My Enemy, My Love

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔉𝔦𝔳𝔢

Lord Chuo of Kelasin [First]

Walking through my gardens had always been tranquilising, a sanctuary where the weight of my responsibilities seemed to momentarily disappear. The sweet and delicate scent of the roses, the gentle hum of dragonflies skimming over the pond's surface, and the occasional sight of a deer grazing in the distance - all combined to put my mind at ease. The sun that day was high, the sky a clear stretch of blue with no sign of clouds to obscure it. But even the beauty of that summer's day couldn't ease the tension that knotted in my chest.

Kelasin sat on the edge of financial ruin. The estate's coffers were nearly empty, and we were drowning in debts. For weeks, I had been trapped in endless meetings, battling stubborn governors, the King of Bangkok, and every one of our neighboring kingdoms' representatives. Their indifferent faces haunted me - so willing to watch us fall, unwilling to extend a hand. My temper had frayed dangerously thin during those sessions, and I had come dangerously close to losing control, wishing to hurl the entire table across the room and show them how deeply their apathy and ignorance burned me.

They had a habit of effortlessly getting on my nerves - their disinterest in supporting Kelasin in a time of need only infuriated me. 

The most recent meeting, however, had been the worst. The subject of Princess Chariya's impending marriage to the King of Bangkok's son had only increased my anger. Most of the men in that room knew of my feelings for the princess, and though I did my best to remain composed, the struggle to maintain my mask of neutrality was exhausting. Evidently, my suffering did not concern them, even if they had had a faint notion of it. A union to one of the most powerful Kingdoms of Thailand would have made Kelasin very wealthy, overtly prosperous - important. 

Saetiao had been there too, of course, seated smugly across from me. His sharp eyes had caught every twitch, every fleeting emotion I failed to suppress. That man—a parasite who slithered through every aspect of my life. His words were like poison, every sentence crafted to dig deeper under my skin, to test my limits. He reveled in it. Even now, as I paced through my garden, the echo of his voice lingered like an unwelcome guest in my mind.

I loathed him - Saetiao. His arrogance, his cold, calculating gaze, and that smirk that never quite reached his eyes. He played the role of a Lord perfectly, never hesitating to cut others down for his own gain. In all our dealings, I never trusted him, and why would I? He cared for nothing but power and wealth, and his relentless ambition was a sickness to the province. Where I saw responsibility, he saw opportunity for manipulation.

And the upcoming election for overlord of Kelasin would undoubtedly be his moment to shine.

Kelasin's fate hung in the balance, and Saetiao was still inside my home, no doubt scheming to win over the neighboring Lords and officials. The stakes were higher this year - the candidate elected to rule Kelasin would keep the position for life, thanks to the new legislation. It was meant to stabilise the region, to provide consistent leadership, but the thought of Saetiao holding that power for the rest of his days filled me with dread.

The sound of footsteps on gravel behind me pulled me from my thoughts. I didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Ah, so you've retreated to this hideous garden of yours," Saetiao's voice slithered through the air. I stiffened at the intrusion, my teeth grinding together as I turned, forcing myself to remain composed. He stood a few paces behind, his arms casually crossed, eyes gleaming with amusement. His mere presence twisted the peaceful atmosphere into something venomous.

"Get off my land. Your business here is over," I spat, my voice cold. "Leave before I personally throw you out."

Saetiao smiled, an infuriatingly slow and deliberate gesture that only deepened my irritation. He didn't move, instead taking a measured step closer, his polished boots crunching on the gravel path. "Oh, must I? It would be a shame to leave before we've discussed something of importance. Spare me a few minutes, Chuo, and then I'll be on my way."

Every muscle in my body screamed to strike him down, to rid my garden of his presence. Instead, I clenched my fists and straightened my back, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. "Two minutes," I bit out. "No more."

He dipped his head in mock gratitude, his eyes glittering with mischief. "You're too kind."

"I know," I growled, crossing my arms to keep from lunging at him.

Saetiao's gaze sharpened as he began to speak, his tone casual, but there was a dangerous edge beneath the words. "Considering that Princess Chariya is no longer... available," he said, watching me closely, "I have come to a rather poignant decision. I will marry."

My heart clenched at the mention of her, but I refused to let him see it. "And why should I care?"

"Because, my dear Chuo, if I am to become the overlord of Kelasin, I will need a Lady by my side. Naturally," his lips curled into a smirk, "I suggest you do the same. Find yourself a rich wife - one with wealth and connections. You'll need it just as much as I, given the state of our province."

I felt my nails dig into the palms of my hands. "You'll never be overlord," I said, my voice low and venomous. "And as for marriage, I suggest you leave me to my own affairs."

Saetiao's smirk faltered, but only for a moment. He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. My heart leaped in my chest. "No woman will willingly marry you, Chuo," he hissed, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You're pathetic. You pine after a princess you'll never have."

The words hit harder than I cared to admit, but I stood my ground, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Perhaps," I said softly, "but let's make things interesting, shall we?"

His brow arched, intrigue flickering in his eyes. "Oh?"

"If I marry before the year's end, you forfeit your claim to the title of overlord," I said, taking a step closer until our faces were inches apart. "If you marry first, I will submit to your rule without protest."

A slow, dangerous smile spread across Saetiao's face, and I knew I had baited him well. "Just that?" he asked.

"Just that," I confirmed, stepping back, my heart pounding in my chest despite my outward calm. "Is it a deal, or are you afraid?"

Saetiao laughed, a short, cruel sound. "Afraid? Hardly." He extended his hand. "I accept."

I took his hand, the handshake firm and electric with the tension between us. The stakes were set, but as I turned and walked away, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that I had just sealed my own fate.

And that my heart would never let me go through with it

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hiii my wonderful readers,

i know i said I'd only be posting 1x a week, but since I had the time today (this week), I decided to upload another chapter - and possibly another one later tonight if I have it written + edited by then. 

hope you enjoyed this chapter - I'd love to read your opinions/general comments/and even predictions for Chuo and Saetiao's future...

the support has been incredible and I couldn't be more appreciative!!!

love you all <3