Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 49: Not Forgotten

Seraphina's Pov

I lay sprawled out on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, while feeling a strong sense of anticipation. Every hour that passed without a single sign of Electra or her gang coming after me was like a slow wave of confusion that left me feeling off-balance and extremely anxious.

Two days. I had been lying low in my room for two days now, following Yuna's advice to stay hidden and skip classes. Faking a stomach bug wasn't difficult, and thankfully, no one cared enough to press me for details.

But despite all my efforts to stay invisible, there was this constant knot of anxiety deep in my stomach, one that refused to go away. The whole time, I kept expecting Electra to make her move.

Any moment, I thought, her friends would barge into my room, or she herself would come storming in, furious and hell-bent on revenge. After all, I had slapped her and crossed a line no one in their right mind would ever dream of crossing with Electra.

Yet… nothing. No sign of Electra or any of her friends. It was as if that entire scene hadn't even happened, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered if Electra was simply too embarrassed to acknowledge it. Maybe she didn't even have the courage to tell her friends that she was slapped by a nobody like me, which would explain the silence, but that thought seemed almost too good to be true.

Just as I was letting my mind wander down yet another dead end of paranoid thoughts, I heard the door creak open, and Jolene, one of my roommates, stepped into the room.

Normally, I'd expect nothing more than the usual exchange of silent avoidance between us, but this time, she surprised me. Instead of ignoring me, she looked directly at me.

"Seraphina," she said, her tone flat and a bit annoyed, as usual.

I sat up, frowning in surprise. Jolene barely acknowledged my existence on a regular day, so why was she talking to me now? I didn't even know what to say, so I just blinked, waiting for her to continue.

"The principal's calling for you," she announced, her expression a mix of irritation and boredom.

I could feel my stomach drop.

"The principal?" My voice came out as more of a squeak. "Why would the principal be calling for me?"

Jolene rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "How am I supposed to know that?" she replied, her tone dripping with impatience. "She's waiting, so you better get moving."

And with that, she turned on her heel and left the room, leaving me sitting there with my heart thundering in my chest.

Why would Principal Astor want to see me? I hadn't done anything—well, besides slapping Electra, but surely the principal didn't know about that. Or… did she?

The idea that Electra herself might have reported me made my hands feel clammy. What if she was finally about to exact her revenge in a more official and less horrifying way?

My heart raced as I slipped out of my pajamas and changed into something presentable, and nerves prickled under my skin, making every movement feel clumsy and uncertain.

'Why was I being called to the principal's office?' The question haunted me as I tried to steady my breathing and calm myself.

Swallowing down the dread I felt, I pulled on a plain shirt and jeans, hoping the simplicity of my outfit might make me feel more grounded, and taking a deep breath, I walked out of my room and made my way toward the principal's office.

My heart hammered as I approached the door to the reception area outside Principal Astor's office, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw as I opened the door.

There, seated in the reception area, were Electra and her friends, sitting around with an air of smug satisfaction. They looked up in unison as I stepped in, their expressions shifting into sly, knowing smiles that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Electra's gaze was especially intense, her eyes glinting with that unsettling, predatory look, as if she were reveling in some private joke. The amused look in her eyes felt sharp, like she was enjoying every moment of my discomfort.

My hands began to tremble, and it was like every bit of courage I had built up had been wiped out in one glance. As much as I wanted to keep my composure, a feeling of powerlessness crept in, making me feel small and vulnerable.

I forced myself to look away from Electra's mocking gaze, ignoring the whispering and chuckling of her friends, but I could still practically feel their eyes boring into me and dissecting my every move.

"Seraphina," Hawthorne called out my name, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. She motioned me toward the door. "The principal is waiting. Please go inside."

I nodded, managing a shaky smile before quickly turning away from Electra and her friends. My legs felt like jelly as I made my way to the door, practically bolting to escape their piercing stares. With every step, I fought the urge to look back to see if they were watching me and laughing.

As soon as I stepped into Principal Astor's office, I felt a different kind of tension settle over me. Principal Astor stood by the window, looking out as though deep in thought, and hearing the door close behind me, she turned, her expression strict and unreadable.

"Seraphina," she greeted me, her voice clipped and formal. "Please, take a seat."

Nodding, I moved to the chair across from her desk and sat down, folding my hands tightly in my lap. The room was awfully quiet, and it felt like I was in a courtroom, waiting for the verdict.

Principal Astor didn't waste any time. "I'll make this quick, as I have other matters to attend to," she began, her tone leaving little room for pleasantries.

"So Seraphina," Astor began. "The reason I called you here today is to inform you that your name has been officially registered as a participant in the Revernyn tournament, and you are to compete as a member of the enchanted archery team."

My eyes widened immediately, and I stared back at her, wondering if I had heard correctly. Competing? In the Revernyn tournament? As part of the archery team? But how come? I already refused, didn't I?

"But... but I told Electra I didn't want to be a part of the team," I stammered. "I don't even know how to use a bow. So I don't understand why my name would be registered."

Astor's expression didn't change. If anything, her face hardened, as though my confusion and resistance only added to her irritation. She narrowed her eyes, making me feel smaller by the second.

"Tell me, Seraphina," she said, her voice laced with something almost mocking, "who do you think you are to refuse the princess and her order?"

I blinked in shock.

My shock was so complete that for a moment, I couldn't even speak. My mind scrambled to understand and to make sense of this situation, but no matter how I tried, there was only the sinking realization that Electra had once again gotten things to suit her desire, and now I was being forced into something I never wanted.

I took a deep breath, summoning whatever courage I had left. "Principal Astor," I began, trying to keep my tone respectful, though my voice shook. "I truly don't understand why I've been chosen for this. I'm not trained. I could never meet the standards of the tournament, and I—"

Astor raised a hand, cutting me off, her eyes flashing with something between annoyance and disdain. "Your understanding is not required, Seraphina. Only your compliance is."

She leaned forward. "You may not be trained, but that's irrelevant. When Princess Electra selects someone, they are expected to meet her standards. So I would suggest you start taking this seriously because, let me assure you, failure is not an option."