Chapter 40 – At the Break of Dawn
Viki had woken up early, taken great care in getting ready, and set off toward the inn. As she walked, she couldn't shake off her thoughts. Her mind was still on Balibey. She couldn't believe she had developed feelings for a Turk, and the more she thought about how absurd it was, the more annoyed she became with herself.
The morning chill had only just begun to settle over the streets of Venice. The sun had not yet fully risen. The market streets were still quiet and sparsely populated. Viki boarded a gondola and got off at the dock nearest to the inn where Murat and his men were staying. After walking a few more streets, she arrived at the inn and stepped inside. At one of the tables on the ground floor, she saw Balibey sitting alone.
She hadn't expected to run into him so directly. Her cheeks flushed for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and tried to act normal.
"Good morning, Balibey," she said.
Balibey glanced at her briefly and replied in a serious tone, "What are you doing here at this hour? We were supposed to meet at your home tonight. Visiting this frequently could raise suspicions from prying eyes and ears."
Viki was irritated by his tone. "Did I really fall for this brute?" she thought, and then snapped, "You really are a brute," before turning on her heel and heading for the stairs.
Balibey followed behind. "Where are you going? His Majesty hasn't woken yet—you might disturb him," he grumbled.
Just then, Murat came down the stairs. Balibey quickly straightened up and offered a formal greeting.
"Good morning, my Sultan."
Viki simply said, "Good morning," with minimal effort.
Murat greeted them both, then turned to Viki. "Is something wrong? We were planning to come to your house this evening."
Still fuming over her exchange with Balibey, Viki shot him a glare and replied to Murat, "Dear cousin, when one makes a plan, one should make it properly. You didn't overlook this part, did you?"
The sarcasm in her tone was unmistakable. Balibey let out a quiet groan of frustration. Murat chuckled and said, "You two get along surprisingly well... What do you say, Balibey? Would you like to be part of the family?"
Viki blushed furiously. Balibey cleared his throat with an awkward cough. Murat's laughter echoed through the room.
Viki, visibly irritated, muttered, "Who would ever want to marry this brute?"
Still laughing, Murat eventually composed himself and turned serious.
"You haven't said why you're here."
Viki shifted her gaze from Balibey to Murat. Though still annoyed, she softened her voice.
"Honestly… you're all hopeless. What exactly do you plan to wear to tomorrow night's ball?"
Murat looked down at himself, acknowledging the point.
"You're right. We'll need proper attire. Let's have breakfast first, then we can go shopping."
The three of them set out together, stepping into the cool morning air as they embarked on another step in their plan.
They stopped at a small soup shop near the inn. After a warm meal, they immediately began their walk toward the shopping district. Murat and Viki walked side by side ahead, while Balibey followed a few steps behind, moving cautiously and keeping a watchful eye.
As they made their way along the narrow road that ran beside the canal, the city was slowly coming to life. Market stalls were being set up, gondolas floated gently in the water, and people began to fill the streets. Fishermen called out loudly, women haggled over prices—it was the chaotic symphony of Venice's morning bustle.
Suddenly, a small boy carrying freshly baked loaves of bread raced past them like a gust of wind. Steam still rose from the loaves—he was clearly in a hurry.
Murat's gaze followed the boy. Just ahead, the child collided with a young woman, knocking her off balance.
With a sharp scream, the woman tumbled into the canal. The bread scattered across the road, and the boy, panicked, glanced around and fled. A murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd. The woman's voice rang out in desperation: "Help! Someone, please!" But the onlookers merely exchanged nervous glances—no one stepped forward.
Murat didn't hesitate for a second.
Without a word, he shrugged off his cloak and dove into the water. Viki and Balibey stared in shock as he swam forcefully toward the woman, who was flailing as she went under. He reached her quickly, wrapped an arm around her waist, and swam back toward the edge with powerful strokes.
Balibey immediately jumped in to manage the crowd, calling out, "Someone help!" He extended a hand, helping to pull both Murat and the woman from the water.
"Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.
Murat, even while dripping wet, remained calm. "I'm fine," he said, turning his attention to the young woman cradled in his arms. Her eyelids fluttered before slowly opening.
Her breathing steadied. Fear still lingered in her eyes, but she was alive.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Murat asked gently.
The woman wiped the water from her face with trembling hands. Then, she looked up into Murat's eyes. Her wet hair clung to her face, her skin pale but graceful. In a faint voice, she whispered, "You… saved me… thank you…"
Murat gave her a polite nod. "It's nothing. What matters is that you're safe."
In that moment, a thought passed through his mind: this woman was truly beautiful. Stunning, even.
The crowd, reassured by the fact that she was alive, began to settle. Murat slowly rose to his feet, his gaze lingering on the woman.
"Thank you again for saving me," she repeated, her eyes still fixed on him.
Murat, adjusting his clothes, replied, "It really was nothing. I'm just glad you're alright."
The woman insisted, "No, everyone else just stood there. You were the only one who jumped in. May I know your name?"
Murat, still straightening his clothes, replied, "My name is Murat. I'm a Turkish merchant from Rhodes, come to Venice for trade."
The woman, also adjusting her attire, seemed to be waiting for him to ask her name—but she gave in and said, "I'm Mariam. A pleasure to meet you."
As Murat looked more closely at her face, something caught his eye—a small beauty mark just below the left side of her chin. It was a striking detail, one that made her beauty unforgettable.