Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 162 162: Rules

Electra's POV

With Yuna reluctantly agreeing to come along, I now had to face the more daunting task of convincing Iris. Not only was she not the partygoing type, but she also struck me as someone who'd rather spend her evening reorganizing her bookshelves than stepping into a room full of loud music and chaos.

I could be wrong about her since I didn't really know her well enough to judge, but from the little I already knew, I didn't think I was.

Regardless of whether or not she liked parties or not, I didn't have much of a choice. If I wanted Yuna to come, I needed to play along with her condition, which was getting Iris to tag along.

I headed down the hall toward Iris's room, the sound of girls chatting and laughing from nearby dorms growing louder as I walked. When I reached her door, I hesitated for a moment before knocking.

The door creaked open, and Iris peeked out, her glasses perched on her nose and a book in her hand. She looked exactly as I'd expected: cozy sweater, hair tied back, and an expression that said she'd rather be anywhere but at a party.

"Electra?" she said, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Hey," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "What are you up to?"

She held up the book, the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. "Reading for the test we have next Thursday. Why do you ask?"

"Well," I started, clapping my hands together. "I'm here because I've got a better idea for how you can spend your Friday night."

Her brows furrowed. "For some reason, I'm almost afraid to ask what you've got in mind."

"There's a party happening on campus," I said, my tone light and persuasive. "And you're coming with me."

The look of horror that crossed her face would've been funny if I hadn't been trying so hard to convince her.

"A party?" she repeated, as if I'd just suggested skydiving without a parachute.

"Yes, a party," I said. "You know, music, drinks, people having fun? It'll be great. You'll see."

Iris shook her head firmly. "I don't think so. Parties aren't really my thing."

I expected that response, but it didn't make it any less frustrating. "Come on, Iris. Live a little. You've been studying all evening, and what better way to relieve stress than to dance? You might not think so now, but you'll actually enjoy yourself."

"I highly doubt it, Electra. You should know by now that I don't do well with a crowd of people," she said, crossing her arms.

"Look," I said, softening my tone. "You don't have to stay long. Just come for a bit, and if you hate it, I'll personally walk you back to your room. Deal?"

She hesitated, clearly torn.

"Please?" I added, giving her my best puppy-dog eyes. "It'd mean a lot to me."

I wasn't above a little emotional manipulation if it got her to agree.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she sighed. "Fine, but only for a little while."

"Thank you!" I said, genuinely relieved.

"Don't thank me yet," she muttered. "I'm holding you to that promise about leaving early."

"Deal," I said quickly. "Now get ready, and wear something… I don't know, party-ish."

Iris gave me a look that said she was already regretting her decision, but she didn't argue as she closed the door to change.

---

By the time we all met up at the dorm entrance, Yuna and Iris looked as different as night and day. Yuna had taken my advice and tamed her hair, opting for a sleek, low ponytail.

She wore a black crop top and ripped jeans, effortlessly blending the casual with the edgy, which was surprising since she has always struck me as a goofball who wouldn't know the first thing about getting dressed for a party.

Iris, on the other hand, had clearly struggled with the concept of "party-ish." She'd swapped her sweater for a simple blouse and jeans, and while she looked nice, it was obvious she felt out of place.

"You look great," I said, hoping to ease her nerves.

"Thanks," she mumbled, holding her hands together like she was on the verge of a panic attack.

"Let's get to the party and see what we're working with," Yuna said excitedly, smirking as she led the way.

When I checked the time, I realized that the three of us were already half an hour late for the party. The venue was tucked away in one of the older buildings on campus—a spot the staff rarely checked, which made it perfect for events like this.

The walk to the venue felt like the calm before the storm, and as we approached, the sound of music grew louder.

"This is going to be interesting," Yuna said, glancing back at me.

"You have no idea," I muttered under my breath, my thoughts already drifting to Seraphina.

When we stepped inside, the atmosphere hit us almost immediately—heat, music, and the unmistakable energy of teenage chaos. I scanned the room, my heart racing as I searched for Seraphina.

After scanning the crowd for what felt like an eternity, I still couldn't spot Seraphina, and my stomach tightened, but I tried to stay calm. This wasn't the time to panic—or at least, not openly.

I glanced back at Yuna and Iris, both of whom seemed to be adjusting to the chaos in their own ways.

Iris stood stiffly, her arms crossed tightly as if she were trying to shrink herself into the smallest possible space. Her eyes darted around, taking in the flashing lights, the dancing girls, and the cigarette smoke in the air.

Yuna, on the other hand, seemed more relaxed. She leaned casually against the wall, her eyes surveying the room like she was already deciding who she'd talk to first. Still, I couldn't help but notice the slight furrow in her brow, as though she wasn't entirely at ease.

I realized then that besides worrying about Seraphina, I also had to keep an eye on these two. Yuna might seem confident, but this wasn't her territory, and Iris? She looked about one wrong move away from bolting.

Turning to them, I raised my voice to be heard over the music. "Listen up, both of you."

Yuna straightened, her gaze flicking to me with curiosity. Iris looked startled, as though she hadn't expected me to address her at all.

"No matter what happens," I said firmly, "don't drink anything that's handed to you by a stranger. Got it?"

Yuna raised an eyebrow. "Why would I take a drink from a stranger?"

I ignored her question, pressing on. "And don't drink anything from the bar that's already been opened or sitting out. Stick to sealed bottles or cans, and if you can't find any, don't drink at all."

Iris frowned. "Is it really that bad?"

I hesitated for a moment, debating how much to tell them. Finally, I decided it was better to be blunt. "Yes, it's that bad. Also, stay away from the cookies—or any other snacks, really. You never know what's in them."

Yuna's smirk faltered. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," I replied. "And if you see anyone doing drugs or anything sketchy, don't stare. Pretend you didn't see anything and keep walking."

Yuna and Iris exchanged glances, clearly unsettled.

"Why do you know all this?" Yuna asked, narrowing her eyes at me. "Isn't this your first party here?"

I stiffened, caught off guard by her question.

"Look, Yuna," I said, my tone sharper than I intended. "Just listen to me and do as I say, okay? Unless you want to end up losing your mind and potentially jumping off a building, don't argue with me."

That shut them up. Yuna's smirk was completely gone now, and Iris looked downright frightened, but she nodded quickly, as if eager to show she was taking my warning seriously.

"Good," I said, softening my tone slightly. "Now stay close, and don't wander off. If either of you gets into trouble, find me immediately. Got it?"

They both nodded, and I felt a small surge of relief. At least they were listening.

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