Chapter 1

Morning arrived quietly over the Silver Moon Empire.

Moonlight still lingered faintly across the palace windows even as the first rays of sunlight touched the distant mountains.

Inside the royal palace, Hurrem La Rosa was still asleep.

Her long, wavy silver hair was spread across her pillows, while the curtains around her bed moved gently with the morning breeze.

A maid carefully opened the curtains.

Maid: “My Goddess?”

Nothing.

Maid: “Lady Hurrem?”

Hurrem pulled the blanket over her head.

Hurrem: “The Moon Goddess is unavailable.”

The maid paused.

Maid: “You are the Moon Goddess.”

Hurrem: “Exactly. Which means I have officially declared myself unavailable.”

The maid tried not to laugh.

Maid: “Your family is already waiting for you.”

Hurrem slowly lowered the blanket.

Hurrem: “That is unfortunate.”

Maid: “Very.”

Hurrem stared at the ceiling for a moment.

Hurrem: “Fine. Tell them I am coming.”

Maid: “You said that yesterday.”

Hurrem: “And I meant it yesterday.”

The maid left before Hurrem could continue.

A few moments later, Hurrem finally rose.

She dressed for the morning in a rich purple, medieval-Ottoman-inspired gown.

The upper part was a deep purple, long-sleeved fitted bodice with a softly gathered neckline. Over her shoulders rested a large purple hooded cloak, falling gracefully down both sides of her body.

Around her shoulders and down the front of the gown was a thick, textured fur-like trim in a muted dark olive-gray-brown shade.

Beneath the purple layers, the skirt was long, dark brown-black and flowing all the way to the floor.

Delicate silver earrings and a silver necklace rested against her.

Her long, wavy silver hair fell around her shoulders beneath the purple hood, while her purple eyes carried the unmistakable presence of the Moon Goddess.

By the time she reached the dining hall, her parents were already seated.

Her father, Lucien, sat at the head of the table.

Her mother, Cecilian, sat beside him.

Isabella was already eating.

Hurrem walked in and immediately noticed something.

Silence.

Not ordinary morning silence.

Something was wrong.

Hurrem slowly sat down.

Hurrem: “Why is everyone looking like someone just cancelled the moon?”

Isabella looked at her.

Isabella: “Good morning to you too.”

Hurrem: “Good morning. Now, why is Father staring at his plate like it personally offended him?”

Lucien: “I am not.”

Hurrem looked at Cecilian.

Hurrem: “Mother?”

Cecilian: “Eat your breakfast.”

Hurrem narrowed her eyes.

Hurrem: “That was suspiciously quick.”

Isabella: “You are suspicious of everything.”

Hurrem: “Because everything is suspicious.”

Lucien remained unusually quiet.

Hurrem picked up a piece of fruit.

She looked between her parents.

Hurrem: “Did something happen?”

Lucien: “No.”

Hurrem: “You answered too quickly.”

Cecilian: “Hurrem.”

Hurrem: “Mother.”

Cecilian: “Eat.”

Hurrem slowly took a bite.

Hurrem: “Fine.”

She continued eating, but her eyes remained on her parents.

Whatever was happening...

They were not telling her.

Not yet.

Later that morning, Hurrem left the palace and made her way toward the Moon Temple.

The temple stood on a hill overlooking the Silver Moon Empire.

Its enormous silver doors opened as she approached.

Inside, hundreds of candles illuminated the marble halls.

The walls were decorated with crescent moons, silver flowers and ancient symbols dedicated to the Heavens.

Hurrem's purple cloak flowed behind her as she walked through the temple, the dark skirt of her gown brushing softly against the floor.

This was where people came when they wanted one answer.

One very important answer.

Were they truly meant for each other?

Hurrem entered the temple.

The moment she stepped inside, the people waiting immediately bowed.

Everyone: “Moon Goddess.”

Hurrem smiled.

Hurrem: “Please, please. You are making me feel important.”

A priest standing nearby raised an eyebrow.

Priest: “You are the Moon Goddess.”

Hurrem: “Yes, but I like pretending I am humble.”

The priest sighed.

Priest: “Your first couple is waiting.”

Hurrem: “Already?”

Priest: “They have been waiting for nearly an hour.”

Hurrem: “Oh, then they must be confident.”

Priest: “Extremely.”

Hurrem walked toward the Moon Chamber.

Two people were standing together in the center.

The moment Hurrem entered, the young woman smiled confidently.

Woman: “Goddess Hurrem!”

Hurrem: “Hello.”

The man beside her smiled.

Man: “We already know the answer.”

Hurrem stopped.

Hurrem: “Do you?”

Woman: “Yes.”

Hurrem: “Interesting.”

Man: “We are completely compatible.”

Woman: “Absolutely.”

Man: “One hundred percent.”

Hurrem looked at them.

Then at the priest.

Then back at them.

Hurrem: “You haven't even asked me yet.”

Woman: “We don't need to.”

Hurrem: “Oh?”

Man: “We can feel it.”

Woman: “Our hearts know.”

Hurrem slowly smiled.

Hurrem: “Your hearts?”

Woman: “Yes.”

Hurrem: “Wonderful.”

She raised one hand.

The silver moonlight inside the chamber began to glow.

A circle of light appeared beneath the couple.

Hurrem closed her purple eyes.

The room became completely silent.

The silver light moved around the couple.

Then...

It stopped.

Hurrem opened her eyes.

The couple smiled confidently.

Woman: “See?”

Man: “We told you.”

Hurrem looked at them.

Hurrem: “Zero.”

Silence.

Woman: “...What?”

Hurrem: “Zero percent.”

Man: “Zero?”

Hurrem: “Zero-zero.”

She made a small gesture with her fingers.

Hurrem: “Not ten. Not five. Not even one.”

The woman stared at her.

Hurrem: “You two are standing at a romantic compatibility level that is basically a polite handshake.”

The priest immediately looked away, trying not to laugh.

Woman: “But...we love each other.”

Hurrem softened slightly.

Hurrem: “I did not say you don't care about each other.”

Man: “But you said we're not compatible.”

Hurrem: “Correct.”

Woman: “How?”

Hurrem: “Because apparently your hearts are excellent at making decisions without consulting the rest of you.”

The man covered his face.

Hurrem smiled sympathetically.

Hurrem: “You may still care for one another. My temple does not command your feelings.”

She stepped closer.

Hurrem: “I simply tell you what I see.”

The couple looked at each other.

Their confidence had completely disappeared.

Woman: “So...zero?”

Hurrem: “Zero.”

Man: “Completely?”

Hurrem: “Completely.”

The couple slowly walked out.

The woman looked like she was about to cry.

Hurrem watched them leave.

Hurrem: “And that is why I never say ‘trust your heart’ without adding ‘please use your brain too.’”

The priest finally laughed.

Priest: “Goddess.”

Hurrem: “What?”

Priest: “You are going to make people afraid to come here.”

Hurrem: “No, they keep coming.”

She looked toward the enormous temple doors.

A long line of people stretched outside.

Hurrem: “Look at them.”

Priest: “They want answers.”

Hurrem: “They always do.”

Hurrem sighed dramatically.

Hurrem: “Every day, people arrive saying, ‘Goddess, we know we're meant for each other.’”

Priest: “And many leave in tears.”

Hurrem: “Exactly.”

She folded her arms.

Hurrem: “And somehow, tomorrow, another couple will walk through those doors and tell me they are one hundred percent compatible.”

The priest smiled.

Priest: “What will you tell them?”

Hurrem looked toward the doors.

Hurrem: “I'll let the moon decide.”

A few moments later, another couple entered.

They were smiling.

The man confidently stepped forward.

Man: “Goddess Hurrem, before you say anything—”

Hurrem closed her eyes.

Hurrem: “Please don't.”

Man: “We know.”

Hurrem opened one eye.

Hurrem: “You know?”

Woman: “We are perfect for each other.”

Hurrem stared at them.

Hurrem: “Of course you are.”

The priest covered his mouth.

Hurrem raised her hand.

The moonlight returned.

Silver light surrounded the couple.

Hurrem watched the vision form. Her expression slowly shifted from mild amusement to something else. The silver light flickered once, twice, then steadied, but the image that came to her was not the couple's future. It was a face she had never seen—dark eyes, sharp jaw, a crown she did not recognize. The vision dissolved before she could grasp it. She staggered back a step, her hand dropping to her side.

The couple stared at her, confused.

Man: “Goddess? What did you see?”

Hurrem blinked, her heart racing. “Nothing,” she said, her voice flat. “The moon is silent today.”

The woman’s face fell. “But we—”

“Please leave.”

The couple exchanged a glance, then hurried out.

The priest approached her. “My Goddess, what happened?”

Hurrem shook her head, the strange face still burned into her mind. Before she could answer, the silver doors of the temple swung open. A palace messenger rushed in, breathless.

Messenger: “Lady Hurrem! Your father demands your immediate return. An Ottoman envoy has arrived at the palace.”

The priest’s face went pale.

Hurrem’s blood ran cold.

The Ottoman Empire.

The blood oath.

The Heavens' witness.

She met the messenger’s gaze. “An envoy? From the Ottoman Empire?”

Messenger: “Yes, my Goddess. They request an audience with the royal family.”

Hurrem’s hand tightened around her cloak. The vision. The face. The crown.

She turned to the priest. “Close the temple for today.”

Without another word, she swept past the messenger and out the silver doors, her heart pounding like a war drum. The sky above the Silver Moon Empire was still clear, but inside her something had shifted.

The moon had shown her a face she did not know—and now the Ottomans were at her doorstep.