Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 211 211: Saved by the Prince

Seraphina's POV

I sat on the floor, my back pressed against the door, and my fingers idly scrolling through my phone as I waited for Darius to call and let me know when he arrived.

My body was tense, and my mind restless, knowing Gianna was probably gloating somewhere in the house, thinking she had managed to remind me of my place. She had no idea what was coming, and I couldn't wait to put that hag in her place.

Just as I was lost in thought, my phone rang, and to my surprise, Electra's name flashed across my screen. For a second, I just stared at it, my brows furrowing.

Electra's calling me? Even though I had wanted her to call me, I still couldn't help the suspicion I felt as soon as I saw she was the caller. After the way she acted the last time I called—pretending like she had no clue about our lives switching—I was sure she had no intention of reaching out again.

So why now had she decided to reach out? Did she finally remember? Was that why she was calling? Regardless of my skepticism, I answered, pressing the phone to my ear.

And the moment we started speaking, something became painfully clear—Electra Vale underestimated me in the worst way possible.

The sheer audacity of her thinking I wouldn't see through her lie made my blood boil. She actually thought I would just believe that she suddenly had the urge to call me and check up on me?

That Electra Vale—of all people—the one who didn't spend weeks being in an alternate reality with me—just randomly decided she cared about how I was doing?

I almost laughed. Not because it was funny, but because it was downright insulting. Did she really think so little of my intelligence?

The Electra Vale that I knew before our lives switched—the same one who spent weeks making my life miserable—would never have called me, especially not because I had been away from school for barely two days.

In fact, that Electra wouldn't have given a damn if I died back home, but now, she was calling me? Acting as though she cared, while also trying to act like she didn't care?

It was so out of character that I didn't even have to think twice. She had slipped up, and had just confirmed what I didn't suspect earlier, but was certain of now.

Electra remembered everything. She wasn't confused, and she most certainly wasn't oblivious. She was just pretending.

Why? I didn't know, but the fact that she thought she could fool me—thought she could lie to me and get away with it—made my blood boil.

I wasn't the same fool she used to torment. Not anymore.

So I let my irritation seep into my voice.

"You must think I'm an idiot."

And before she could respond—before she could weasel her way out of it—I ended the call. Not even a second later, I opened our messages and typed a single text.

"You and I are going to talk when I'm back."

No excuses. No lies.

When I returned to Elmeria, Electra Vale and I were going to talk, and when we did, I was certain she wouldn't be able to lie to my face.

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to push away all thoughts of Electra and her irritating lies. I had bigger things to focus on right now, and an example was getting out of this damn room and getting something to eat.

My stomach let out a low, angry growl, and I pressed a hand against it, scowling. I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon, which was sometime after the funeral proceedings, and it was already almost 1 PM.

Just weeks ago, going days without food wouldn't have even fazed me. It had been normal for me to stay hungry since locking me up had been Gianna's favorite punishment. As embarassing as it was to think about it, I had learned to survive by drinking water from the bathroom sink, numbing my hunger until it dulled into something bearable.

But now?

Now that I had spent months at Elysium Girls High—where I didn't have to starve—even though I've had my fair share of horrible experiences—I found that my body wasn't used to it anymore, and I hated it.

I hated that my hands were starting to feel weak, and that my legs were slightly shaky. I hated it because it meant that Gianna's punishment was really working, and that she still had this kind of power over me.

My jaw tightened, and I clenched my fists. The last thing I'd ever do was give her the satisfaction of breaking me again, and thankfully, I had a way out. I didn't even want to imagine how I would have had to survive if Darius hadn't been generous enough to give me his number last night.

I leaned my head back against the door, inhaling deeply, forcing myself to stay focused.

Darius should be here soon, so I just had to hold on a little longer. After what felt like forever, my phone buzzed with a text, and I grabbed it immediately, my heart pounding as I checked the message.

Darius: I'm here.

A rush of relief flooded through me, and I let out a long, shaky breath.

Finally.

I wasn't going to be stuck here for much longer. In my excitement, I pushed myself up from where I had been sitting, stumbling slightly as my body protested, but I ignored the protest.

I moved closer to the door, pressing my ear against it, listening for any sound of movement, and then I heard what I wanted to hear the most—footsteps.

They weren't hurried, and I could tell that whoever was walking towards me was calm and confident, and then, much to my pleasure, I heard the distinct sound of keys jingling, and my pulse quickened.

The lock clicked, the door swung open, and standing there, dressed like he had nowhere better to be, was Darius.

With a proud grin on his face, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Your prince is here," he teased with a grin.

I blinked, taken aback by his cringe comment .

Then, despite everything, despite my frustration, my hunger, and my exhaustion—I almost laughed.