Banou lay there is anger and confusion. The voice she recognise is him. Stare at the chest in front of her. He did not let her go. They stay with the same position for a long time till, she see the shadow of light moving into the room.
"The sun is coming up! Leave now!"
He throw the blanket over her as he gets off the bed. Banou hear the footsteps of the person stumbling the way out. She is angry and taking deep breath. She throw away the blanket in anger as her maids come into the room. The maids who never see her in anger is afraid. They did everything as per her request. She wear her outfit with a veil. She decided that she needs to pray for she starts her day. It will help to calm her down.
In court she sit on the left sit near her father. She hear the arguments of the men in court. She sigh and wonder when is everything going to be over. Not a day they are not shouting. She hear her cup of tea is fill, she look up to see Halil. He smile to show his pearly teeth and dimples. She look away angry and frustrated.
For the day, she try to remain calm and cilivi. Not to create a scene. She walk away from everyone except her father. She ask for permission to leave the palace to go to the market with the heirs. Her request is granted and she leave with the boys and their bodyguards to walk around the market. At the market, they see the transactions of sellers and buyers. There are merchants of all kind. Including Chinese pastry and candies that they enjoy. Banou and the boys stand in from of the Chinese stall and buy nearly everything they have. Walking away with bag full of different types of candies. With the unorganised stalls is like walking into a maze that they don't know how to walk out. Banou walk with them closely as not to lose any of the boys. The guards who haven't been into the disorganised market is using their height to look for the direction they should walk. After awhile, Halil appear with a pair of guards behind him. He offer to show them the way out of this maze. The guards clear the way for the royalty members. While walking, Halil walk beside Banou. She maintain her regency and walk behind the heirs. Halil smile to himself, he plan to make her uncomfortable is happening now.
When dinner is over, the boys return to their boudoir while she follow her father to the royal gardens. Today he did not sit down to smoke instead he walk around the roses and look at them. Halil is standing in a distance watching them. Banou is uncomfortable for that young boy to watch them however she knows her father have something to say since they are standing so far away from the side. She hold his arm as he use his crane to drag his body as he walks.
"You must be angry now."
"No father. To serve you, i don't get angry."
"You know that I am not referring to this. I am referring to Halil."
Banou don't feel surprise and remain calm. So this is plan by her father.
"Since you are back for good in Persia, it is best that you follow our law. According to the law of marriage records, you are still single. You did not marry out from Persia and got yourself a marriage. It was not according to our customers thus you are over the age that you should be married. I have talk to the marriage beuareu about this. You belong to the Ottoman family and you need to set an example for the woman in Ottoman. Our laws are to be adher however i have get those old men to agree that you will only be engaged for now. Till your foreign husband ... die. You will not get marry yet."
Banou's hand are trembling as she listens what her father said. She press her lips tightly together. The Sultan notice this but he continue what he wants to say.
"The person i choose for you is Halil. He had been my aide for a long time. He is smart and quick thinking. Sometimes he will talk back to me when i don't listen to his advise. Yes, he is younger than you, twelve years to be precise."
The Sultan finally walk back to his favourite couch and he ask for his Sisha. He takes a puff and look at Banou. He wave to her and ask her to sit beside him.
"Importantly, he does not have family members. He is all alone and Ottoman family have accept him. In the beginning, i wanted him to be the husband for one of your younger sister. However the oldest is now only eight. How long more can he wait to marry her. So one of those old men suggest that you engaged to him and many years from now. When Ruby is fourteen, she will marry him as a second wife to produce children with him. You have pass the age of having children so this is a reasonable for him to marry another to have children."
Banou is beyond sad. Her hands tremble as she listens. Her eyes are cast down on the floor.
"So if he have needs now, satisfy him. He is a good man for Ottoman. He will be your best alley in future. I have given him enough power to satisfy his will. He personally promised me that he will hold the Ottoman family together. His children with Ruby will belong to our family. Halil also promise me that he will support whoever will be the future Sultan. So my daughter, will you accept this"
"My father, whether i accept or not, you already have make the decision with the council. So it doesn't matter whether i agree or disagree, It is already done."
"Banou is indeed my daughter. You understand and have accepted."
"As long as you don't force me to marry again when my husband is still alive, i will agree your arrangement."
"Be a mother for Ruby and Leila. I fear i won't live long to see them grow up."
"Yes father."
"When Ruby is ready to marry, teach her how to please a man in bed."
Banou's heart drop. She remain quiet. The smoke of the Sisha drift to her. It makes her feel sick.
"It i a good thing that you are still so beautiful and enchanting at this age. Your beauty is the weapon that can control man. Learn to use it Banou. Use it before a new Sultan is selected."