My Enemy, My Love

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱

Prince Ray [Pond]

Three days later...

I sat at my desk, the unending pile of letters demanding attention under my hand. Correspondence from neighbouring provinces, minor disputes, tedious reports -- all waiting for the royal seal of approval. This was the part of duty I loathed, yet here I was, because if I was to be King one day, these were the habits I had to build. The stamp pressed into the hot wax felt heavy in my hand, every mark I made a reminder of what I would become. 

Behind me, my mother's voice floated in and out of my thoughts as she paced, wedding invitation in hand, dissecting each detail as if the happiness of Bangkok itself hinged on the colour of the paper.

"Ray, did you even see the embossing on this invitation?" she said, half-admiring, half-critical. "They spared no expense, did they? Every inch is covered in gold leaf. Your friend has truly outdone himself."

I murmured a distracted "aha," dipping my pen into ink, though my focus wandered elsewhere. Thyme was not my friend, not in the slightest, but Mama didn't know that. I knew she wanted my full attention, but all I could picture was Anurak. I hadn't heard from him since that encounter in the forest. The memory of it made my skin prickle with both irritation and something else -- something I didn't quite want to name.

Mother continued her monologue on the wedding details, scrutinising the details for the fiftieth time that day, listing every prominent name that she too believed had received an invite as if I didn't already know half of them personally. "Oh, Ray, and we'll be traveling Thursday morning. It's a long journey to Bangkok, and I want us settled before Sunday."

"Yes, Mother," I replied, folding another letter without really reading it.

Her gaze turned sharp. "You're unusually silent today. I'd thought you'd be more excited about your Luka's wedding."

I forced a half-smile, if only to avoid another lecture. "It'll be quite the event, I'm sure. But whether it's a good match... I don't know. Luka's not exactly known for consistency."

Mother sighed, a rare softness in her expression. "Love can temper even the most unpredictable of hearts. Look at the King and Queen of Bangkok. I do not recall them marrying for love...your father and I were fortunate, I suppose. It's possible Thyme will be that for Luka."

"Maybe," I replied absently. The notion of a wedding, of a lasting union -- of happiness, even -- seemed like such a distant thing. As she spoke of Luka and Thyme, my mind drifted back to Anurak. After all we'd done, we'd never quite put a name to it. It was an arrangement of convenience, perhaps. A mutual benefit. Or, maybe, something I couldn't even allow myself to consider.

When Mother finally looked satisfied with the invitation, she turned to me again. "Speaking of the wedding... you should keep your eyes open for a suitable match as well."

"Mother, please," I replied, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.

She gave me a wry smile. "At least consider meeting the Lady of Pattani. I've heard she has an amiable temperament. And her family would be a valuable connection, Ray. This is not just about alliances; it's about your future."

I tried not to bristle, but the thought of meeting another noble with all the expectations attached made me feel hollow. The Lady of Pattani... her title alone sounded as dull as the endless paperwork in front of me. No one else seemed to understand what I wanted -- or rather, whom I wanted.

Anurak's face filled my thoughts again, and I felt my jaw tighten. I knew I'd see him at the wedding, yet I had no idea how to act around him. Would he ignore me entirely? Pretend nothing had happened, as he often did? Or would he acknowledge the tension that lingered between us, the pull that neither of us could ever quite resist?

Mother's voice broke my reverie once more. "So, will you at least consider it?"

I nodded vaguely. "I suppose."

"Good," she said, satisfied, though I was already lost in my thoughts again.

As she swept out of the room, I realised that she would never understand. This wasn't a matter of propriety or alliance. What I felt for Anurak was like trying to hold smoke in my hands -- futile, maddening. Yet, I couldn't stop myself from reaching, even knowing I'd end up empty-handed

As I shuffled through the last of the correspondence, a letter slipped out of the pile, and my pulse quickened as my eyes landed on the handwriting -- precise, fluid, unmistakable. Anurak. The script, silvered and flowing, spilled elegantly across the page like a secret meant only for me. Heart pounding, I tore it open, my mind already racing to decipher what he might say.

Ray,

I can't keep pretending this is anything less than unbearable. I haven't been entirely honest with you, and to avoid anymore confusion, I want to tell you what I should've told you all these years ago. You're in my mind constantly, a fire I can't put out, no matter what I do or tell myself. I don't care what anyone expects of us anymore -- whatever restraint you think I have left is gone, lost to you.

I need to see you, alone. The wedding... find a way.

Yours,
Anurak

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