Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 32: She needs to go

Electra's Pov

I stepped out of the infirmary, and as soon as the door swung shut behind me, I was immediately met by the disapproving gazes of Irina, Deena, Roxana, and Penelope. Their arms were crossed, brows furrowed, each of them radiating different degrees of irritation.

Clearly, they'd been waiting for me the entire time I was inside.

I hadn't intended to stay in there for so long. Originally, I just wanted to confirm that Seraphina was okay and get the nurse's report on why she fainted during the assembly. Five minutes, ten at most—that was the plan. Yet somehow, nearly an hour had slipped by.

A nagging voice in the back of my mind suggested that perhaps I stayed back longer because I didn't want to leave Seraphina alone with that girl, Yuna, but I quickly dismissed the thought. I wasn't the type to concern myself with such trivialities, and I certainly wouldn't stay behind because I was bothered by some nobody.

We began walking away from the infirmary, and there was an awkward silence between us for a while, but Roxana was the first to break it. "What took you so long?" she demanded, her eyes narrowed. "Weren't you just supposed to check if the girl wasn't dying and then come out? Did something happen in there that made you stay for so long?"

I kept my expression carefully neutral, forcing any hint of emotion from my face. "Yes, something did come up," I replied coolly, hoping it wasn't too obvious that I was lying. "But rest assured, the kid is fine now, and I managed to confirm from the nurse that her public fainting spell had nothing to do with the announcement."

Penelope scoffed lightly. "Speaking of the announcement," she began, her tone dripping with skepticism, "I still can't fathom why you added that girl—Seraphina, was it?—to our archery team. She has zero experience, and she'll be nothing but a liability and drag us down. The Revernyn tournament is way too important for you to include that looser to be a part of our elite team."

I felt Irina, who was walking directly beside me, let out a derisive laugh. "Isn't it obvious why Electra did it?" she remarked, throwing a sideways glance at me.

I arched an eyebrow, turning my gaze to Irina. "Oh? Please, enlighten me," I said, my voice laced with mild amusement. "I'd love to hear your thoughts on why I made that decision."

Irina folded her arms across her chest, meeting my eyes boldly. "You added Seraphina to humiliate her," she stated bluntly. "Knowing you, you probably want to make her a laughingstock in front of the entire school. Watch as everyone mocks and isolates her, and when she's at her lowest—bullied and friendless—you'll swoop in like some dark savior and manipulate her into thinking you're the only one who can protect her."

A genuine laugh burst from my lips, echoing down the hallway. The others looked at me with varying expressions—some surprised, others not so much.

I wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of my eye and turned to Irina, giving her an approving nod. "You know me so well, sweetie. You could write a book about me," I said, a sly smile playing on my lips.

Roxana shook her head, a playful grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You're truly something else, Electra. I can't even find the word to describe you."

"Crazy is the word you're looking for," Deena chimed in.

I smirked, tilting my head thoughtfully. "Crazy? No, that's too mundane." I paused for effect, letting my gaze sweep over each of them. "I'd prefer to be called... 'The Tempest.' Unpredictable, unstoppable, and utterly captivating. I'm also incredibly cunning."

The look all four of them gave me was unmistakable—a cringe that made my throat tighten for just a moment. I cleared it quickly, masking my slight embarrassment with a casual flick of my hair.

"Enough about that," I said, redirecting the conversation. "We have a bigger issue at hand—namely, that snake girl."

"Unfortunately, the snake girl is going to be a problem," I added, my tone turning colder. I glanced at Irina, who was matching my stride. "Did you get what I asked for?"

She smirked slightly, her eyes shining with a hint of mischief. "I was wondering when you'd bring that up," she replied. "For a moment, I thought you might've forgotten about your little project to distance Seraphina from that Yuna girl."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Forget? Hardly. If I'm to isolate Seraphina to the point where she relies solely on me, that serpent needs to be removed from the picture sooner rather than later."

Deena raised an eyebrow; her curiosity piqued. "You've always had a flair for the dramatic, Electra, but how far are you willing to go this time?" freēnovelkiss.com

Irina interjected before I could respond. "Well, as requested, I've done some digging, and I've found a few interesting triggers that could... unsettle Yuna. Things that could make her lose control and reveal her true nature. They're more than enough to scare Seraphina away from her."

A satisfied smile spread across my face. "Excellent," I murmured.

The mere thought of putting an end to the bond between Seraphina and Yuna brought a thrill of anticipation. It wasn't enough that Seraphina had a crush on me—no, that was just the beginning.

I wanted to consume her thoughts entirely and to be the center of her world. I needed to be the first person she thought of when she woke up and the last person on her mind before going to bed, and for that to happen, she needed to see me as her only refuge.

Penelope gave me a sidelong glance. "You seem awfully invested in this girl. What's so special about her? She's so plain, boring, and odd. I really don't get your interest in her."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "She's... intriguing, and I see potential in her."

Roxana snickered softly. "Potential for what? She just fainted during the assembly, Electra. She doesn't exactly scream 'strong and capable.'"

I shot her a sharp look. "Perhaps not, but at the end of the day, my interest in her is for me to know and for you to keep wondering."

Irina cleared her throat, bringing the focus back. "Regarding Yuna, one of the triggers that stood out more than the other was the Chimeric Venom."

I halted mid-step, causing the others to stop abruptly around me. Turning fully to face Irina, I fixed her with an intense gaze.

"The Chimeric Venom?" I repeated. "No need to explain its effects. Just make sure you get your hands on it as soon as possible."

Deena's eyes widened slightly. "Isn't that a bit... extreme? I'm no snake, but I've heard about the venom, and it is notorious for being extremely unpredictable."

I waved off her concern. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, a little chaos never hurts anyone."

"Except the target," Penelope quipped under her breath.

I ignored her. "In fact," I continued, a dark glint in my eyes, "I wouldn't mind if the venom had a more... permanent effect on Yuna. I'm going to need it to immobilize her and render her completely powerless. Let's make her so utterly useless that Seraphina sees no reason to keep her around or go anywhere near her."

Irina's lips curled into a sinister smile, and she gave a curt, mocking bow. "Your wish is my command, Your Highness."