Chapter 15: Uncertainty

At long last, the Loy Krathong Festival had arrived. The lively melodies of the celebration mingled with the hum of conversation and bursts of laughter that echoed across the water. The bright moonlight illuminated the scene, casting its glow upon the colorful krathongs drifting gracefully down the river. Some were shaped like lotus flowers, others like peacocks, and still others like miniature pagodas.

La-Orduen, the graceful eldest daughter of Lord Noradit, had been eagerly anticipating this festival. While the townspeople busied themselves with the revelry and festivities, she saw this as an opportune moment to execute a plan she had carefully devised.

Her heart beat with a mix of excitement and resolve as she prepared to take advantage of the distractions surrounding the celebration.

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La-Orduen discreetly made her way into the dense forest, accompanied by Saibua, her loyal maid. Their destination was the remote dwelling of Master Kom, a sorcerer renowned for his mastery of black magic and dark charms. From the moment their journey began, La-Orduen quickened her pace, her demeanor tense and resolute. Saibua trailed silently behind, her heart heavy with worry, until she could no longer contain her unease.

"Are you truly going to do this, Lady La-Orduen?"

Saibua’s voice trembled with concern. She loved her mistress dearly and could not bear to see her entangled in dark sorcery and sinister rituals.

La-Orduen halted abruptly, turning to face her maid with a piercing gaze. Her voice was sharp as she asked, "Why? Do you have an issue with my decision?"

"It’s not that, my lady," Saibua stammered, quickly denying any defiance. "It’s just..."

"Just what?"

Saibua hesitated, then spoke carefully, her voice laden with apprehension. "The love-binding ritual uses dark magic to enslave another’s will. It creates the illusion of love, but it is not genuine. It forces the victim to act against their own heart. Someone like Lady Phiengwad, if placed under such a spell, would undoubtedly suffer greatly from its effects."

At the mention of Phiengwad’s name, Saibua noticed a flicker of hesitation in La-Orduen’s expression. Sensing an opportunity to dissuade her mistress, Saibua pressed on, her tone earnest and firm.

"I don’t believe you wish to see Lady Phiengwad suffer, my lady," she added with heartfelt conviction.

La-Orduen stood motionless, her thoughts swirling in turmoil. Her beautiful eyes betrayed her inner conflict. She would never willingly bring harm to Phiengwad; that much she knew. But the jealousy festering in her heart—jealousy aimed at her twin sister, La-Orchan—burned too fiercely to ignore.

La-Orduen cast a glance at the gold ring adorned with an ancient pearl, shimmering softly on her left hand. The ring, a gift from Phiengwad, felt like a double-edged sword that pierced her heart. It served as a painful reminder that the heart of the one who gave her the ring truly belonged to La-Orchan, her younger twin sister.

"But La-Orchan betrayed me... I won’t let her find happiness with P’Phiengwad,"

La-Orduen muttered bitterly, her voice dripping with resentment. The inner turmoil tearing through her heart forced her closer to a monumental decision.

Saibua, her loyal maid, hesitated before speaking cautiously, "But if you do this, my lady, you might face dire consequences as well."

La-Orduen’s sharp gaze darted toward Saibua, who pressed on with genuine concern.

"Dark sorcery doesn’t only harm the one it is cast upon. The one who wields it may also suffer its consequences. One day, my lady, what you send out into the world may come back to you—like the turning of a karmic wheel."

Saibua’s words were laced with sincerity, her intention clear as she tried to reason with her mistress and pull her back from the brink of a grave mistake.

.

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The consequences of dark sorcery can affect the caster as well…

That single thought weighed heavily on La-Orduen’s mind. She was an intelligent woman, and above all, she cherished herself. As she weighed the potential outcomes against the sacrifices she might have to make, her decision came swiftly.

"If that’s the case, I won’t do it," she declared firmly.

Saibua let out a breath of relief, visibly relaxing.

"If I’m going to make someone else suffer, I will never trade my own well-being for it,"

La-Orduen added with conviction. It was clear that, in her world, the person La-Orduen loved and valued the most was herself—more than anyone or anything else.

Seeing her mistress give up the idea brought Saibua a deep sense of relief. She despised watching the twin sisters, La-Orduen and La-Orchan, clash over their shared love for the same woman.

Saibua had lived in Lord Noradit's household since she was a child. She had grown up alongside the twin mistresses, and the thought of them harming each other in such a way pained her deeply.

"You’ve made the right decision, My Lady," Saibua said earnestly. "I believe you’ll find a better way to resolve this."

Just as La-Orduen and Saibua were preparing to leave the forest and return to their residence, the sound of approaching footsteps caught La-Orduen’s attention. She quickly pulled Saibua behind a large bush to hide, fearing discovery in such a suspicious location.

What they saw, however, left La-Orduen momentarily speechless. Her twin sister, La-Orchan, accompanied by Saiyood, her personal maid, appeared before them. Both were dressed inconspicuously, their attire suggesting an attempt to avoid recognition. Their movements indicated they were heading somewhere secretive.

"That’s Lady La-Orchan," Saibua whispered to La-Orduen, her voice laced with surprise.

La-Orduen stared intently at the scene, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Where could they be going at this hour?" she murmured.

Unable to resist her curiosity, La-Orduen decided to follow her sister and Saiyood in secret, signaling Saibua to accompany her.

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Beneath the shade of a grand tree by the riverside, moonlight spilled across the water, casting a shimmering glow. The distant sound of music and chatter from the Loy Krathong festival drifted faintly through the air. Yet, in this secluded spot, only tranquility remained, a private haven for two women—Phiengwad and La-Orchan—who had secretly arranged to meet here. Their trusted maids, Saiyood and Gulab, had carefully orchestrated the meeting and stood watch to ensure their privacy.

Two small krathongs floated side by side on the gentle current, carrying the heartfelt wishes of the two women. La-Orchan smiled sweetly at Phiengwad before teasingly asking, “What did you wish for, P’Phiengwad?”

Phiengwad smiled back, her beautiful lips curving into a playful grin. Her tone was light, yet her words carried a heartfelt sincerity. “I wished for you and me to love each other forever, of course.”

La-Orchan’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. The woman before her truly had a talent for sweet-talking.

“And what about you, La-Orchan? What did you wish for?” Phiengwad asked in return.

“I wished for us to stay by each other’s side forever,” La-Orchan replied in a soft, tender voice. She added with a hint of hope, “And for our families to be filled with happiness.”

“How endearing,” Phiengwad remarked with a warm smile.

The two women gazed deeply into each other’s eyes, their expressions radiating pure affection and sincerity. For a moment, the world seemed to pause around them, wrapped in the sweetness of their bond. Then, as if mustering her courage, Phiengwad, with a shy yet determined smile, reached into her sleeve and produced a small wooden box.

“La-Orchan,” Phiengwad began softly, her eyes sparkling with affection, “I have a gift for you.” She opened the small wooden box, revealing a golden ring adorned with a deep red ruby at its center.

“This ring…” La-Orchan’s eyes widened in surprise, her heart pounding with excitement.

“It’s a ring I had specially made for you,” Phiengwad explained, her voice filled with warmth. “This gold ring, crowned with a radiant ruby, is my way of promising you that you are my first love. And more than that, I wish for you to be my last love—my love for a lifetime.”

La-Orchan’s heart swelled with emotion, her eyes welling up with tears. She had never imagined that Phiengwad would give her such a meaningful gift, paired with words that were as sweet as a vow of eternal devotion.

With the utmost tenderness, Phiengwad slipped the ring onto La-Orchan’s slender finger.

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The gold ring adorned with a crimson ruby was strikingly beautiful, especially as it was placed on her finger by the woman she loved with all her heart—Phiengwad. La-Orchan wiped away tears of joy from her cheeks before speaking playfully to ease her bashfulness.

"Now that it's come to this, how could my gift ever compare to yours, P’Phiengwad?" she teased softly.

"You prepared a gift for me as well?" Phiengwad exclaimed with delight, her eyes lighting up.

"I did," La-Orchan replied, a shy smile gracing her lips. "But it might just be a small token, nothing of great value."

Phiengwad shook her head firmly. "Not at all. Even if it were smaller than an ant, if it's a gift from La-Orchan, it holds immense value to me. I would cherish it more than life itself," she said with a voice as sweet as honey.

La-Orchan smiled, feeling deeply moved. Phiengwad had always been so warm and affectionate toward her. From her satchel, La-Orchan retrieved a garland of white jasmine flowers, delicately strung together with care. The pristine white blossoms reflected the effort and thoughtfulness of the one who had made it.

"Do you remember, P’Phiengwad, how clumsy I was when it came to stringing garlands?" La-Orchan asked, recalling the day she had fumbled with the craft at Phiengwad’s home.

"I noticed how much you enjoy handicrafts, so I wanted to try making something special as a gift for you,"

La-Orchan said, holding out the garland with a warm smile.

"Though I’m not skilled at such things, I poured all my heart into this. I hope this garland serves as a token of the respect, care, and affection I hold for you alone."

Phiengwad accepted the gift with joy, a broad smile lighting up her face. "This garland is truly exquisite, La-Orchan," she said sincerely, lifting it to her nose to savor the fragrant jasmine scent.

La-Orchan let out a bashful laugh. "If it isn’t beautiful, you can just say so—I won’t be upset."

Phiengwad laughed heartily. “If I say it’s beautiful, then it truly is. This garland is as beautiful as the one who lovingly crafted it,” she said, gazing at La-Orchan with eyes full of affection.

La-Orchan smiled through her tears, then playfully added, “Do you know, Phiengwad? To make this garland, I pricked my fingers on the needle so many times they’re practically full of holes.”

As her words trailed off, the sound of their shared laughter echoed through the serene riverside. The atmosphere between them was filled with joy and warmth. Phiengwad gazed deeply into La-Orchan’s eyes, her look tender and intense, before leaning in to press a gentle, lingering kiss on her beloved’s soft lips—a kiss that lasted just long enough to stir emotions far deeper than mere affection.

Phiengwad’s hands began to wander, caressing La-Orchan’s back with tender strokes before moving slowly and delicately toward the front. Her sharp nose brushed along La-Orchan’s graceful neck, leaving a trail of warm breaths.

La-Orchan closed her eyes, momentarily lost in the sensation. But as she became aware of where the moment might lead—despite the many times they’d crossed such boundaries before—she clasped Phiengwad’s roaming hand tightly.

“No,” La-Orchan said softly but firmly, her gaze lifting to meet Phiengwad’s. “Not here, and not tonight.”

Phiengwad’s radiant face turned momentarily crestfallen. “I know this isn’t the right place,” she murmured sweetly, taking La-Orchan’s hand and pressing it against her cheek. “But your scent just now...it’s so intoxicating, it made it nearly impossible to resist.”

La-Orchan smiled gently. Phiengwad was always such a smooth talker. But then she noticed the mischievous glint in Phiengwad’s eyes as the latter suddenly began chuckling to herself.

“What’s so funny, P’Phiengwad?” La-Orchan asked, her tone curious.

“Should I really tell you? Wouldn’t that be too much?” Phiengwad replied, still giggling.

“Tell me right this instant,” La-Orchan demanded, her voice firm.

Phiengwad raised an eyebrow playfully, her smile growing even more mischievous. “Well, today is Loy Krathong Day,” she began, her tone teasing.

“And what of it?” La-Orchan asked, clearly confused.

Phiengwad grinned wickedly. “I was just thinking...if earlier, we had done more than just kiss—hypothetically, of course—and if I were a man, well...our child might’ve been born in the ninth or tenth lunar month.”

La-Orchan froze, her mind racing to catch up with the bold implication. Realizing Phiengwad’s cheeky insinuation, she playfully swatted her lover with mock exasperation.

“P’Phiengwad! Since when have you been this shameless?”

Phiengwad only laughed harder, delighting in her victory.

…