Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 343: Tempting offer

Third-Person POV

The sound of the heavy doors closing behind the guards lingered in the throne room long after Electra had been dragged away.

Jella sat back on her throne, crossing one leg over the other, her fingers tapping against the armrest as she listened to the fading sound of footsteps. The smug satisfaction on her face stayed for a while longer, but it vanished the second Iris turned to face her.

Iris stood stiffly, her expression filled with irritation. "You’d better make sure she dies tomorrow," she said flatly. "Because if she doesn’t, you’ll regret it. Those cuffs won’t hold her forever, especially not when she’s at her strongest right now, and as you can see, I’m still too weak to go toe-to-toe with her."

Jella raised her brows, the corner of her mouth twitching. "For someone so young," she said, her tone cutting, "you have an awfully poor sense of respect and an even worse way of speaking to your elders."

Iris scoffed, her eyes rolling as she crossed her right hand over her left instinctively. "Don’t start that talk with me. I already told you I’m not what I seem, so stop acting like I owe you respect."

Jella gave a humorless laugh. "Not what you seem," she repeated softly. "And yet here you are, demanding results from me like a child who’s lost control of her toys."

"Watch your tone," Iris said, her voice dropping lower, dangerous in its calmness. "You gave me the poison antidote, and I kept my end of the deal. I did what you couldn’t do and what you would have never succeeded in doing if I didn’t step in. Electra’s exposed, the people are calling for her head, and you’re finally sitting on a throne that isn’t yours. So if you mess this up now, don’t expect me to fix it for you."

Jella’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t rise to the bait. She leaned back instead, studying Iris closely. The girl’s arrogance wasn’t new; she’d expected it from the start, but what she hadn’t expected was how much she’d grown to both hate and admire it.

Iris turned as if to leave, clearly done with the conversation. Her movements were slower than usual, less fluid, like every motion cost her effort. She was pale, paler than usual, and her left arm hung stiffly at her side, wrapped tightly with black cloth. The lingering effect of Yuna’s poison hadn’t faded, and if anything, it had gotten worse.

She took a few steps toward the door, muttering under her breath about how useless humans were, when Jella’s voice stopped her.

"Iris."

Iris paused, sighing loudly before glancing over her shoulder. "What now?" she asked, sounding bored.

Jella didn’t answer immediately. She got up from her throne slowly, her gown brushing against the floor as she came down the steps. When she spoke, her tone was softer and more patronizing. "Tell me something," she began, "do you have any real loyalty to anyone but yourself?"

Iris frowned, confused by the question. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Jella continued, coming to a stop in front of her, "you’ve done well helping me. Better than I expected, actually, and I’m starting to wonder if you might want to... continue that alliance. Officially."

Iris arched a brow. "Officially?"

"Yes." Jella smiled faintly. "If you wanted, I could make you something more than just a helper or a weapon. You could be on my side fully and be part of the court. Maybe even... the next queen of Elmeria."

That made Iris laugh, and it wasn’t a kind laugh. It was loud and cruel, the sound echoing through the room like fire cracking in the dark. "Queen of Elmeria?" she repeated. "You must be joking."

"I’m not." Jella’s tone didn’t waver. "You’re strong, Iris, and clearly very ruthless. You know how to get things done, and you don’t seem to crumble under guilt or morality. Those are the kind of people I need beside me."

Iris turned fully to face her now. "You don’t need someone beside you," she said slowly. "You need someone to do your dirty work and take the blame when it all goes wrong. Don’t think I don’t see that."

Jella’s expression didn’t change. "You’re not wrong," she said simply. "But I can offer you more than anyone else can, and definitely more than what your father can, considering he’s only a general. You said it yourself, you’re not human. You don’t belong in our world, and yet you’re forced to live in it, hiding what you are. I can give you power, Iris. Real power. You could rule beside me, or alone, if you’re patient enough."

Iris was quiet for a moment, her face unreadable.

She knew Jella was manipulative, dangerous even, but she also knew that the woman wasn’t lying. If Jella really succeeded in taking the throne completely, she’d have influence across all seven kingdoms. The thought of that power, the kind that could control these humans, change laws, and destroy anyone who stood in her way, stirred something inside Iris she didn’t want to acknowledge.

Still, she wasn’t about to let Jella see that.

"And what’s the catch?" she asked coolly.

"No catch," Jella said. "Just loyalty."

Iris let out another humorless laugh. "Loyalty isn’t exactly my strongest trait."

Jella smiled faintly. "That’s what makes you useful. You’re unpredictable, and you scare people. You don’t need to be loyal to the people, only to me."

Iris’s lips curved, almost amused. "You think I scare people?"

Jella leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I think you’re a useful weapon waiting for a reason to explode, and I’d rather have that weapon on my side than aimed at me."

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke, and the tension in the room thickened.

Iris studied Jella closely, the way her eyes gleamed with cunning and the faint smile that never reached them. She could almost see the ambition radiating off her. Jella didn’t just want to rule Elmeria; she wanted to own it, and maybe, deep down, Iris could understand that hunger.

But she wasn’t stupid enough to trust it.

"Tempting offer," Iris said finally, breaking the silence. "But I don’t think I’m built to sit on a throne." She turned again, heading for the door. "Too boring."

Jella’s voice followed her. "Think about it," she said smoothly. "You could have everything you’ve ever wanted, power, respect, and fear, and once Electra is gone, there’ll be no one left to stand in your way."

Iris stopped briefly, her hand resting on the door handle. She didn’t turn back. "There’s always someone left to stand in the way," she murmured. "That’s the problem with people like us who want to have it all."

Then she pushed the door open and stepped out, letting it close behind her.