Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 218 218: Backstabbing B*tch

Electra's POV

The cool breeze brushed against my skin as I stood at the rooftop, a cigarette lazily balanced between my fingers. I took a slow drag, exhaling the smoke into the open air, watching as it dispersed into the sky.

My mind, however, was far from at peace.It was a mess of thoughts, plans, and calculations.

Ever since my whole life turned upside down, including the existence of my so-called uncle, I had been mentally strategizing on how to safeguard my position as Crown Princess.

Because one thing was clear, and that was—if I didn't act soon, I was going to lose everything, and I was not the type to lose.

I brought the cigarette back to my lips, ready to take another drag, but then—

"Electra."

The familiar voice cut through my peace and quiet, and I immediately stiffened. I turned my head slightly, my eyes narrowing as I watched Irina walk towards me.

Of course.

The second I wanted to be alone, she just had to show up, and judging by the look on her face, she was about to grill me.

I sighed, bringing the cigarette back to my lips before exhaling another puff of smoke.

"What in the world are you doing here instead of being in class, Irina?" I asked, already bracing myself for whatever she was about to say.

Irina rolled her eyes before crossing her arms. "I could ask you the same thing," she shot back. "You weren't in your room when we went looking for you earlier, so I figured you had to be here."

I huffed, looking toward the rooftop door. "Are the other girls coming too?" I asked, half-dreading the answer.

The last thing I needed was for this rooftop to be invaded by my entire friend group. I had come here to think—not to deal with people.

Irina raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you hiding from someone?"

I scoffed. "No."

I was, though.

I didn't need to be anywhere near Deena right now, not until I had figured out what to do with my anger and how to deal with her.

Irina studied me carefully before finally letting out a sigh.

"Relax, it's just me," she said. "Penelope and Roxana are still in class, and I doubt Deena even knows you're up here."

The mention of Deena's name made my jaw clench, but I forced myself to stay neutral.

Irina watched me closely, her eyes analyzing me like she knew something was off.

"Alright," she muttered, leaning against the railing. "What's going on with you?"

I raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. "Nothing."

She snorted. "Please. You've been acting weird since last night, Electra, specifically since dinner last night . So spill, kid. What's going on with your?"

I took another drag of my cigarette, exhaling slowly before responding. "I'm just…thinking," I muttered.

She tilted her head. "Thinking about what? Is this about Hunter and your position?"

I smirked slightly. "Well, as you know, there's always a lot on my mind, sweetie. Politics, betrayal, and impending doom. The usual."

Irina's eyes narrowed. "Electra."

Her tone was serious now. "Talk to me. What's really going on with you?"

I let out a sigh, tapping the cigarette against the railing as I tried to gather my thoughts. I couldn't tell her everything, not because I didn't trust her but because I knew I would sound very crazy if I told her everything that was running through my mind.

I turned my gaze toward her, my expression unreadable. "Let's say…someone close to you betrays you," I said slowly. "Someone you trust."

Irina frowned. "You're still on this topic?" she asked, clearly baffled.

"Do you want to hear what I have to say or not, Irina?" I responded.

She rolled her eyes at me before reluctantly responding. "Go ahead, but it had better make sense."

"Thank you. Now, as I was saying, let's assume…you find out that they're planning to kill you."

I turned to her fully now.

"What would you do?"

Irina stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, after a moment—she grinned.

"You know me well enough to know the answer to that question, Electra," she said casually, "If I'm ever betrayed by someone I trusted, and I find out they want to kill me, I'd kill them first."

I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head. "Of course you would."

Irina smirked, but then her eyes darkened slightly. "Electra."

She took a step closer. "Are you trying to tell me something? Is something going to betray you? Who is it?"

I held her gaze for a long moment. Then, I simply shrugged.

"I'm just thinking out loud," I said smoothly. "That's all."

Irina's fingers dug into my shoulders, squeezing just hard enough to make me feel it.

"Electra," she said, her voice low. "Tell me the truth."

I exhaled slowly, keeping my expression neutral as I took another drag from my cigarette, but Irina wasn't letting up.

"Why do you keep talking about betrayal, Electra?" she demanded. "Who's going to betray you?"

"Is it someone we know?" she pressed. "Is it one of us?"

When I didn't respond immediately, her grip tightened slightly, her tone turning more urgent.

"Is it Roxie?"

Silence.

"Penelope?"

I took another slow drag from my cigarette, then exhaled deliberately.

"Deena?"

That time, I felt my jaw tighten, and Irina must've noticed, because she suddenly narrowed her eyes.

"Electra," she said slowly, "if you don't start talking, I swear—"

I cut her off with a scoff, rolling my shoulders under her grip.

"How are you so sure it's not you?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow at her. "Why are you so confident that I don't suspect you?"

For a split second, Irina stared at me—then—she let out a loud laugh.

Her fingers loosened, and she shook her head with mock amusement.

"Even if you believe that the whole world has betrayed you," she said, "you and I both know that I wouldn't be one of them."

Her tone was matter-of-fact, like it was undisputed truth, and I couldn't even argue because she was right. Irina would never do anything to hurt me, which was exactly why I finally made up my mind.

I took one last inhale of my cigarette, then flicked the ash over the edge of the rooftop before finally—I spoke.

"It's Deena."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Irina froze, and her eyes darkened. For a moment, she didn't say anything, and then—

"What?"

I turned to face her fully now, my expression blank. "Deena is planning to kill me."

Irina's face shifted, and her usual sarcastic expression had completely disappeared. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her eyes became cold, colder than usual.

I could see her mind working, putting pieces together, and then, after several long seconds—she exhaled slowly, her hands falling away from my shoulders.

"How do you know?"

My fingers tightened around my cigarette. "Seraphina told me."

Irina's eyes snapped back to mine, and for the first time today—she looked genuinely shaken.

"Seraphina?" she repeated. "Hook?"

I nodded once.

"She overheard Deena talking to someone over the phone," I said flatly. "She was planning my murder. Someone was giving her orders."

Irina's hands curled into fists.

Her jaw clenched, but when she spoke again, her voice was dangerously calm.

"And you're just now telling me this?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I only just found out myself, Irina. Imagine how I'm feeling."

Irina let out a sharp breath, shaking her head.

"That backstabbing bitch," she muttered. "I should've known something was off about her. I knew there was a reason I never really liked her."

I let out a dry chuckle. "Well, you don't exactly like anyone besides me and Roxie. You tolerate them."

Irina's eyes flashed, but instead of snapping back at me, she simply tilted her head. "What's the plan?" she asked. "Because you do have one, right?"

I smirked slightly. "Of course I do."

I took another slow drag from my cigarette before exhaling, watching the smoke dissolve into the sky.

Then, I turned back to Irina, and with calm certainty, I said—

"I'm going to make her pay, but only when I know when and how she's going to try to kill me, and more importantly, I want to know who gave her the order."

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