Murad V's absence during this period had not aroused much suspicion. Or rather, for the Sultan, the supreme ruler, to remain out of sight was more in line with people's ingrained expectations.
After all, the Sultan personally going to inspect the front lines, even shouting slogans of holy war, was simply too bizarre to imagine.
Of course, there were always rumors—such as the Sultan being ill or wounded. But Valide Sultan Shevkyevza offered no explanation, merely claiming that the Sultan was indisposed and unable to appear in public.
At a time like this, any normal person would know better than to obsess over the Sultan's affairs. As for those determined to get to the bottom of it, they were either utterly lacking in social sense or Russian informants.
Valide Sultan Shevkyevza did not hesitate when dealing with such people. She had them all arrested and executed for treason.
With a great enemy at the gates, few people paid attention to such matters. Most of the Ottoman Empire's upper ranks merely assumed that Valide Sultan Shevkyevza was taking the opportunity to seize power.
The less one meddled in the royal family's internal affairs, the better. Besides, Murad V was far too fond of stirring things up; he truly was not a good monarch.
In truth, most people did not resent the Valide Sultan taking power. Only Shevkyevza and a tiny handful of trusted confidants knew that Murad V had already vanished.
"Still no news?"
Valide Sultan Shevkyevza's face was so dark it seemed water could drip from it. The palace servant before her looked helpless, but still nodded.
Valide Sultan Shevkyevza wanted to curse, "Useless fools," but in the end, she said nothing. She knew perfectly well how slim the odds were of finding someone outside at a time like this.