Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 134 134: A little understanding

Seraphina's POV

When I woke up, my head was pounding as if a hammer was trying to break through my skull. It was the kind of headache that made me feel like I shouldn't move a single muscle, yet I instinctively tried to shift anyway, only to find that my head didn't budge.

Panic ran through me for a moment, and I wondered if something was seriously wrong until I realized the true reason why I couldn't move.

I was pressed against Electra.

It took me a second to process the situation fully. Her arm was draped loosely over me, her chest rising and falling steadily beneath my head. Apparently, at some point in the night, I had ended up cuddled against her like some kind of oversized stuffed animal.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment at the realization, and I was tempted to bolt upright and distance myself from her, but the headache made even the thought of moving unbearable.

Still, I couldn't stop myself from tilting my head slightly to get a better look at her. Electra's face, usually set in a perpetual scowl or smirk, looked... peaceful.

Her features were softer in sleep, the tension she always seemed to carry gone. She looked completely different, almost unrecognizable compared to the intimidating and fiery girl I knew.

Seeing her like this reminded me of our conversation last night—the way she'd dodged my questions about the tunnel and her refusal to share just how many times she had endured something similar.

I never really thought I understood Electra or anything, but I had come to a conclusion about her when we were in our real lives. She was an untouchable nutjob who thrived on power and control, but lying here now, seeing her as vulnerable as I'd ever seen her, I realized how little I truly knew about her.

Her life was far more complicated than I could have imagined. The pain she carried, the anger she hid behind her cold demeanor—it made me feel guilty for the times I had hated her, thinking she was just cruel for cruelty's sake.

I let out a quiet sigh, my breath catching slightly when I noticed her stir. Her arm shifted slightly against me, and I panicked again, wondering if I should pretend to be asleep, but before I could make a decision, her eyes fluttered open.

For a second, she looked dazed, her gaze unfocused as she adjusted to the light in the room. Then her eyes locked on mine, and her brows furrowed in confusion. "Why are you...?" she started, her voice raspy from sleep.

I quickly pulled away from her, creating some distance as I sat up, my headache forgotten in the rush of embarrassment. "I—uh, I don't know," I stammered, unable to meet her gaze. "I don't even remember how we fell asleep like that."

Electra rubbed her eyes, sitting up more slowly than me. "Well, you were crying half the night," she muttered, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. "Maybe you just conked out and decided I was a convenient pillow."

I scowled at her, even though I couldn't deny that there was probably some truth to her words. "You didn't seem to mind," I shot back, trying to regain some semblance of dignity.

Electra smirked faintly, her usual expression of amused superiority creeping back into place. "Touché," she said, leaning back against the headboard. "Though next time, if you're going to use me as a pillow, at least warn me first."

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. "I'll be sure to send a formal request next time."

We lapsed into silence after that, the air between us no longer as tense as it had been the night before. I could feel Electra's gaze on me as I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the lingering headache.

Part of me wanted to ask her again about the tunnel, but I remembered the way she'd shut me down last night. She didn't want to talk about it, and I had to respect that.

Still, curiosity burned in the back of my mind. What else had Electra endured that I didn't know about? How much pain had she buried beneath that tough exterior?

"What is it now, little Sera? What's with the look?" Electra's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

I blinked, realizing I must have been staring at her again. "Nothing," I said quickly, shaking my head. "Just... thinking."

"About what?" she pressed, raising a brow.

I hesitated, debating whether to lie or tell her the truth. Finally, I decided to be honest. "About you," I admitted, my voice soft.

Electra looked surprised for a moment, her smirk faltering slightly. "Me?" she echoed. "What about me?"

"About everything you've been through," I said, meeting her gaze. "About how little I really knew about you before all of this. I used to think you were just... heartless and crazy and demented and evil. I just thought you enjoyed being cruel for the sake of it. But now..."

Electra's expression shifted, her smirk replaced by something more guarded. "Don't start feeling sorry for me, Seraphina," she said, her tone sharper than before. "I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity," I said quickly. "It's just... understanding."

She didn't respond right away, her gaze dropping to her hands. For a moment, I thought she was going to shut me out again, but then she let out a heavy sigh. "Well, don't get too comfortable with that," she muttered. "Your understanding doesn't do anything for me. It doesn't change the past, so do me a favor and keep your understanding."

I frowned, her words striking a nerve. "You're right, it doesn't change the past," I agreed softly. "But it does help us understand each other better."

The scoff that came from Electra was sharp, and it stung more than I wanted to admit. "You think you understand me now?" she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "You think a few hours in a tunnel gives you the right to say that?"

I frowned, her words hitting harder than I expected. "I didn't say I understood everything about you," I replied calmly, trying not to let her words get under my skin. "But I think I understand a part of what you've been through."

She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "You don't get it, Seraphina. You don't even come close to getting it. That tunnel? That's nothing. I've dealt with that and worse my entire life, and you expect me to believe that a single night makes you some kind of expert on my experience?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could get a word out, she climbed out of the bed.

"Where are you going?" I asked, sitting up straighter.

"Anywhere but here," she shot back, her voice tight with anger. "I don't have time for this 'let's bond over trauma' nonsense."

Her words made me flinch, but I couldn't let her leave like this. "Electra, wait," I called out, my voice firmer than I expected.

She stopped in her tracks, her back still turned to me. Slowly, she turned around, her eyes narrowed in frustration. "What?"

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should even say it. "The reason I understand you," I began, "isn't just because of that tunnel. It's because I've been there too, in my own way."

Electra raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "What are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "My stepmother," I said quietly. "Well, she was my mother's biological sister, and after my mom died, she took over as my dad's new wife and made it her personal mission to make my life a living hell."

Electra's expression softened slightly, but she said nothing, so I continued. "She would lock me in my room for days at a time, with no food or water, tell me I was worthless, and I'd just sit there, waiting for my punishment to be over. On some days, she'd make sure I was almost passed out before getting me out, and she did all of this with my dad's knowledge."

I swallowed hard, the memories hitting me harder than I expected. "So yeah," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I don't know everything you've been through, but I know what it's like to feel trapped."

Electra stared at me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might yell at me, or laugh it off, or tell me I was just being dramatic, but instead, she stood there in silence, her gaze locked on mine.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke. "Well, I'm... sorry to hear that," she said, her voice quieter than I'd ever heard it.

It wasn't much, but it was something. I nodded, offering a small, tentative smile. "Thanks," I said softly.

But just as I thought we were getting somewhere, she turned back around and headed for the door. "Electra," I called out again, but she didn't stop this time.

She opened the door and stepped out without another word, leaving me alone in the room.

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