Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Webnovel: Gold and Obsidian-Chapter 1

Summary: This enemies to lovers fantasy webnovel follows Princess Neferet, the daughter to Cleopatra and the heir to the throne. She claims her throne and power, but not with the man chosen for her—only with the one who can truly match her.

_ The Hall of Gathering was carved to intimidate.

Columns shaped like papyrus stalks rose into shadowed heights, their gilded capitals catching the torchlight like frozen sunlight. Incense curled through the air in slow, serpentine ribbons. Beneath the high dome, kings and queens spoke in low voices about borders, fleets, grain routes.

Politics.

Power.

Boredom.

Setetkh leaned against a column like a man who had already conquered the room and found the victory unimpressive.

Gold draped his shoulders in deliberate arrogance. The serpent crown rested low on his pale brow. His long hair, bright as hammered sunlight, fell loose against the dark fabric of his cloak.

And his eyes were fixed on her.

Princess Neferet.

Standing beside Cleopatra’s throne as if she belonged there. Not behind it. Beside it.

The sight made something in his chest tighten like a drawn bowstring. An abomination dressed in gold. A woman pretending to rule. Even worse, a woman everyone in the hall seemed perfectly willing to listen to.

His jaw flexed.

Setetkh pushed away from the pillar.

Courtiers parted instinctively as he crossed the marble floor, his boots ringing softly with each step. He did not hurry. Kings did not hurry. By the time he reached her, the debate at the council table had lulled just enough for his voice to carry.

Low.

Smooth.

Deliberately insulting.

“Well,” he drawled, eyes sliding over Neferet with open disdain, “if it isn’t the weakest princess I know.”

"Well, well," Neferet imitated his words, but her rich thick voice was devoid of any emotions. "If it isn't the easiest prince I know."

She tilted her head, her eyes widening dramatically, innocently as that pin-straight angled bob fell in serrated edges. A few nobles nearby stiffened. They remembered these two. Everyone did.

Setetkh folded his arms across his chest, towering over her with deliberate provocation.

“Awww, do they let you speak at these councils because you’re Cleopatra’s daughter,” he said, voice edged with contempt, “or because the men of your kingdom are too weak to do it themselves?”

Neferet slanted those black eyes to him like an obsidian blade danced in each. “Men in general are too busy doing themselves anyway. We women couldn't need to pick up the mantle if you were worth much."

Queen Cleopatra sighed and slanted her blue eyes to her daughter, but Nef was too busy throwing cold daggers at the Prince of Tsekani. Even his father's mouth thinned at the two future monarchs met. Again.

Setetkh didn’t blink.

Not when she spoke. Not when the insult landed. Not even when a ripple of uncomfortable amusement moved through the surrounding nobles like wind through dry reeds.

He simply watched her.

Long enough that the silence itself began to feel like a blade pressed against the room’s throat.

Then, slowly, his mouth curved. Not pleasantly. Never pleasantly.

“You always did have a habit of exaggerating your victories,” he replied mildly. “You speak of men being worthless,” he said lazily. “Sooner or later, princess, the world remembers its natural order. And when it does… you may find your throne a very lonely seat.”

"Coming from a man whose seat is always taken by anything on two legs, I'm not surprised you don't know how the real world works. And it has to do with the muscle between your ears, not..." She paused when her mother took a sharp breath.

Her smile turned sweet.

But vile.

"The other one."

Cleo looked at Setetkh's father and raised an eyebrow.

King Rameneb cleared his throat and shot Setetkh a dark look and nodded at the seat. Sit.

His father’s command had not gone unnoticed. Setetkh noticed everything. But obedience was not in his nature.

“Ah,” he murmured. “There she is. Neferet the Unfiltered. Strange,” he continued mildly, voice pitched just for her and the handful of rulers nearest them, “for someone who claims intelligence is the measure of power… you spend an awful lot of time talking about my body. Obsessed are we?”

“You wish.”

“I thought your people prided themselves on poise. Perhaps they simply ran out before it reached you.”

"Maybe it tripped over you on the way," Nef said with a snort.

Cleopatra finally cleared her throat. "Yes well. As fascinating as it always is to hear you greet each other, we have matters of the region to discuss. One more word out of either of you and I will be compelled to remove you both from the proceedings."

She slanted her blue eyes to the Prince. "Again."

Nef clasped her hands behind her back and he'd perfectly still, her silky hair moving with even a whisper and those dark, deadly eyes turned to the front, no inflection. Not even a twitch.

Ramenab shot Setetkh a glower and the meeting began.

Nef didn't look at him. Not again.

The meeting progressed and then the councilors suggested Nef wed Prince Amoneh from their allied kingdom and Nef's eyes snapped to her mother in alarm.

And to her horror Cleopatra pondered it before nodding. "So let it be written."

Nef's world tilted.

To be continued... UPDATED WEEKLY