Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 102 102: Commanding attention

Electra's POV

The applause was almost comical. As soon as I finished my brief introduction, the girls in the class erupted into claps and murmured admiration.

I could see the fascination in their eyes, the curiosity practically radiating off them, and it wasn't a surprise, really. If there was one thing I'd always been good at, it was commanding attention, and despite the fact that I was no longer myself, it was still satisfying to know that I could still get people to pay attention to me.

And walking to the back of the classroom, I just couldn't help the small thrill of satisfaction I felt. Yuna was watching me as I approached, her expression hovering between fascination and disbelief.

She gestured to the empty seat next to her, and I slid into it, crossing my legs casually as though I hadn't just declared myself to the entire room.

"You're brave," she said after a moment, her voice filled with admiration. "I don't think I could ever stand in front of the whole class and introduce myself like that. Especially not so boldly."

I chuckled softly, not bothering to meet her gaze. Compliments like that didn't warrant much of a response—they were a given, as far as I was concerned. "It's just an introduction," I said simply, brushing it off.

She leaned closer, lowering her voice even further. "Still, the way you said it... It was like you weren't nervous at all. Like you've done it a hundred times."

I glanced at her then, my lips curving into a faint smile. She wasn't wrong, of course—I had done it a hundred times, though never under these circumstances. But I wasn't about to explain to her that I used to be a princess, so addressing people was second in nature to me.

Instead, I let the silence settle between us, turning my attention to the front of the classroom where the teacher was supposed to appear.

The silence did stretch on for a few minutes, and though it wasn't uncomfortable for me, I could feel Yuna shifting in her seat beside me. I could practically sense the thoughts bouncing around in her head with questions she was dying to ask.

Eventually, she broke the silence. "Where are you from?" she asked.

I hesitated for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough to feel awkward. "Aldoria," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

The word felt foreign on my tongue, and I had to resist the urge to grimace. Aldoria. I was Aldorian now. No longer Elmerian, no longer from the lineage of Vale.

It was a strange adjustment, one that still felt like wearing someone else's clothes.

Yuna's eyes lit up. "Aldoria? Really? I've never been there, but I've heard it's beautiful. What's it like?"

I shrugged, leaning back in my chair. "It's fine."

Her face fell slightly at my lack of enthusiasm, but she pressed on. "Fine? That's all you're going to say about your kingdom? Come on, tell me something interesting."

I sighed inwardly, trying to summon something vaguely intriguing about Aldoria that wouldn't make me sound completely stupid. The last thing I wanted to do was make it obvious that I didn't know a thing about the kingdom I was supposed to be from.

"It's... peaceful," I said finally.

"So," I added hurriedly, attempting to shift her focus, "where are you from?"

Her face lit up at the question, and I almost felt bad for how little I actually cared about the answer. Still, it served its purpose. "I'm from Varynthia," she replied brightly, her pride evident.

I tilted my head, feigning interest. "Varynthia… isn't that the kingdom that worships snakes?"

At the mention of snakes, her expression shifted. Her previously cheerful demeanor dimmed slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. She tried to mask it, but I could see the discomfort in her eyes. It was subtle, but enough to make me want to smirk.

I stopped myself, though. She had no idea I already knew she was of snake descent, and I was going to keep pretending like I knew nothing, at least until she decided to share it with me, if she ever did.

She let out a dry chuckle, the sound forced. "Yeah, that's the one," she said, her tone flat. "It's not as weird as it sounds, though."

"Oh, I'm sure it's fascinating," I replied smoothly, though I made no effort to elaborate. Letting her squirm was far more entertaining.

She hesitated for a moment before steering the conversation in a new direction. "So, Electra, do you have any hobbies?" She asked, her tone a little too casual, as if trying to escape the previous topic.

I almost laughed at the question. Hobbies? The first thought that came to mind was painfully honest: hurting people.

It wasn't exactly a conventional pastime, but as Electra Vale, I'd always found a thrill in it. Whether it was physical, emotional, or strategic, causing others pain had been a form of art for me, but I quickly realized that saying so out loud would earn me a one-way ticket to being labeled insane.

Instead, I hesitated, racking my brain for a more socially acceptable answer. "I… like reading," I said finally, though the words felt foreign on my tongue.

Yuna raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Reading? You don't strike me as the bookish type."

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

She was about to respond when the door to the classroom creaked open, cutting her off. A figure entered, and almost immediately, the vibe in the room shifted, and everywhere suddenly grew quiet.

My attention shifted, and I was expecting to see the teacher walking in with a stack of notes and the usual monotony that came with these classes, but instead, what greeted me was something—or rather, someone—entirely unexpected.

Seraphina.

The moment our eyes met, I felt my entire body grow tense, and my frown deepened instinctively.

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