Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 107 107: Crossing the line

Third-person POV

The door to Astor's office closed behind Seraphina and Electra with a click, and Seraphina turned on her heel, her piercing gaze immediately locking on Electra. Despite the fact that she had a somewhat calm look on her face, her eyes still betrayed an annoyance that she wasn't bothering to hide.

"Don't expect me to come to your rescue again, Electra," she said sharply, her tone low but firm. "That nonsense about borrowing my authority, it won't happen again."

Electra's smirk widened, a sly, almost playful glint sparking in her eyes. She leaned against the nearest wall, crossing her arms casually as if Seraphina's words had rolled right off her. "No promises," she said with a shrug. "I can't guarantee I won't bother you again, so you might want to save your energy for when it happens."

Seraphina's brow twitched, the faintest sign of her growing irritation. She let out a soft, exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as if to physically force herself to stay calm.

"Next time, you're on your own," she said, her tone clipped. "Do you understand me?"

Electra tilted her head, her smirk never faltering. "Crystal clear, Your Highness."

Seraphina rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath that Electra couldn't quite catch but could only assume wasn't flattering. She turned and started to walk away, but Electra wasn't about to let her leave just yet.

"Hey, wait," Electra called out, taking a quick step forward. Before Seraphina could turn back to see what she wanted, Electra grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

Seraphina froze immediately, her entire body stiffening as if she'd just been dunked in freezing water. The sheer audacity of the gesture left her momentarily stunned, and for a second, all she could do was stand there, wide-eyed and rigid, but as quickly as the shock came, it faded, replaced by outrage.

"What are you doing?" she hissed. She brought her hands up, shoving against Electra's shoulders with as much force as she could muster. "Let go of me!"

Electra, clearly amused by the reaction, chuckled softly but released her grip, taking a step back. "Relax," she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "It was just a thank-you hug. No need to get so worked up."

Seraphina's glare could have melted steel. "Don't—" she started, but before she could finish, she swiftly kicked Electra's shin with the sharp toe of her shoe.

"Ah! What the hell?" Electra stumbled back slightly, clutching her leg as a sharp jolt of pain shot through it. She looked up at Seraphina, her smirk replaced by a mix of disbelief and irritation. "What was that for?"

Seraphina crossed her arms, her icy glare unwavering. "That," she said coolly, "was for crossing the line."

Electra straightened up, the smirk creeping back on her face despite the lingering pain in her leg. "Crossing the line?" she repeated, feigning innocence. "Can't a girl give an innocent thank-you hug without getting kicked?"

"Not when that girl is you," Seraphina shot back, her tone laced with disdain. "And definitely not when I've just told you not to bother me again."

Electra couldn't help but laugh, the sound low and amused. "Noted," she said, though her tone made it clear she had no intention of actually listening. "You really don't know how to take a compliment, do you?"

Seraphina's glare deepened, and for a moment, Electra thought she might actually swing at her, but instead, Seraphina let out a sharp breath, as though willing herself not to engage further. "Don't test me, Electra," she warned, her voice low and deadly serious. "I'm not in the mood."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her back straight and her steps precise. She didn't look back, not once, as she disappeared down the hallway, leaving Electra standing there, watching her go.

Electra leaned back against the wall, her smirk lingering as she rubbed her shin where Seraphina had kicked her.

She shook her head, the ghost of a chuckle escaping her lips. "Definitely worth it," she muttered to herself before pushing off the wall and strolling in the opposite direction, her hands in her pockets and a satisfied gleam in her eyes.

***

Seraphina walked down the corridor, unable to stop the string of mental curses directed at herself.

Why? Why had she foolishly intervened to help Electra? She could have left her there, let her finally face the consequences of her reckless actions, but no, she had stepped in, lent her authority, and now that infuriating girl had walked away unscathed.

Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she tried to calm the anger raging inside her. *I'm supposed to hate her,* she reminded herself fiercely. *Electra Vale doesn't deserve pity or help—not from me, not from anyone.*

It was true. Electra deserved every ounce of misfortune that came her way in this reality. After all, she had been the architect of so much pain when the roles were reversed.

Electra Vale had thrived on cruelty, and now that the tables had turned, Seraphina had vowed to make her pay. She didn't know the full extent of Electra's wickedness, but she didn't need to. The memories she had were enough. Electra needed to feel what it was like to be treated like dirt and to suffer the way she had made others suffer.

And yet, Seraphina had let her off the hook.

Her jaw tightened as she replayed the scene in Astor's office. The smugness in Electra's eyes, the way she had barely flinched under Astor's scrutiny—it had been infuriating, but even more infuriating was the fact that Seraphina had given her a way out.

She had spoken up, shielded Electra from the punishment she deserved, and for what?

"Foolish," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she turned the corner and approached her classroom.

By the time she pushed open the door, she had resolved to crush whatever ridiculous impulse had driven her to act on Electra's behalf. She would remind herself who she was now—Seraphina Vale—and she would make sure Electra Hook learned that actions had consequences, just as she had vowed.

The classroom was empty, except for Roxana, who sat at her desk, idly flipping through a notebook. She looked up as Seraphina entered, her expression brightening as she set the notebook aside. "There you are," Roxana said, rising to her feet. "I was waiting for you."

Seraphina closed the door behind her and approached Roxana, her expression unreadable. "What's going on?"

Roxana's lips curved into a sly smile, and she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping. "It's ready," she said simply.

Seraphina tilted her head, arching a brow. "What's ready?"

Roxana chuckled softly. "What we prepared for the new girl. You know—the welcome she deserves."

At those words, a small smile tugged at the corners of Seraphina's lips. She hadn't forgotten. In fact, the plan had been at the back of her mind all day.

Roxana and the others had taken the lead in setting it up, and Seraphina had given her approval, knowing that it was only the first step in teaching Electra the lessons she so desperately needed.

"Good," Seraphina said. "Tell me everything."

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