Chapter 136: Nusrat Jahan
The wind howled with its fierce spirit, but the tides of the sea reigned over its stormy rage. The sky was adorned with stars while the lone moon added its elegance with its simple presence. Amidst this dim moonlight, the fleet of twenty ships tore through the waves as they carved their way to the port of Bengal.
The royal Safavid fleet, a majestic assembly of merchant vessels protected by their formidable war galleys loaded with cannons, ventured from the Persian Gulf into the Arabian waters.
On the deck of the flagship, a young woman of twenty years leaned over the railing, savoring the rare sight of dolphins leaping and frolicking beside the hull of the ship.
She wore a gown of royal blue, richly adorned with intricate Persian designs that shined in the moonlight complimenting her jade like skin. The outer cloak, made of luxurious fabric, enhanced her royal charm as she stood engrossed in the sight against the sailing waters.
She wore a jewellery that included a captivating gemstone, often got engulfed on her soft curves as it struggled to peek out but got stuck due to the rythm of sailing tides.
A veil concealed her face, revealing only her almond-shaped eyes, which shifted to the dark clouds gathering on the horizon, mirroring her internal turmoil.
She was Nusrat Jahan, the daughter of Shah Tahmasp from one of his concubines. Despite her princess status, her life was fraught with challenges. Other daughters from the Shah’s harems vied for influence and power, leading to assassinations and court intrigue, including the poisoning of her mother, who had been a favorite of the Shah.
Although they were often seen merely as tools for marriage alliances, everything changed when Tashmap ascended to the throne as shah then decided to train his daughters in the arts of sabotage and espionage.
Throughout her childhood, Nusrat had to endure hardships and earn her place, eventually rising to become a top member of the Crescent Moon, a secretive organization with roots in the Nizari Ismailis, the legendary Persian assassins. Officially, it was known as an intelligence network, but its dark secrets were known only to the Shah.
She had been slated to be gifted as a concubine to an Ottoman noble, Ahmat pasha from Kars city for her unparalleled beauty, to ease trade relations. Her main objective was to investigate the military outposts and monitor the noble. However, the plan was abruptly changed, and she was replaced by a lower-ranking member, which infuriated her.