The love of Ibrahim and Hatice was forbidden. She is a mistress, and he is just a slave. The lovers dreamed of reunion, but they understood that Valide and the Sultan would never give their blessing to their marriage.
In addition, Valide and the Sultan decided to betroth Hatice to Mustafa's teacher, Mehmed Celebi, and even celebrated the engagement. Hatice understood that Ibrahim, for his love, could lose his life. Therefore, humbly, bowed her head before the blows of fate.
Going on a military campaign to Rhodes, Ibrahim promised his mistress, upon his return, to resolve this issue and leave the palace holding his beloved tightly by the hand. However, Ibrahim could not keep his promise.
Returning from a military campaign, Ibrahim learned that Hatice's fiancé was ill with consumption. Ibrahim hoped that the Sultan would cancel the wedding, but instead, Suleiman postponed the wedding and sent the best doctors to treat Celebi.
Ibrahim realized that he had lost and knew that he could not calmly look at the suffering of his beloved. Ibrahim decides to leave the Ottoman Empire and return to his native Parga.
Before leaving, Ibrahim wrote two letters. One to Suleiman, in which he told about his refusal of all privileges and titles, as well as about his love for Hatice. And the lady confessed that he ran away, because he was unable to fulfill his promise.
Ibrahim left for his native land, where he found his father, a fisherman and twin brother Niko.
However, Suleiman was offended by Ibrahim's escape and he perceived this act as a betrayal. Sultan Suleiman sends guards with a letter to Parga, in which he orders Ibrahim to return. Suleiman warned the pasha that if he refused, the guards in Topkapi would bring him by force.
Ibrahim understood that in the Ottoman lands, death awaited him. But he did not dare to disobey the order of the master.
With a heavy burden on his soul and with the thought of imminent death, Ibrahim and his family go to the ruler.
