The Sultan was more begrieved by the death and customarily sudden burial than anyone in his court anticipated him to be. Not that anyone beside Suleiman and his brother, Bayezid, truly knew the young ruler. Bayezid was probably dead, he knew; and that only hurt worse.
Selim had always wanted to make a name of his own. To ensure that his name be remembered among the great conquerors he learned of in the Palace School, but... What about his family? The one he was expecting, with his wife, Haolian?
His father was not a conqueror. According to The Nişancı, Abdul was a family man. The patriarch of their legendary dynasty, but Selim could not recall the voice of his father. What did his sisters think of the man who'd sacraficed each them for notoriety?
The hall's silence was interrupted by a flustered attendant, summoning her Sultan to the new Apartment of The Sultana. His wife was in active labor.
As Selim met his daughter, he knew that his children would remember his words, voice, and witness. That she would feel as valued as he had and none of his sons would share Bayezid's fate.
Before he could hold his Princess, another cry rang from the bed onto which Haolian was moved. The Sultan was the first to hold his son and as he gazed at the babe's face, Selim was overwhelmed again with thoughts of his father and brother. He named the boy Bayezid and allowed himself hope for their newly unplanned future.
