Across from the gates of Cromwell University, inside the Rose Pavilion Café.
As usual, the place was filled with students from the university. Waiters moved gracefully through the crowd with trays in hand, while students chatted about their futures or flirted playfully.
Near the window, however, a young man and woman sat facing each other.
The girl wore the Cromwell University uniform.
The man, on the other hand, was dressed in a refined tailcoat. On his chest was a gold brooch engraved with a complex family crest.
Clearly, he was a noble.
And not a low-ranking one.
The girl, by contrast, was likely a commoner. Though beautiful, her attire was simple, and she bore no symbol of noble status.
After thanking the waiter who served her tea, the girl turned to the man and said,
"Kort, I asked you here today because I wanted to ask you something."
The man named Kort took a sip of his coffee elegantly before replying,
"My dear Natasha, if you don't wish to visit my estate or villa, we could at least have gone to a private room. Sitting here in the main hall is rather dull."
Natasha sighed helplessly.
"Kort, I know you're interested in me. But I haven't decided to accept your pursuit. I can't be alone with you. That wouldn't be fair to my future husband."
Kort widened his eyes dramatically.
"If you don't plan to accept me, then why invite me here? Don't tell me you're stringing me along? Oh, my dear Natasha, how heartbroken I am!"
Natasha looked even more exasperated.
"I do owe you an apology for that. But I already said I would cover today's expenses. And honestly… I don't know whether I should accept you or not. The gap between us is simply too large."
Her expression dimmed at the end.
Kort was a high-ranking noble.
She was just a commoner.
Even if she was a banker's daughter, a commoner was still a commoner.
Seeing her concern, Kort nodded and softened his tone.
"Very well, let's not talk about that. So, Natasha, what did you want to ask me?"
Natasha bit her lip and leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice.
"I'm good friends with Elle. At a tea party a few days ago, she suddenly drank an entire bottle of wine and got completely drunk."
"She said a lot of strange things. Like how the world would change drastically after the Holy Night Festival. And that everything she had worked for all these years was just a joke."
"But when I asked what she meant, she refused to say."
"And lately… I've noticed something strange about the students in the Noble Faculty."
"You're the legitimate son of a high-ranking noble, Kort. Can you tell me what's going on?"
Kort nodded thoughtfully.
"Miss Elle from your Flower Faculty? The second daughter of a baron, right? Mm… reality has indeed been a bit cruel to her."
Though he didn't answer directly, his words confirmed Natasha's suspicions.
Something big was about to happen.
She quickly pressed,
"Then what exactly is happening?"
But Kort simply smiled and avoided the question.
"I can't very well let a lady pay for me. Let's end things here for today, my dear Natasha."
He stood and called for the waiter to settle the bill.
But just then, Kort seemed to notice something.
He let out a whistle, sat back down, crossed his legs, and looked toward the entrance with interest.
"My dear Natasha, look over there. The Tulip from your Flower Faculty. Oh? She actually brought a man to the Rose Pavilion?"
"Wait… that man looks like a commoner? Natasha, I guarantee this will make the campus newspaper!"
Natasha turned to look as well and let out a small gasp.
She had just seen Audrey Hepburn enter the café with a visibly reluctant Mozo.
After saying something to the receptionist, the two headed straight for a private room.
Their appearance caused a stir among the surrounding students.
Audrey Hepburn, the Tulip of the Flower Faculty, was one of the three most famous beauties in Cromwell University.
Admired by countless students and even nobles.
She had never been involved in any rumors before.
And yet today, she openly brought an unfamiliar man into the Rose Pavilion.
Not only that, they went straight to a quiet private room.
Students immediately began asking around, trying to identify Mozo.
Even after the two disappeared upstairs, the discussion only grew louder.
Under the table, Kort's fingers rubbed together slightly.
Where no one could see, a translucent little spirit appeared.
But with a slight shake of his head, it dispersed again.
"This kind of behavior… hardly befits a noble."
With that, Kort stood once more and bowed slightly to Natasha.
"My apologies, my dear Natasha. I must take my leave."
"As for your concerns, I can only say this. For you and me, it is not a bad thing. As for the details… please wait patiently for the arrival of the Holy Night Festival."
With that, Kort paid the bill and left the café.
Leaving Natasha sitting there, stunned.
Not a bad thing? For you and me?
After leaving the Rose Pavilion, Kort quickly ran into an apartment building across the street and headed up to the third floor.
He removed the brooch from his chest and casually placed it on a cabinet.
Then, with practiced ease, he took out paper and a pen.
With a snap of his fingers, the translucent little spirit reappeared.
Grinning, Kort pointed toward the second floor of the Rose Pavilion.
"Go on, my dear little Natasha! Right now, I'm not a noble. I'm the great provider of gossip, the marshal of the press… the Mysterious Party Guest!"
The little spirit saluted him playfully, spun in the air, and flew off toward the café in excitement.
Under Kort's eager gaze, it slammed straight into the window and bounced off like a cartoon character, falling down in pain.
Kort's mouth twitched.
But soon, the spirit turned completely transparent and flew up again.
This time, it passed through the closed window effortlessly.
Only to slam into an invisible barrier in midair and tumble dramatically back down.
Kort slowly put down his pen, his expression turning serious as he stroked his chin.
"A barrier? A Beyonder?"
"Who is it?"