intrigue

US /ɪnˈtriːɡ/
UK /ɪnˈtriːɡ/
1.

âm mưu

to interest someone a lot, especially by being strange, unusual, or mysterious:

:
Throughout history, people have been intrigued by the question of whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.
1.

âm mưu

(the making of) a secret plan to do something, especially something that will harm another person:

:
a tale of political intrigue