Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 302: Let the Games Begin

Electra’s POV

I took in a slow breath and wrapped my fingers around the grip of my enchanted arrow, the metal humming faintly against my skin.

The moment I touched it, a familiar pulse of energy ran through me, hot and quick, like a jolt of lightning slicing through my bloodstream. My lips curled into a grin.

There it was, that rush and that high. That feeling reminded me who the hell I was.

Princess Electra Vale. The rightful heir to the throne of Elmeria, and soon, if things went my way at the Revernyn Tournament, the undisputed crown princess of this kingdom.

The thought alone sent another thrill through me.

I knew my father had only agreed to the tournament match between Hunter and me because he thought it would appease the court and make them feel like the decision of succession was fair, democratic even.

Let the best royal win, but I also knew him better than anyone. He was only doing this to buy time. Deep down, he still believed I was the rightful heir, but his real hesitation came from fear—fear of losing control and fear of what Queen Jella might do if I can’t beat her precious little pet, but that didn’t matter anyway.

He could give me a battlefield or a ballroom, and I’d still come out on top because over my dead body would that wannabe royal ever be king.

I spun the arrow between my fingers and turned to where my gear lay waiting on the bench. I was so caught up in the thrill of it that I didn’t even hear Irina enter until her voice broke through the silence.

"You do remember that this isn’t just about enchanted archery, right?" she asked dryly.

I turned to see her standing in the doorway of the training hall, arms folded across her chest and one brow raised. Typical Irina.

"I know," I replied with a shrug, setting the arrow back down gently. "But come on, you can’t deny I’m unbeatable in archery. This is my weapon."

"Sure," she said, walking further into the room and plopping down on a bench beside me. "But unless you plan to shoot Hunter in the knee during the swordsmanship round, you better brush up on the rest. We still don’t know what he can do."

That was the annoying part.

Hunter Vale, a twenty-one-year-old mystery kid who could have been trained in secret somewhere before he was handpicked by my wicked stepmother herself to take over Elmeria’s throne.

According to Vale, the court loved him already because he was charming and intelligent, two traits I must have missed when I met him, and most of all, male.

I already even heard the verdict, especially from the elders who barely tolerated me. "Maybe it’s time for a true heir." "Hunter is King Vale’s brother, it makes more sense." "Electra is too irrational to rule."

The same old nonsense, but now, it was much worse thanks to Jella’s pushing. I clenched my jaw, fury bubbling up in my chest again.

"I don’t care what he can do," I said through gritted teeth. "He’ll have to be a damn demigod to beat me."

Irina didn’t smile. Instead, she reached for one of the training swords and twirled it in her hand like it was weightless. It wasn’t surprising since she was a future general, and combat of any kind was her field.

"Then you’d better act like it," she said calmly. "Because this isn’t just a performance, Electra. Queen Jella wants blood, and we both know that she’ll be more than willing to play dirty to get what she wants."

I hated that she was right. It wasn’t just going to be a show because it never was with Jella. The woman wanted me gone, dead if she could swing it without it looking suspicious, and she would. If I wasn’t careful, the day of the tournament could be my last day alive.

I let out a slow sigh, dragging my fingers through my hair and glancing over at Irina, who was still waiting on my response.

"Even if Jella wants blood," I said finally, standing a little straighter, "she’s not going to get it, and I’m going to make sure of that."

Irina raised a brow.

"So instead of trying to scare me," I continued, "or whatever it is you’re trying to do, how about we head to the training ground? I’ll shoot at a few flying objects and prove to myself I’m not rusty. After that, you can help with swordsmanship and whatever else you think I suck at."

Irina let out a long, dramatic sigh, like I’d just suggested we run twenty laps barefoot through lava. She didn’t say anything, though. Instead, she walked over, picked up my bow and enchanted arrows with a bit more attitude than necessary, and headed for the door.

"I’m coming," I muttered, jogging after her.

The hallway outside the training hall was quiet, too quiet. I could hear our footsteps echo as we walked, the weight of the moment finally sinking in.

This wasn’t just any practice session, this was prep for the Revernyn Tournament, the event where I’d have to fight my way through challenges and my uncle Hunter, all while under the watchful eye of my power-hungry stepmother and a kingdom split in loyalty.

And just to make things even more complicated, E chose that moment to start running her mouth.

"You do remember that I’m fully with you now, right?" She said in my head, her voice cool and smug. "You really shouldn’t be stressing about beating a mere human."

I rolled my eyes and whispered under my breath, "Not now, E."

"Just saying," she replied. "You’re basically carrying divine fire in your veins and still acting like you’re on equal footing with some flimsy human."

I gritted my teeth and answered back silently, "Hunter is my problem, not yours, and I’m not going to cheat to beat him."

That earned a long pause. Then, in her usual snarky tone, E replied, "Suit yourself. Morality points won’t count for much if you’re dead, but fine, let’s do it your way. Besides, we’ve got a bigger enemy to deal with anyway."

That made me blink.

"Iris?" I asked.

There was no hesitation.

"Yes. Is there any way to get her alone?"

I felt my stomach twist as I processed that.

"Why?" I asked cautiously, and then E dropped the bomb like she was suggesting we grab coffee.

"Because we’re going to have to kill her."

"What?!" I blurted out.

The word slipped from my lips way too loud and way too fast, and my voice echoed off the walls.

Irina froze mid-step, turning slowly with a puzzled look on her face. "What?"

I cleared my throat, trying, and failing, to look casual. "Uh... nothing. Just... remembered something. Weird dream, but never mind."

Irina narrowed her eyes at me, unconvinced. "You said ’what’ like someone just asked you to marry a man."

"Well, it was a weird dream," I muttered, walking ahead of her now to hide the flush creeping up my neck.

E, of course, was not even remotely sorry.

"You’re going to have to get better at not reacting when I talk, Firecracker."

"You’re going to have to get better at not suggesting murder in the middle of a hallway."

She chuckled darkly before responding. "Well, get used to it. It’s either she kills us or we kill her, and trust me, I have no interest in getting killed. So, how do you suggest we lure a bitch to her death?"