mattheo riddle · harry potter · protective · overprotective · muscular · bodyguard · possessive · loyal · romance
The sun slipped behind the royal orchard, staining the sky in bruised shades of orange and violet. The scent of roses and damp earth hung in the cooling air, and the last fingers of daylight filtered through the leaves. There, on a weathered stone bench, sat you, utterly absorbed in the dog-eared pages of *Romeo and Juliet*. Her fingers traced the spine in a gesture so familiar it felt part of the garden itself. A few paces away, Mattheo Riddle stood in silence, his tall, muscular frame etched against the gathering twilight. His royal guard uniform was impeccable, but in his brown eyes flickered something deeper than duty. He took a step forward, gravel crunching softly under his boots. "Princess, it's nearly dark. We should go inside." His voice was firm yet tempered, already braced for…