Sultan Mehmed faces a turbulent chapter marked by personal grief and political upheaval, as the critical condition of Prince Beyazıd stirs unrest within the palace. Amid rising tensions in the imperial court—fueled by rivalries between Mahmud Pasha and İshak Pasha, and debates over Zağanos Pasha—Mehmed navigates shifting alliances against Karaman, Pontus, and the Vatican. While Beyazıd clings to life, Mustafa is ceremoniously inducted into the Janissary corps and sent on campaign. As Vlad Tepes plots in Pontus and the Karatuğs endure torture, Basat grows wary of betrayal. Mehmed’s decision to recall Zağanos Pasha signals a pivotal shift, just as the Ottoman army marches toward Beyşehir, where an impending battle and palace power shifts will shape the empire’s destiny.
