Leonarda looked at her new wardrobe.
"The most beautiful silks, satins, and taffetas in the world, probably."she said to herself.
Then she realized that perhaps she should not wear any of it. After all, it was given to her because she had committed a sin.
"I shall not wear this."she said to Safiye.
Safiye stared at her.
"I can't. I shouldn't even be dressed in this."she pointed to her dress. "I should be dressed in something inexpensive, and modest. Not something so ostentatious."she told her.
"Why?"
"Because I have committed a sin. Not only that, but it is just not right. None of it."said Leonarda.
Jasmine walked in, and spotted Leonarda sitting on the divan. Leonarda looked up, startled.
"You're the princess?"she asked.
"Sultana."Jasmine corrected her.
"Oh."
Leonarda did not meet her eyes, and simply stared at her hands.
"You are a Christian?"said Jasmine, looking at the beads in Leonarda's hands.
"Yes."she said.
"Then how did you rise so quickly? Usually no one rises unless they learn Quran."said Jasmine.
"I can't read Arabic."said Leonarda. "And I can't give up my religion."she said, even though, she knew that she was further than ever from the Church. "I know I did wrong, but…did I have any other choice?"she asked.
"Choice?"
"What else could I have done? I was in the courtyard."she said. "That was it. I was standing there, and…"
"You could have not come."said Jasmine.
"They said I was supposed to. The Kizlar Aghasi himself came to get me, and took me to the Sultan. They say they beat you if you don't obey. I was never afraid of death, but I have committed a sin, and then I shall be condemned forever."
Leonarda shivered, as she feared for her soul.
"Of course you shall be condemned!"said Jasmine. "The only wrong you did was that you are trying to take my husband! Why you! The other girls never caught his attention! Not even my handmaids! And you!"
Jasmine walked out of the room angrily. Leonarda clasped her Rosary beads to her chest. She got on her knees.
"My Lord, forgive this sinner."she said, as she touched her head to the floor.
Perhaps that was why she had left the convent in the first place. Perhaps God had willed it. She didn't belong there. Not a sinner like her. Not even if she spent the rest of her days in prayer and fasting, could she ever be forgiven, and she knew it. There was simply no forgiveness for what she had done. It was not just that. She hated to admit to herself, that she had liked it. She certainly thought him handsome. She wasn't even worthy to look up towards Heaven. So, she put her beads away.
"She likes to play innocent, I know she does."said Jasmine. "You should have seen her! Now she thinks she will be condemned!"she exclaimed. "Condemned! Perhaps I should act teary eyed, also. I mean, what exactly could she have that I don't?"
Sirhane looked at her, thinking.
"Perhaps just that she knows how to act well, as you say?"
"She doesn't fool me."
"What you think isn't important. What's important is what he thinks, I guess."
"You don't think he will not to send for me again?"asked Jasmine.
Sirhane shrugged.
"And whatever happened to the princess?"asked Genie.
"Well, Jasmine just doesn't care. She doesn't love me. Shula was different. I mean, I still love Jasmine, but…"
Genie nodded.
"So you've given up on her."
"I guess so."