Chapter 14: The Rift

The soft evening sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the two entwined figures beneath the thick blanket. Phiengwad and La-Orchan lay closely together, their bodies gently wrapped in each other’s embrace. The warmth between them lingered in the air, a tender reminder of the moments when they had expressed their love for one another.

Phiengwad gently ran her fingers through La-Orchan’s silky hair, her gaze soft as she admired the face of her beloved resting beside her. Yet, beneath the serene expression, she noticed a shadow of worry in La-Orchan’s eyes. Though La-Orchan tried to hide it, Phiengwad could sense the unease stirring within her.

“Is something troubling you, my love?” Phiengwad asked softly, her voice laced with concern.

“No, there’s nothing,” La-Orchan replied hastily, her voice strained and unconvincing, her eyes darting away.

Phiengwad remained quiet for a moment, observing the hesitation in her lover’s demeanor. She leaned in slightly, her tone gentle and cautious as she posed another question.

“Is it about us? Are you uneasy about our love?”

La-Orchan lifted her gaze briefly, her eyes shimmering with uncertainty before lowering them again. Phiengwad could feel the fragility in her beloved’s silence, the weight of a secret pressing heavily upon her. Taking La-Orchan’s hand in hers, Phiengwad squeezed it reassuringly, her words warm and steady.

“If there’s anything you need to share, I’m here to listen, always.”

La-Orchan’s tearful eyes met Phiengwad’s, revealing a sadness she could no longer conceal, but her lips remained tightly sealed. The oath she had made to La-Orduen echoed in her mind, intensifying the ache in her chest with every moment she spent by Phiengwad’s side.

Phiengwad observed her lover’s conflicted expression and sat up slowly, wrapping her arms around La-Orchan from behind. She pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder before leaning close to her ear and whispering tenderly.

“If there’s anything weighing on your heart, please tell me, my love. Let me ease your burden.”

La-Orchan locked eyes with her lover, her gaze holding unspoken thoughts as if weighing her words carefully. Sensing her hesitation, Phiengwad ventured to guess the cause of her distress once more.

“Is it because we must meet in secret like this?”

La-Orchan’s eyes flickered with uncertainty for a brief moment before she finally mustered the courage to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s not that I don’t want to see you, Phiengwad… It’s just that meeting in secret like this, if someone were to discover us, it would not end well for either of us. You, especially, could face disgrace.”

Phiengwad listened intently, her gaze filled with understanding, though a trace of her usual playfulness lingered in her tone.

“But I want to see you every day, La-Orchan. I want to hold you, to kiss you like this every single day,” she said softly, her words carrying both longing and sincerity.

La-Orchan lowered her gaze, her voice growing fainter, almost a whisper.

“We can meet, hold hands, even tease each other now and then… but not like this every time.”

Her final words, so quiet and hesitant, gave Phiengwad pause.

The subtle sadness and worry woven into La-Orchan’s voice struck a chord deep within her. For the first time, Phiengwad began to realize something she had never truly considered. Ever since they had confessed their feelings for each other, Phiengwad had found it impossible to restrain herself when near La-Orchan. Her overwhelming desire felt like an enchantment, compelling her to seek out La-Orchan’s presence constantly.

“I’m sorry,” Phiengwad said gently, her voice laced with genuine remorse. “I let my own feelings take over and forgot to think about what’s right.”

“You haven’t done anything to make me upset, P’Phiengwad,” La-Orchan replied sincerely, her tone soft and soothing. “I’m only worried about what the future holds for us.”

The phrase "our future together" left Phiengwad momentarily speechless. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes, as if a heavy weight pressed against her heart. She tried to conceal her unease, yet a part of her remained deeply unsettled. She couldn’t deny that the thought had haunted her endlessly. A relationship between two women in this era was fraught with challenges—society’s lack of acceptance, the sting of gossip and judgment, and the pervasive belief that such a bond was unnatural and against tradition.

The Ayutthaya belief that "women cannot be with other women" had loomed over Phiengwad's mind for as long as she could remember.

Though she outwardly defied such norms, dismissing them with quiet rebellion, she was acutely aware that if their love were ever revealed, the world around them would never accept it.

This constant tension weighed on her every single day.

Phiengwad’s greatest fear was tarnishing La-Orchan’s reputation. Her love for her was pure, rooted in deep care and unwavering devotion. Wanting to protect her beloved from any harm, Phiengwad spoke with earnestness and resolve.

“I’ll be more careful about us from now on,” she assured her, her voice steady and sincere.

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As the sun dipped low in the sky, La-Orchan stepped out of Phiengwad’s Thai house, Saiyood, her loyal maid, walking silently by her side. Little did La-Orchan know, her every step had been shadowed by Saibua, the trusted servant of her elder twin sister. Saibua had been tailing her from the moment she entered Phiengwad’s home, waiting patiently until she finally emerged again.

While Saibua could not determine what had transpired within those walls during La-Orchan’s extended visit, her unwavering loyalty to La-Orduen compelled her to report everything she had seen, down to the smallest detail, as instructed.

La-Orduen listened to Saibua’s account with a calm demeanor, far more composed than the maid had anticipated. The simmering anger in her heart remained veiled behind a faint smile and an air of measured grace. She betrayed no emotion, her expression as placid as still waters, though her eyes betrayed a restless anticipation for her sister’s return.

When the silhouettes of La-Orchan and Saiyood finally appeared at the entrance to the house, La-Orduen wasted no time initiating the confrontation.

“Where have you been wandering all day, La-Orchan?”

La-Orchan froze mid-step, her wide, startled eyes locking onto her sister, who sat waiting with an air of quiet authority.

“Is there something you need, Sister?” La-Orchan responded softly, her voice gentle but evasive. She carefully avoided answering directly, unwilling to lie outright to the sister she loved dearly.

La-Orduen arched a brow slightly, her gaze growing sharper and more chilling. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

For a moment, La-Orchan was silent, inner turmoil gnawing at her. She didn’t want to deceive her sister, but she also couldn’t reveal the truth. Finally, after a heavy pause, she chose a response she knew was untrue—a small betrayal of her conscience.

“I went to the floating market with Saiyood,” she said, her voice steady but her heart heavy with guilt.

"Strolling through the market from noon until evening? It seems you've become so captivated by the charm of the floating market that you forgot I’ve been waiting here at home, hoping to share dinner with my one and only twin sister," La-Orduen remarked in a calm tone, though her voice carried an unmistakable undercurrent of displeasure. Almost immediately, she composed herself, her expression smoothing into an unreadable calm as her lips curled into a faint smile.

"But never mind," she added, standing gracefully. "The kitchen has prepared all your favorite dishes tonight. Let’s have dinner together, my dear sister." Despite her outward warmth, her heart roiled with simmering resentment.

La-Orduen knew full well that La-Orchan was lying.

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Later, she reclined on a chaise, her posture relaxed as Saibua, her loyal maid, kneaded her shoulders with expert care. Yet, the physical comfort did little to quell the turmoil within.

Though her face remained a mask of serenity, inside, a fire of anger and betrayal burned fiercely. Memories from their shared childhood resurfaced unbidden, dragging her back into a bitter past.

In her mind’s eye, she saw herself as a young girl, playing contentedly with her favorite doll. Suddenly, La-Orchan had burst into the room, her tear-streaked face pleading for the same doll. Their mother had stepped in, commanding La-Orduen to surrender her cherished toy to her weaker, more fragile twin.

What had been a childhood wound—brushed aside as the obligation of an elder sibling—had festered into the bitterness she now felt. That small, forgotten act of injustice echoed loudly today, amplifying her fury at La-Orchan’s deceit.

"Saibua," she called sharply.

"Yes, my lady," Saibua replied promptly.

"Have you ever heard of dark arts? Spells that bind someone to love you with utter devotion?" La-Orduen’s voice was measured, but her words carried an unmistakable edge of intrigue.

Saibua hesitated, her brows furrowing. "You mean black magic, my lady? Love spells? The kind that makes one fall deeply and helplessly in love?"

"Exactly," La-Orduen said, her tone betraying an unusual interest.

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On Phiengwad's side of the story:

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the three intricately crafted gold rings she had commissioned from the renowned jeweler Sir Thongyoo finally rested in her hands. Each ring bore a unique significance, meticulously designed and chosen with care.

The first ring, a gold band adorned with an antique pearl, stood out with its exquisite and unparalleled craftsmanship. This ring was meant for La-Orduen, the elder sister of her beloved. Phiengwad intended it as a token of pure friendship and sincere goodwill—a gesture of harmony and trust extended toward La-Orchan’s twin.

The second ring was a golden band set with a radiant crimson ruby, selected with great deliberation. This was meant for La-Orchan, the woman she loved. To Phiengwad, this ring symbolized the love at first sight that blossomed between them and represented the last and eternal love she would ever have. It was a deeply personal gift—a heartfelt promise she wished to bestow upon the one who had captured her heart.

And the third and final ring, a gold band inlaid with a deep sapphire, was designed as a matching pair to La-Orchan’s. This was Phiengwad’s own ring. To her, it signified their intertwined destinies and unbreakable bond, a testament to the two hearts bound together for all eternity.

Once the three gold rings were securely in her possession, Phiengwad wasted no time.

The very next day, she set out with her attendants for Lord Noradit's manor, eager to meet the beautiful twin sisters. Her heart brimmed with anticipation, imagining the joy and smiles that her special gift would bring to her beloved.

However, upon her arrival, she was met only by La-Orduen, the elder twin, who was at home while La-Orchan had accompanied their father on a business errand. Phiengwad couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment, but she masked it well, her expression remaining warm and cheerful.

Determined not to leave empty-handed, Phiengwad decided to give one of the rings to La-Orduen first. She presented a small fabric pouch containing all three rings, her smile radiating warmth as she extended it toward La-Orduen.

La-Orduen accepted it graciously, her soft voice murmuring thanks. Yet, as she opened the pouch and saw the three rings inside, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

"Three rings… Are they all meant for me, Lady Phiengwad?" La-Orduen asked curiously.

"Only partly true," Phiengwad replied with a soft chuckle.

“These three gold rings are crafted from ancient gold,” she explained. “I entrusted their creation to Thongyoo, my father’s close friend and a renowned jeweler. One is adorned with a deep blue sapphire, another with a vibrant red ruby, and the last with a rare antique pearl.”

She picked up the ring set with the antique pearl and carefully held it out to La-Orduen. “This one, the most beautiful of all, is for you, La-Orduen,” she said warmly.

Phiengwad gently took La-Orduen’s hand and slid the ring onto her finger, her movements tender and deliberate.

“And the one with the sapphire,” Phiengwad continued, smiling softly, “that one is mine.”

Her tone was steady, her eyes reflecting a blend of warmth and sincerity.

La-Orduen’s smile began to fade, her pleasant demeanor masking the resentment that brewed within. She had known for some time now about her younger sister’s secret visits to Phiengwad’s traditional Thai house, yet she kept her feelings tightly bottled up. Forcing a faint smile, she asked softly, “And the other ring? Whom does it belong to?”

Though her tone was calm, a deep sense of unease churned inside her. It was as though she already knew the answer, but desperately wished for her fears to be unfounded.

“It’s for La-Orchan,” Phiengwad replied without hesitation.

The answer struck La-Orduen like a thunderbolt, and the faint smile she had been holding onto vanished instantly.

Phiengwad’s and La-Orchan’s rings were clearly designed as a matching pair, while her own ring stood distinctly apart. The realization weighed heavily on La-Orduen, who now fought the urge to remove the ring that Phiengwad had so delicately slipped onto her finger. Yet, she restrained herself, choosing instead to feign composure and muster a faint, strained smile.

“Will you leave the other ring with me to give to La-Orchan?” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm brewing within.

Phiengwad shook her head gently. “There’s no need. I’ll wait to meet La-Orchan myself and give her the ring in person,” she replied, her words punctuated with another warm smile.

But to La-Orduen, that smile felt like a blade slicing through her heart.

In that moment, the bond between the twin sisters cracked ever so deeply, a fissure created by Phiengwad herself.

…