Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]

Chapter 433 433: Rejection

Third-person POV

Irina would let out a sigh of frustration that was heavy with everything she was trying to hold back, and as she stood there in the dim garden light, she made a visible effort to really calm herself down before speaking. She clenched her hands tightly for a while, and after a brief pause, she unclenched them as if she were letting go of her frustration as she did.

When she finally looked back at Penelope, there was a clear shift in her expression, not softer exactly but more controlled, more careful, like she was choosing every word before letting it leave her mouth.

"I don't know where you got that idea from," Irina said, her voice calm, though there was still a trace of irritation buried under it, something she couldn't fully hide no matter how hard she tried. She exhaled slowly before continuing, her gaze steady on Penelope. "That I wouldn't look at you twice as a friend if Electra weren't around. Trust me, Pen, that doesn't even make sense."

Penelope didn't respond, but the tension in her posture didn't ease either, and Irina noticed it immediately.

"You should know me better than that," Irina added, her tone firmer now, though still not raised. "If I don't like someone, or if I don't want to be around them, I don't stay, I don't pretend, and I definitely don't let anyone, not even Electra, force me to keep someone in my life."

She paused for a second, letting that sink in, watching Penelope carefully to see if her words were getting through.

"So if you're still here," she continued, her voice lowering slightly, "if we've been friends for this long, then maybe you should consider that it's because I actually want you here, not because someone else made me keep you around."

Irina let out another breath, her shoulders dropping just slightly as she shifted her weight, clearly trying to move the conversation forward before it spiraled again. "And about what I said earlier," she added, her tone softer now, though still steady. "Calling you unstable."

Penelope's gaze flickered for just a second at that, but she didn't interrupt.

"I'm sorry if that offended you," Irina said, her voice carrying a rare hint of sincerity that she didn't usually show so openly. "I didn't mean it like that, and believe me, I wasn't saying it because I don't like you."

She hesitated for a brief moment before continuing. "And I wasn't trying to insult you either. It was just… a response to the conversation that Electra and I were having, and I didn't think it through."

The apology wasn't overly emotional, and it wasn't dramatic, but it was honest, and Irina could only hope that it would be enough for Penelope.

After that, she took a step forward. It was only a small step forward, but it closed the distance between them just enough to change the atmosphere again. Penelope didn't move, but she felt it, the way Irina's presence seemed to fill the space between them so easily, the way she naturally towered over her without even trying.

As Penelope looked up at her, her thoughts betrayed her almost instantly.

Even now, even after everything that had just been said, all she could think about was how beautiful Irina looked. The sharpness in her features, the confidence in the way she carried herself, the strength that always surrounded her no matter the situation. It made something twist painfully in her chest, because it only reminded her of how much she wanted her and how much she had always wanted her.

For a brief moment, she felt the urge rise again, that same reckless thought that had crossed her mind so many times before.

'Just close the distance.' 'Just kiss her.'

It was such a simple thought, and yet it felt impossible, and just as it crossed her mind, Irina moved.

Slowly, without hesitation, she leaned forward, and before Penelope could even process what was happening, Irina's lips pressed gently against her forehead.

The kiss was soft, brief, and careful, nothing like what Penelope had imagined, nothing like what she had wanted, but it still made her breath catch for a second. When Irina pulled away, the space between them felt different, and Penelope didn't need to hear the words to know what was coming next.

"I'm sorry," Irina said quietly, her voice softer than before, though still steady. "About how you feel."

There was no hesitation in her tone, no uncertainty. "But I can't return those feelings."

The words landed exactly how Penelope had expected them to, and yet, they still hurt more than she was ready for. Irina held her gaze, not looking away, not avoiding the moment, even though it would have been easier to.

"I care about you," she continued, her voice calm, almost gentle now. "A lot. I do love you, believe it or not, but as a friend."

Penelope swallowed slightly, her throat tightening as she listened.

"And I want to keep you in my life," Irina added. "For a long time." She paused briefly before finishing. "But friendship is all I can offer you."

The words settled between them, leaving no room for misunderstanding. For a moment, Penelope didn't respond. She hated how small she felt, how exposed, how everything she had kept hidden for years was now just… out there, and still not enough, but even then, she couldn't stop herself.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice quieter now, almost uncertain in a way that didn't match her usual personality. She looked up at Irina, her eyes searching for something, anything that might give her a different answer. "You're not… rejecting me for another reason?"

Irina's brows pulled together slightly.

"If you don't find me attractive," Penelope added quickly, her voice tightening slightly as she spoke, "you can just say it."

For a second, there was silence again, and then Irina let out a soft chuckle. It was light, almost amused in a way that didn't carry any kind of sarcasm.

"We both know that's not the issue," Irina said, shaking her head slightly as she looked at her. "The last thing you are is unattractive."

Penelope's expression didn't change much, but something in her shoulders eased just slightly at that.

Irina sighed again, though this time it sounded more tired than frustrated. "I'm just not built for that kind of thing," she continued, her tone more matter-of-fact now. "Relationships, love, and all the drama that comes with it."

She shrugged slightly, like it wasn't something she thought too deeply about, even though it clearly was. "That's not something I want," she added simply. "And it's not something I'm going to pretend to give you."

The honesty in her words was blunt, and even though Penelope knew that it wasn't meant to hurt, she couldn't help but feel hurt.

"You should let me go," Irina said after a moment, her voice quieter now, though still firm. "And find someone who can actually give you what you want."

Penelope didn't respond. She just stood there, taking it all in, even though every word felt like a nail was being driven into her heart.

Irina stepped back then, creating distance between them again, like she was putting space between them not just physically, but emotionally as well.

"Get some rest," she said, her tone returning to something more neutral now. "Goodnight."

And with that, she turned. She didn't wait for a response and didn't look back immediately. She just started walking past Penelope, heading toward the exit of the garden, her steps steady, like she had already decided that this conversation was over, but just before she could leave completely…

"Wait."

Irina stopped. She paused mid-step, her body going still for a second before she slowly turned back around, her expression unreadable as she looked at Penelope again. Penelope's eyes were fixed on her, her face tense, like she was debating whether or not to ask what was on her mind.

And then she did.

"Are you in love with someone else?" she asked, her voice quieter now, but still clear enough to carry in the silence between them.

Irina didn't answer immediately. There was a brief flicker of something in her eyes, something that hadn't been there before, something that suggested the question had caught her off guard, even if she didn't want to show it.

Penelope swallowed slightly before adding the second part. "Is it… Electra?"

This time, Irina visibly reacted, not in a way that anyone else might have noticed if they weren't paying attention, but it was there. A slight tension in her shoulders, a brief shift in her gaze, just enough to show that the question had landed somewhere deeper than she wanted it to.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, but then Irina shook her head. She didn't say anything or try to offer any explanations. She just let out a quiet sigh, like she didn't have the energy to get into it, or maybe like she didn't want to, and without another word, she turned away again.

This time, she didn't stop. She walked out of the garden and back into the dormitory, leaving Penelope standing there alone and wondering if she would ever get the answer to the question she just asked.