My Enemy, My Love

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔉𝔬𝔲𝔯

Chuo [First]

Saetiao arrived fashionably late to the party, as he always did, and, as always, it failed to surprise me. A part of me resented him for it—how curious eyes instinctively flickered toward the walking burst of sunlight. Draped in a finely tailored golden cape, polished boots, and pristine white waistcoat and trousers, he moved with the confidence of someone who knew the world adored him. I fought the urge to hurl my red wine over his clothes, but a bustling crowd eager to view the fireworks display outside blocked my path.

Yet another part of me, shamefully, couldn't help but admire his flair for spectacle. He had a gift for captivating attention, for making even his most mundane arrival seem like a grand performance. My jealousy didn't blind me to that fact. But admiration didn't equate to respect.

Ever since our tense debate in the temple, Saetiao had occupied my thoughts more than I cared to admit. His rapid advances on potential suitors were maddening—first rumours of his courtship of the esteemed Lady Yala, and now whispers of the Princess of Chiang Mai. To him, this bet between us might have been a game, a trivial pastime to amuse his vanity. But for me, it was everything. My throne, my province—my future—were at stake. I couldn't afford to lose to him.

Especially not when my heart still belonged to the Princess. Saetiao could never have her.

I scanned the room, searching for him again, but my eyes fell instead on Lord Anurak and Prince Ray. The last time I'd seen them was at a religious ceremony in Phuket over a year ago. To my surprise, they both looked...unwell. Behind them trailed a woman with a gaze sharp enough to kill. Something about the trio reeked of tension, and though curiosity tugged at me, I remained at a distance. Whatever problem they had was none of my concern.

To my right, I caught sight of the King and Prince Thyme, mingling with the guests. I decided to congratulate the Prince on his engagement, but before I could step forward, a firm hand gripped my shoulder. The familiar scent of pine, cinnamon - and a touch of arrogance - followed, and I stiffened.

Saetiao.

Turning, I was greeted by his ever-infuriating smirk, his eyes sparkling with the mischief of someone who lived to provoke. My anger bubbled just beneath the surface, but for the sake of appearances and formalities, I forced it down.

"Lord Chuo," he said, bowing slightly. "How good it is to see you again."

The sarcasm was palpable, but I played along. "Lord Saetiao," I replied, inclining my head. My tongue burned with insults, but I held them back. The room was filled with eyes and ears eager for gossip, and I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. "Likewise. I trust your journey was uneventful?"

His jaw twitched, surprised by my politeness. "Yes, thank you," he said carefully, sensing a trap. "Though my coachman got lost, forcing us through a perilous detour in the forest. Quite the ordeal." He paused to take a glass of wine from a passing butler, his gaze locking onto mine. "My death would've been such a tragedy."

I fought back a laugh. "Yes," I replied smoothly, "a tragedy for some." The flicker of irritation in his eyes was brief but satisfying. "All the more for me," I added, twisting the knife. Saetiao sipped his wine, feigning indifference, but I knew him too well. Behind his calm exterior, he was crafting a retort sharp enough to wound. And I braced myself for it.

"If you mean to imply," he said finally, voice low and cutting, "that you would win the Princess in my absence, you are sorely mistaken, Lord Chuo."

Before I could respond, the first fireworks exploded outside. Gasps and cheers rippled through the crowd as vibrant colors lit up the night sky, their reflections shimmering on the polished marble floors. For a moment, I allowed myself to be swept up in the beauty of it.

Then Saetiao stepped closer. I didn't notice until I felt his breath against my ear, his voice a quiet, deadly whisper.

"For we are to be wed. In November."

Wed?

Shock coursed through me like ice, numbing every thought, every movement. My heart faltered, jealousy and despair knotting tightly in my chest. How had he done this? How had he secured the Princess without my knowledge? He had always been one step ahead, but never had I been so blind to his schemes.

My position as overlord. The Princess and her hand in marriage. Everything I had fought for—everything—was slipping through my fingers. My anger threatened to boil over, but I refused to make a scene. I would not humiliate myself before him or the crowd. Yet beneath the fury, beneath the despair, something else stirred. Something I refused to acknowledge.

It wasn't just about the Princess. It never had been.

It was about Saetiao.

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