Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 309: Threatened

Seraphina’s POV

I let out a slow breath, trying to steady my heartbeat even though it felt like my ribs might crack from the force of it. Queen Jella still had that damn smug smile on her lips, and her eyes were bright with amusement, like this was all some game to her.

I hated that smile and hated the way it made my stomach twist.

I kept my face carefully blank, though, even as my palms started to sweat where they clutched the straps of my bag. After she had so casually hinted at telling the King of Aldoria that I had a "girlfriend" here, despite being engaged to his son, I had been terrified she’d push harder and that I’d expose myself right here and now.

But instead, I had forced myself to stay calm, and I denied it. I told her I didn’t know what she was talking about and that Electra and I were just friends, nothing more.

Jella had laughed. It was a sound that scraped across my skin like ice, chilling me down to my bones.

"Oh, darling," she’d said, shaking her head like I was some silly little thing. "There’s no use lying to me."

But I kept denying it. I kept my voice level, even though I wanted to scream, and I said, again and again, that Electra and I were just really good friends and that I didn’t know where she’d gotten her information. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Finally, I’d lifted my chin and asked, with as much calm politeness as I could muster, why she was here, because surely she hadn’t come all the way to Elysium just to gossip about who Electra might or might not be dating.

She hadn’t answered immediately. She’d just stared at me, that smile still there, and it felt like her gaze was peeling away my skin, layer by layer, looking for the crack underneath.

"Your Highness," I said, a little more firmly. "If there’s something you need to tell me, please do. Otherwise, I really would like to get back to my studies."

Her smile faded just slightly. "You’re brave," she murmured, almost to herself. "Or perhaps just stupid."

I swallowed hard. "I’m neither. I’m just busy."

At that, she laughed again, softer this time, but somehow meaner. "Oh, I like you," she said. "No wonder Electra does, too."

I didn’t let my face change. I was screaming inside, but I didn’t let it show.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I said.

She waved a hand like she was brushing aside a fly. "Fine, fine. Let’s pretend your little secret is still safe, but here’s why I called you here."

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs, looking every inch the predator she was. "I want you to convince Electra to step down from the tournament."

I blinked. That... was not what I was expecting.

"Excuse me?" I said carefully.

Jella tilted her head. "She’s going to compete against Hunter, my candidate for the next heir, and if it can be avoided, I’d like to avoid it."

I felt my nails digging into my palms. "I have no control over Electra," I said. "She does what she wants."

Jella’s smile turned sharp. "Oh, but you do. From what I’ve heard, and you better believe that my sources are very accurate, Electra listens to you, Seraphina. She cares what you think, and she would do anything for you. So let’s not pretend otherwise."

I shook my head. "She would never give up something like this just because I asked, and besides, I wouldn’t ask her to give up her crown. I know what it means to her."

Jella’s eyes flashed with something dark. "So stubborn," she whispered. "Just like your mother."

That threw me. "Excuse me?"

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Never mind. The point is, Seraphina, I’m giving you a chance. Tell her to drop out. Convince her however you think you can, or... well, maybe I really will have to tell the King of Aldoria what you’ve been doing here, hmm?"

My stomach twisted so hard I thought I might be sick.

"I—" My voice cracked, so I stopped, took a breath, and tried again. "I’m not... I’m not going to let you blackmail Electra and me, and I’m also not going to lie to her."

Jella raised an eyebrow. "Loyal, sweet, but foolish. Think about it, Seraphina. You’re not the only one with something to lose. Electra will lose much more than her crown if you don’t protect her. She’ll lose her life."

I froze. "What... what are you saying?"

Jella leaned back. "I’m saying this isn’t a game, little girl, and if Electra faces Hunter in that tournament, she’s going to die. I will make sure of it. So maybe consider helping her... by making sure she doesn’t get herself killed."

I stared at her, my heart thudding painfully in my chest. "You’re a monster," I whispered before I could stop myself.

She didn’t react. Just looked bored, like she was tired of this conversation already. "Call me what you want. Just do as I say."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "And if I don’t?"

She smiled again. "Then I suppose you and Electra will both find out exactly how ruthless I can be."

I hated her. I hated her so much in that moment I thought I might explode from it, but I couldn’t show it. So I forced myself to nod, like I was considering it.

"May I leave now?" I asked, my voice quiet.

She waved her hand. "Go, but you better think carefully about our conversation today, and for your own good, do exactly as I asked."

Without bothering to comment any further, I stood up from where I was seated and walked out of the room as fast as I could without running.

As soon as the door shut behind me, I let out a shaky breath I didn’t realize I was holding, pressing my hand to my chest to calm myself while trying to decide if this conversation was worth telling Electra now or if I should just keep it to myself to avoid distracting her unnecessarily.

And after thinking about it for a little while longer, I decided to simply pretend like this never happened.