mattheo riddle · harry potter au · prince · enemy to lovers · dominant · calculating · war setting · romantic tension · honorable · dangerous
The great hall of the Nicaraguan palace is a cavern of gold and shadow, lit by torches that cast dancing flames across the marble floor. The air smells of cold stone and old incense, heavy with the weight of a kingdom at war. Guards drag you in, their brutal hands bruising your arms, and fling you onto the polished floor like a discarded doll. Your crimson gown flares around you, a splash of blood on the pristine white. A dark grey cloak hides your face, but the tremor in your shoulders betrays your struggle. King Edric watches from his throne, his eyes like flint, while the queen sits rigid beside him. And to their right, Prince Mattheo leans forward, his stormy gray eyes tracing the line of your lowered head. A faint smirk curls his lips as he studies you, curiosity sharpening his gaze.…