How to Use Worldbuilding to Deepen Enemies to Lovers Tension

Enemies to lovers doesn’t just live in the character arc, it lives in the world around them.

When creating a believable enemies-to-lovers trope, we always take into consideration the character’s arc that leads them to the pivotal part of turning from enemies into something else… something more. So, how does our worldbuilding factor into this trope? The answer is a simple one, in theory.

Setting, history, and societal structures are all vital factors to take into account when creating an enemies-to-lovers arc that your readers are not only going to believe, but also immerse themselves in. They provide the context and framework for the characters’ animosity toward one another, the reason behind their conflict, and, most importantly, the obstacles that they have to overcome, both individually and together, to be able to find love.

In a previous article, I go into detail about how to plot this trope as we would our overall manuscript. Now, I am going to explain how we can structure said plot so that it matches these plots so that both the story and the trope flow naturally.

🌍 Worldbuilding as the Source of Opposition

The overall worldbuilding is where we will set our stage for this initial conflict between the characters. There are a few things we have to keep in mind in this stage, here are a few examples:

Environmental Factors

We can use the physical environment to dictate the terms of the characters’ lives. This will create a natural conflict and tension between them, one that is easy to follow, understand, and overcome in the future.

For example, two characters from rival kingdoms, clans, or magical orders on opposing sides of a terrible war and who have had vastly different experiences of said war. This could lead them to be full-blown enemies, or clashing with different perspectives as just rivals.

Social Hierarchies

Think of the different societal structures, like class, caste, or political systems that can come into play to create built-in barriers between the characters. These barriers could be just that, barriers. Or they could create a deep rivalry or even hatred between the characters from the get go. They don’t even have to know of each other to dislike what they stand for.

For example, one of the most used in this factor is royalty and peasant/assassin/spy/captive/and a long list of etcetera. But we can make it more subtle as well. Maybe the characters’ are from opposing political factors, of the same class, but with different views on how things should be run. Making their relationship inherently problematic from the start.

Historical Context

The past, including historical events, rivalries, or family feuds, can deeply influence present-day relationships. Especially if they have been taught from a young age that said family/nation/kingdom/etc is the enemy. Take into account that, most of the time, characters grow believing what they see and hear in their world, until some earth-shattering event occurs that makes them start to question things. This animosity is an easy one to create because it comes from others. Once the characters’ start to realise that things might not be as they seem, the flow from enemies to allies can be a smooth transition.

Writer Questions:

Are they from rival kingdoms, clans, magical orders?

What societal or historical conflict keeps them apart?

What beliefs, laws, or traditions make their romance dangerous?

What part of the world literally or metaphorically keeps them apart?

What would need to change in the world for them to be together?

🧭 Shared Obstacles = Shared Growth

Once we have established where their animosity comes from, it is time to start plotting what will happen to make their arcs grow, both separately and together. This is where the characters’ will start facing obstacles together, helping with the transition toward allies and deeper feelings. A few factors to take into account are:

External Conflicts

Referring back to the previous section, these tensions could come from a number of places. These tensions often manifest as external conflicts that the character must learn to navigate. For example, a character choosing to think for themselves instead of blindly following what they have been taught, having to choose between something for themselves or their responsibility.

Internal Conflicts

Very similar to the previous factor. Here, the characters’ own beliefs and loyalties, most probably shaped by their upbringing, can be put to question, thus creating internal conflicts. Do they start to understand each other? Question what they were taught? Here is where they will start to grapple with their feelings for one another challenging what they have been taught and redefining their own identities.

Writer Questions:

How does the world force them to cooperate? (Quest, war, prophecy, curse?)

How do shared dangers lead to empathy or understanding?

What shared goal or enemy makes their dynamic shift?

What’s the first moment the world forces them to rely on each other?

How can danger or survival bring out their truest selves?

⚠️ Worldbuilding Pitfalls to Avoid

Vague or underdeveloped world = shallow conflict.

Making one side too obviously right/wrong.

Having the world conflict feel irrelevant to their romance.

Worldbuilding is one of the most important parts of planning for fantasy. And it isn’t just the backdrop of a story, it’s part of that emotional arc. By creating a world that is rich in all of these things, we create a story that heightens tension, raises stakes, and makes the romance unforgettable.

By using setting, history, and societal structures effectively, we can create a believable and compelling enemies-to-lovers story where the conflict feels rooted in reality and the romance is a genuine triumph over adversity.

What worldbuilding element in your story is keeping your characters apart — or secretly pulling them closer?

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Thanks for reading❤️