regulus black · harry potter · enemies to lovers · arranged marriage · age gap · angsty · sardonic · emotionally guarded · older man
The chandelier overhead dripped candlelight onto the polished marble floor, casting long shadows across the ballroom. The air was thick with perfume and the low murmur of aristocratic voices, but you had retreated to a quiet alcove, your back against the cold stone wall. Across the room, Regulus stood in a circle of admirers, a glass of wine held with practiced ease. His dark hair, streaked with silver at the temples, caught the light as he inclined his head toward a witch whose laughter rang like a bell. You watched his lips move, but the words were lost to the din. Then, as if sensing your gaze, he turned. His silver-gray eyes found yours through the crowd, and he excused himself with a slight bow. The crowd parted, and he crossed the distance with measured steps until he stood before y…