Chapter 353: The Tense Silence

Third-person POV

The inside of the SUV felt too quiet, like someone had turned the world’s volume all the way down. Seraphina sat in the front seat beside Electra, but even though their shoulders were almost touching, it felt like there was a huge space between them.

Electra didn’t say a word. She didn’t ask where they were going, and she didn’t look at anyone in the car. She simply stared out the window, her expression blank and unreadable as the scenery flew by. Her face was relaxed, but it wasn’t peaceful, more like she had no idea what she was supposed to be feeling.

Seraphina swallowed, unsure what to do with her hands. Should she reach out? Should she talk? Her mind raced, but her body was too exhausted to move. Even though Electra had healed her wound, the dizziness from losing so much blood earlier still lingered. It felt like she was running on fumes, but she forced herself to stay awake.

Behind them, Irina, Penelope, and Roxana sat quietly. That alone showed how heavy the situation was because Roxana was never this quiet, but right now, all three girls were staring out their respective windows, exchanging awkward glances, clearly unsure what to say or how to act around this strange, memoryless Electra.

Seraphina leaned back against the seat, breathing slowly. She didn’t know where to start helping Electra. How was she supposed to bring back memories of a life Electra didn’t even recognize? How did she remind Electra of their relationship when the girl didn’t even know what the word girlfriend meant?

Her heart hurt every time she looked at Electra’s blank face, but she didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure Electra would care right now even if she tried.

After what felt like forever, the SUV slowed and eventually pulled up to a tall gate. It swung open, revealing a large house, modern, and definitely something only royalty would stay in for a trip that was supposed to be temporary. Seraphina guessed they were finally at the place Darius had mentioned earlier.

When the car parked, the driver stepped out first. He walked around, opened Seraphina’s door, and bowed respectfully.

Seraphina froze. She still wasn’t used to people bowing to her. It made her uncomfortable, but she nodded politely, murmuring a quiet “thank you” before turning back toward Electra.

“We’re here,” she said gently. “Come on.”

Electra blinked once as if snapping out of a trance, then stepped out of the SUV quietly. She didn’t look around or ask questions, she just stood beside the vehicle, waiting.

Irina, Penelope, and Roxana got out as well, stretching their stiff limbs after the long tense ride.

Roxana pushed her hair behind her ear and looked around. “Where exactly… are we?” she asked, scrunching her nose.

“This is Prince Darius’s temporary place,” Seraphina explained. “He’s been staying here ever since I was admitted to the hospital, and I didn’t want to go back to Elysium with Electra like this, so I thought this was the safest option for now.”

Electra straightened, her expression unmoving. “Who is this… Darius supposed to be?”

Seraphina opened her mouth, but Roxana beat her to it, her lips curving into a tiny, mischievous smirk. “He’s your girlfriend’s soon-to-be husband.”

Seraphina choked on air.

Irina slapped Roxana’s arm. “Roxy!”

Penelope gasped. “Why, just why would you say it like that?!”

Seraphina’s cheeks burned instantly, and she turned sharply toward Roxana. “That is not— Roxana, don’t say it like that.”

Electra, however, didn’t react the way Seraphina feared. Her face didn’t twist in jealousy or anger, and she didn’t look offended or hurt. She simply turned her head toward Seraphina, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You are getting married?”

Seraphina’s heart jumped into her throat. “No!” she said quickly. “No, Electra, I’m not getting married. Darius is just—just someone important from Aldoria who looks after me. It’s complicated, but don’t listen to Roxana. She loves exaggerating.”

Roxana rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t an exaggeration. He literally…”

“Roxana,” Seraphina snapped, louder this time.

Roxana held up her hands. “Fine! I’ll zip it.”

Electra looked between them like she was trying to understand the conversation, but the more she processed, the less interested she seemed. She simply looked at Seraphina again, her eyes searching Seraphina’s face.

“Explain it later,” Electra said flatly.

Seraphina nodded, relieved Electra wasn’t freaking out. “Okay, I will.”

Irina moved closer, eyeing the large house. “Are we sure he’ll be fine with us barging into his temporary palace?”

“He told me to come here,” Seraphina said softly. “He’s probably expecting us.”

Roxana huffed out a breath. “Let’s hope he doesn’t panic when he sees memory-wiped Electra. I don’t think he’s ready for this version of her.”

Penelope whispered, “Is… is anyone ready for this version of her?”

Seraphina couldn’t respond. She wasn’t sure herself. She walked toward the entrance slowly, and the others followed. Electra trailed behind her, her steps calm and even, but her eyes took in everything around her, the gardens, the tall windows, and the guards by the entrance.

When they got close, the guards bowed deeply.

“Lady Seraphina,” one of them greeted. “Prince Darius is inside and has been notified of your arrival.”

Seraphina nodded politely. “Thank you.”

Electra’s eyes flicked toward the guard before drifting back to Seraphina. “Why do people bow to you?” she asked, her tone as flat as ever. “Who are you to them?”

Seraphina paused. She had forgotten that Electra wouldn’t remember the simplest things, even things that seemed obvious.

“It’s because of Darius,” Seraphina explained quietly. “He’s royalty, and because of the kind of relationship that we have, people treat me with respect. It’s quite normal, and you used to know all this.”

Electra thought about it for a moment but didn’t say anything.

Irina whispered behind them, “I hate this. It’s like talking to a really beautiful android.”

Roxana snorted. “Don’t forget to add that she’s a dangerous android who can melt guns.”

Penelope slapped her arm. “Can you stop calling her things? She can literally hear you!”

Electra turned her head slightly. “I can hear you,” she confirmed.

Penelope shrieked softly, covering her own mouth.

Electra blinked once, no emotion showing. “But I don’t care.”

Roxana whispered, “Okay, I kinda love this new version…”

“Roxana!” Seraphina groaned.

Electra followed them inside the building, her eyes scanning every room they passed. She didn’t seem impressed or intimidated by anything at all, and she gave no reaction. Every new thing she saw just earned the same emotionless stare.

As they entered the main sitting room, the sound of footsteps echoed from upstairs. Darius rushed down the staircase, still half-dressed in a shirt he clearly didn’t finish buttoning in time. He looked relieved when he saw Seraphina but froze when he saw Electra standing behind her.

His jaw tightened. “That’s…” he breathed. “Electra?”

Electra stared at him like he was a stranger in the middle of the street. “Who are you?” she asked bluntly.

The room went silent.

Irina dragged a hand down her face. “Here we go again…”

Seraphina stepped forward quickly, her voice soft. “Darius… she doesn’t remember anything.”

Darius blinked, confused. “Anything? At all?”

Electra walked past Seraphina, standing directly in front of Darius. She didn’t break eye contact. “You know me,” she said. “Why?”

Darius opened his mouth, then closed it again. He clearly didn’t know the right way to explain her entire royal existence in a single sentence.

Finally, he said, “Because you’re the princess of Elmeria, or… you were. I’m not sure what you are now.”

Electra’s expression didn’t change. “Okay,” she simply said with an uninterested look on her face.

Seraphina stepped forward again, placing a gentle hand on Electra’s arm. “We’re safe here, so let’s sit down and talk. We’ll figure everything out, okay?”

Electra looked at her hand, then at Seraphina’s face. For a moment, just a moment, her eyes softened, barely, like something inside her flickered, but then her expression returned to that same blank calm.

“Fine,” Electra said. “Explain my life to me.”

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