Banou continue to wait and Afshin keep asking. Hassan continue to be kneeling down with the sword on his neck. Afshin is frustrated with his question.
"Why aren't you answering me?"
"There isn't a need to answer your question."
"There is! I don't understand why grandfather is looking so far when there are grown up grandsons beside him!"
"Duke Hassan what the Sultan is thinking of, we don't know. We are his subjects. We have to obey his command."
"I am not a subject. I am a man who will lead our nation further and more..."
"Hassan, we have hear enough from you. I will write to my father and let him know that you have attempted to kidnapped the boys and try to kill them. I will have you tired up till my father's commands arrives."
"I am a Duke! Your ...."
"From the day you kidnapped the heirs, it is a choice that you have made and i have made a decision too. You shall be kept in a place, alive. You will not die under my watch. I have to warn you that what you have done, will complicate my brother in Persia. I believe my father will punish him base on his character that i know."
Hassan's face drop along with the tears and sweat beads.
"You cannot do this to my father! He is ... he doesn't know!"
"Don't you know that when a family member makes a mistake, it's crime will be laid on all the other members as well."
She stand up and walk in front of him. He look at her sandals.
"I not sure if you know this. I was exile on the second day of my wedding. That wedding day, i wasn't even officially married to my groom but still i am arrested. Thrown in jail, branded and exile into the sands. Just because someone spread a tale within the family. and every single male family member were executed. This is the way how Persians deal with crimes and family. Whether the family is involved or not, we are not merciful to care."
After awhile, Afshin asked the guards to tied him tightly and transfer to his mansion. In the silence of the night, the carriage brings Hassan into the residence and keep there in one of the room in darkness.
"Princess Banou... are you..."
"No it is just to scare him. Although we are famous for being cruel, i am not planning to become part of this. I am just wanting to protect the innocent children."
"I understand Princess. I will dispatch a letter tomorrow to the Sultan."
"Please don't allow him to dispatch more soldiers here. the emperor might not like it and will cause harm to the relationship of two nations."
"I understand.I will take my leave."
He bow deeply and walk out with a maid who is holding a lantern to shine the way out. Banou look at Wang MoMo with sadness in her eyes.
"That man, my nephew. He desire the throne. Whether my brother is involved in this or not, he will not be spare."
"Throne is always desired by many others yet there is only a few who is able to rule with a clear head."
"That's why he is never in the selection of an heir. He is boastful and reckless. Under his rule, the empire will crumble to dust."
The next morning, the letter is send out via a fast rider. Banou and Afshin try to keep him alive and feed him on time. However he desire to escape fearing the imperial royal guards will come to bring him back for his punishment. He keep pleading that his family know nothing of this but this is something they cannot decided.
The two boys now officially stay in the prince mansion. With the company of the twins and other children. They learn a lot and are happier. They learn other languages and learn to write Chinese characters. While she have people who report to her that the emperor is asking who are the two boys who are staying in the Prince mansion. Everyone they ask, all have the same reply either they don't know who they are or they are just the nephews here for further education.
Meanwhile Banou receive a letter from her father a month later.
Dearest daughter,
I have received the urgent letter from Afshin. I cannot understand the content in it. I had read it a few times. It saddens my heart to know what Hassan have did. Thank god that nothing had happen to the boys.
Hassan is one of my older grandsons. He is the youngest among the three grandsons excluding your son. Hassan is the most intelligent and diligent boy. Unlike his father, he is quick on his thinking. I have asked his father to send him away for education. So that he can in future understands what his father needs him to do in the family. In the end, he have mistaken that he should be the one siting on the throne.
I have dispatch my men along with this letter. They will escort him back to Ottoman empire and receive my punishment. His father and family will not be spared of the outcome.
Banou, you have observe the two boys for more than a month now. Which one of them, do you prefer in mind to be the one heir? Although you have repeatedly refuse your son to sit on the throne, i still will put him in first place as my preference. He have display characters that an Ottoman family have. A man who welt enough power and strength. Now the boys i have selected is base on a close resembles of your son. Who do you think can be the one who is capable to rule this empire for the next hundred years? Write to me and let me know on your thoughts on this.
May god always set his grace upon you.
Banou who always have her answer in her heart but how can she is the one choosing who to rule. It's like asking a mother which son will she favour most.