The novel opens amid the moonlit atmosphere of Constantinople, beginning with a glittering gathering at the German Embassy. The entrance of the dancer Nihla Quellen instantly captivates diplomats and socialites alike. Figures such as Count d’Eblis and Ferez Bey view her through lenses of desire, ambition, and calculation. The structured movement from day to night mirrors the gradual intrusion of intrigue into her private life. This part establishes a romantic surface beneath which power and fate quietly begin to intertwine.
