My Enemy, My Love

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢

Lord Saetiao [Khao]

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The scandal of the failed engagement between the Kingdoms of Chiang Mai and Bangkok dominated that evening's council meeting at my estate. For weeks, representatives from nearby provinces expressed their disdain and anxieties over the new arrangement—the union of the two princes. Even the Kingdoms to the West had grown restless. Truthfully, I had always been aware of this law—the ancient tradition of royal marriages to fortify alliances in times of civil unrest, revolution, and war.

Yet, to my misfortune, the Princess of Chiang Mai was now unavailable. The shame surrounding her family hung like a storm cloud, and according to Lord Riya, the overlord of Prachinburi, a statement from the royal palace had been issued: the Princess would not marry until the "incident" had been forgotten. Despite this official decree, the rumors refused to die down. As usual, the nobles at my table delighted in the gossip—and, admittedly, so did I.

I enjoyed a bit of intrigue myself. While matters of war demanded our attention, not a single man at the table could focus on anything beyond this ill-fated wedding and what it might mean for the surrounding provinces.

I observed the room from my place at the head of the table, my eyes scanning the faces of the old and young alike. The overlords of Sa Kaeo, Lamphun, Pattani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat exchanged cool, fleeting glances, while the senators, governors, and other lords bickered over large glasses of wine. Some, clearly tipsy, waved their hands about wildly to emphasise their points. Others were angry, while a few grinned, reveling in the chaos. To my left sat Lord Chuo, as insolent and aloof as ever, sipping his wine with judgmental eyes.

Our bet still held. Since our last meeting, neither of us had made any real progress in securing a noble lady to marry, though the opportunity hadn't slipped away entirely. My dear friend, Lord Riya, had sent invitations to the Lords of Kelasin and other provinces, asking them to attend his summer party. Riya's events were always spectacular, and I had quickly accepted his generous offer. It would be the perfect chance to introduce myself to the most beautiful potential suitors --before Lord Chuo could even dream of it.

My claim to the overlordship of Kelasin was stronger than ever. The support I had received was overwhelming, though hard-won. Securing votes had been a slow, sometimes grueling process, and there was always the slim chance of losing the race to outside interference -- whether from the state, the public, or rival kingdoms. Any interference was my fiercest enemy. My reputation for resilience, my loyalty to my province, and my sharpness in debate had been my strongest assets. I had a cause, a purpose, and the will to crush Kelasin's long-standing adversaries and turn it into a powerful, prosperous land.

I knew how to pull us out of our financial ruin and repay the debts that had plagued us.

But Lord Chuo... always got in my way.

He cleared his throat, catching the attention of those seated near us. I rolled my eyes. The room quieted momentarily, though some had already lost interest, returning to their heated discussions. I waited. Lord Chuo said nothing at first, staring intently into his chalice as he tapped its rim with a ringed finger. He seemed unusually confident that day -- more so than I had ever seen him before. Weeks had passed since we last spoke, and this new air of assurance not only annoyed me but also piqued my curiosity.

Why was he smiling like that?

"Would you care to share your thoughts?" I asked, leaning toward him, my eyes narrowing in distaste. "Interruptions like these demand explanation, don't you think?"

Lord Chuo's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with the familiar delight of someone preparing to deliver a calculated blow. His gaze sent an unexpected flutter through my chest -- a fleeting moment I quickly suppressed -- before I met his challenging stare with a scowl. "Oh, nothing much. Just that the Princess of Chiang Mai came to visit me yesterday for tea."

Anger -- and perhaps jealousy -- burned in my chest. Of all people, she had visited him? I was tempted to bombard him with questions, to mock him for his unworthiness or dismiss her visit as irrelevant, but no words formed on my tongue. I stared at him in disbelief, grappling with the revelation that she had chosen him over me.

It would have devastating consequences for our bet.

"Her parents are making new marriage arrangements," Chuo continued, fidgeting with the lace at his collar. "It seems they've decided to move past the scandal and now seek a strong, lasting connection with the province of Kelasin."

As they should have months ago, I thought, though I kept my mouth shut. My fists clenched. I wanted to hit him.

"Looks like you might have to forfeit your claim to overlord, dearest," Chuo taunted, his lips curling into a mocking smirk. "She'll be my wife by February."

A surge of fury shot through me, and I slammed my fist against the table. Conversations stopped. Every pair of eyes turned toward me. For a moment, Chuo's smirk faltered, but he quickly regained it, sipping his wine with that same infuriating grin. One of the lords asked if something was wrong, but I waved him off, rising abruptly from my chair.

I stormed out of the hall, my heart pounding in my chest. Pushing open the heavy doors of the nearest room, I stumbled inside and hurled a vase off the table.

No. I would not allow it.

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