My Enemy, My Love

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔴𝔬

 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸ℯ 𝒯𝒽𝓎𝓂ℯ

It all started when I was 13. Our families had enrolled us in the same prestigious private institute, hoping we'd graduate with the necessary qualifications to uphold our royal duties. Luka was two years older than me, but his repeated failures to advance past Matayom 2 had left him stuck in our class and forced to repeat it. After being held back twice, we finally met on that disastrous first day -- the day that shaped our relationship forever. 

From the moment we were seated beside each other, the rivalry began. We argued constantly, a relentless battle over who excelled more in academics, sports, and even in social circles. Luka's competitive nature, which had intensified after his academic failures, led him to dive headfirst into relentless study sessions, as if compensating for the opportunities he had lost. He wasted no time in pushing himself to succeed if it meant beating me to it. 

If I got 99%, he got 100%. 

Over the years, we had made each other's lives a living nightmare -- yet neither of us seemed eager to put an end to it. What had once been a childish rivalry over test scores and sports had transformed into something far more bitter and personal. Our clashes grew deeper, no longer confined to the classroom. Small slights, petty insults, and a constant need to challenge each other became part of our daily interactions. But the true turning point came five years ago, with the misunderstanding between the Chonburi and Bangkok Kingdoms.

A simple treaty signing to strengthen the trade routes between our two kingdoms tuned into bitter accusation. Chonburi's representatives believed Bangkok had deliberately undermined the deal by sending fake, unusable goods instead of genuine ones as promised. My father denied the accusations, claiming it was a mistake by a third-party merchant. But the damage had been done and the trust was shattered. 

What had once been a boyish rivalry now took on a political dimension. For Luka, I respresnted the deceit and arrogance of my Kingdom; to me, he embodied manipulation and suspicion of his own. Every argument was sharpened by our Kingdom's deteriorating relationship. At social gatherings the tension was palpable, as if each of us believed we were defending our Kingdom's from insult. 

Neither of us could back down, not with so much history and pride at stake. And so, the feud continued, growing darker and more intense with every passing year. It got to the point where we simply couldn't stand each other's presence. And in some twisted way, antagonising each other gave us a sense of control and power.

Unfortunately, Anurak and Meili were caught in the crossfire. They never asked for it, but Luka and his ever-loyal entourage seemed to relish using them as pawns to get under my skin. The worst part was that neither Anurak nor Meili could avoid him. They were dragged into Luka's endless schemes and provocations simply because of their friendship with me.

And that only made me hate him more. 

As we sat down at the long wooden banquet table in the Great Hall, I noticed Meili's expression shift from its usual calm to one of deep worry. She was holding a letter in her hands. The errand boy who had delivered it insisted that she read it immediately. That, in itself, was unusual. Anurak, curious, leaned over her shoulder as he crammed fried pork sticks into his mouth, trying to catch a glimpse of the contents. But Meili turned away, clutching the paper tightly to her chest, her eyes scanning the page in disbelief.

"It's news from the Eastern Kingdoms," she whispered, barely audible over the clatter of silverware and quiet chatter that filled the hall. "They're preparing to invade our borders. My father says we should expect an attack by early spring."