her, naked. “As you see, I am preparing myself for the Pasha. He has summoned me.”
Valide harrumphs. “God knows what he sees in you, feckless girl. Girl who has failed to bear him an heir.”
“Perhaps you should ask him.”
“You may be the favorite for now, but there is treachery in your velvet eyes, and one day he will discover it.” She glowers at me.
“But that day is not today. Today I am called to serve Pasha, and I do so humbly. But I must first finish my ablutions and ready myself, as he prefers. I wouldn’t think you’d want to interfere in that.”
She narrows her eyes at me and cackles. “Shameless barren girl. I suppose you think my son honors you with the ancient title of haseki, that like Süleyman the Magnificent, he would elevate you to wife. I’m afraid you may find your confidence is woefully misplaced. You’re merely an expendable object of desire. One that is easily replaced.”