Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 219 219: An Unexpected Encounter

Seraphina's POV

Days later...

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with air, before slowly exhaling. The seriousness of what was about to happen made me feel like I had a heavy load on my shoulders, but I forced myself to keep my head up.

Tonight was the engagement ceremony.

The official public debut of my engagement to Prince Darius of Aldoria.

In the last few days, my name had been plastered everywhere—on news channels, in newspapers, and on social media—and it just felt like the entire kingdom had something to say about me.

Some were simply shocked, while others were outright disgusted.

People who had never even seen me before suddenly had opinions about whether or not I belonged in the royal family, and the worst part? They didn't think I did.

They called me plain, said I didn't look like royalty, mocked my background, even though I didn't lack noble blood, and they also mocked my supposed timidness.

And, of course—they couldn't believe that someone like me was engaged to Darius, who, in their words, was far too good-looking for an ordinary individual like me.

Darius had warned me about this. He had told me that people would talk and that they would judge me, but knowing and experiencing it firsthand were two very different things.

Now, it was time for me to step out and face the very people who thought I wasn't worthy of standing beside him.

I released another slow breath, steadying myself. I could do this. I had to do this.

Just as I straightened my posture, preparing to walk forward, a familiar voice sneered from beside me.

"Are you sure you can do this?"

I stiffened immediately.

That mocking tone, that cold, condescending voice. I already knew who it was before I even turned my head.

Gianna.

I clenched my jaw, bracing myself for whatever nonsense she was about to say. When I turned to face her, she was standing there with her arms crossed, a smug expression on her face. There was thinly veiled amusement in her eyes, as if she was waiting for me to crumble.

"You don't think a timid little fool like you is taking too bold a risk?" she continued, tilting her head. "Walking out there in front of everyone? Do you really believe they'll accept you?"

I could feel the way she was trying to get into my head. She was clearly trying to intimidate me and trying to break me before I even stepped outside.

Pathetic.

I let out a tired sigh before rolling my eyes.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere else, Gianna?" I asked, bored. "Perhaps crying about the fact that your days of controlling me are officially over?"

Her scowl deepened, but I saw a flicker of anger in her eyes.

Good. It was killing her that I had slipped out of her grasp and that I now had the backing of the royal family, so unfortunately for her, a

she couldn't just lock me away or starve me whenever she wanted anymore.

I took one step closer, my voice lowering.

"And if you're so concerned about whether I belong," I continued, keeping my tone sharp, "then maybe you should be asking yourself why you're still here instead of slithering away like the snake you are."

Her eyes flashed, but before she could spit out a reply, a voice interrupted us.

"Everything okay here?"

I turned to see Darius approaching, his posture relaxed, but his gaze calculating.

Gianna immediately stiffened, stepping back slightly. Her expression shifted into something more neutral, but I could see the irritation in her eyes.

I smirked.

She could talk all she wanted when we were alone, but she would never dare insult me in front of the Crown Prince.

"Everything's fine," I said, keeping my tone light and unconcerned. "Gianna was just offering her support before I went out."

Gianna's lips pressed into a thin line, and for once, she was smart enough not to open her mouth.

Darius glanced between us, and even though he didn't say anything, I knew he had already picked up on the tension, but instead of pressing the issue, he simply offered his arm to me.

"Shall we?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated for a brief second, then placed my hand on his arm, but as we turned to leave, I threw one last glance at Gianna, enjoying the anger in her eyes and the realization that there was nothing she could do to hurt me anymore.

The instant Darius and I stepped out into the engagement venue, my stomach lurched.

The flash of cameras was blinding—like standing under a storm of relentless lightning. Hundreds of bright, white flashes went off in my direction, each one stinging my eyes.

I winced, my breath hitching, as a sudden wave of nausea rolled over me. This was too much for me. There were way too many people and too much attention.

Darius, sensing my discomfort, immediately leaned in. His voice was low and concerned as he asked, "Are you okay?"

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod before shaking my head instead. "I'm not," I admitted, keeping my voice low. "Am I really supposed to pose in front of this many cameras?"

Darius's lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze flickering toward the swarm of photographers.

He sighed, looking genuinely apologetic. "Unfortunately, yes," he muttered. "But just for a few seconds. If you can manage that, I'll have them dismissed after."

I clenched my jaw. A few seconds, just a few seconds.

I could do that… right?

Slowly, against every single instinct telling me to run, I turned back toward the flashing cameras, and I forced a smile.

It felt fake and uncomfortable, like my lips were glued together in a way that didn't belong to me, but I held it, and as promised, within moments, Darius raised a hand and signaled the photographers away.

Almost instantly, the cameras lowered, and I felt like I could finally breathe again.

"Let's go," Darius murmured beside me, his arm still firmly linked with mine.

I nodded gratefully as we moved forward, leaving the flashing lights behind, but the night was still very far from being over.

Now, we had to greet guests, and one by one, we moved through a bunch of nobles, exchanging forced pleasantries.

"Congratulations," someone said.

"Your father would be so proud of you, Lady Seraphina," another added, their voice dripping with insincerity.

I nodded politely, keeping my responses short. I was barely listening anymore. Everything felt like white noise, a blur of meaningless words and empty smiles.

And then—a familiar voice cut through the chatter, a voice that sent a sharp chill down my spine.

"Hello, Seraphina."

I froze.

My entire body went rigid. That voice—I knew that voice, but it couldn't be—I whirled around, heart hammering, convinced that I must have been imagining it, but I wasn't.

Because standing right in front of me, wearing a smug, amused expression, was—Electra Vale.

Dressed in a sleek black gown, her posture relaxed yet intriguing as she stood there like she owned the entire room.

Her piercing blue eyes were glistening with something unreadable, a knowing smirk curling at her lips.

"Surprised to see me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

I blinked, my throat suddenly dry.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice coming out harsher than I intended.

Electra's smirk widened. "What?" she drawled, placing a hand on her hip. "You don't want to see me anymore now that you're the fiancée of the Crown Prince of Aldoria?"

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