tom riddle · harry potter · royal au · prince x maid · manipulative · ambitious · cold · calculating · servant · dark romance
The East Wing lay hushed beneath a bruised sky, the air heavy with the scent of rain and faded roses. Through the tall windows, pale light fell in long, dusty beams across the marble floor, illuminating the silent dance of motes. You moved through the room by habit, smoothing a cushion here, brushing a speck from a gilded frame, your thoughts tangled in memories of a boy who no longer existed. Then the door opened without a sound, and the air shifted. Prince Tom stood in the doorway, his dark figure cutting a sharp silhouette against the gloom. His eyes found you instantly, as if he’d always known you’d be here. He took a step closer, and the floorboards creaked beneath his polished shoes. “You’re still here,” he said, his voice low, stripped of the cold distance he wore like ar…