Across the street from Cromwell University, inside the Rose Pavilion Café—
As always, the place was filled with students.
Servers moved gracefully between tables with trays in hand, while young men and women chatted about their futures—or flirted freely.
Near the window, a young man and woman sat facing each other.
The girl wore a standard university uniform.
The man, however, was dressed in a finely tailored tailcoat. A gold brooch with an intricate family crest was pinned to his chest—
A clear sign of noble status.
And not a minor one.
By contrast, the girl was likely a commoner. Though beautiful, her attire was simple, and she bore none of the symbols of nobility.
After thanking the server who brought her tea, she looked at him and said:
"Kurt, I asked you here today because there's something I wanted to ask."
Kurt took a refined sip of his coffee before replying with a faint smile:
"My dear Natasha, if you didn't want to visit my estate or villa, we could have at least taken a private room. Sitting out here in the hall is rather dull, don't you think?"
Natasha sighed softly.
"Kurt, I know how you feel about me. But I haven't decided to accept your courtship. I can't be alone with you—not yet. It wouldn't be fair to my future husband."
Kurt widened his eyes dramatically.
"If you don't intend to accept me, then why invite me here? Are you stringing me along? Oh, my dear Natasha, how heartless!"
She looked even more helpless.
"I've already apologized for that. That's why I'm covering today's expenses. And… I really don't know what to do. Kurt, you understand—there's too big a gap between us."
Her voice dimmed toward the end.
Kurt was a high-ranking noble.
She was just a commoner.
Even if she was the daughter of a banker—
a commoner was still a commoner.
Kurt nodded, then gently said:
"Alright, let's not dwell on that. So—what did you want to ask me?"
Natasha bit her lip, leaned in slightly, and lowered her voice.
"I'm close with Elle… you know, from the Floriculture Faculty. A few days ago at a tea gathering, she drank an entire bottle of wine by herself. She was completely drunk."
"And then she started saying strange things."
"She said the world would change after the Holy Night Festival. That everything she's worked for all these years would become meaningless."
"But when I pressed her, she wouldn't explain."
"And lately… I've noticed something odd about the students from the Noble Faculty too."
She looked straight at him.
"You're the heir of a high-ranking noble family, Kurt. Can you tell me what's going on?"
Kurt gave a small nod.
"Elle, from your faculty? The baron's second daughter? …Yes. Reality hasn't been kind to her."
He didn't answer directly—
but his words confirmed her suspicion.
Something big was coming.
Her expression tightened.
"Then what is it?"
But Kurt only smiled and deflected:
"I can't very well let a lady pay for me. Let's call it a day, my dear Natasha."
He stood and signaled for the bill.
But just then—
he spotted something at the entrance.
With a low whistle, he sat back down, crossing his legs with interest.
"Oh? Natasha, look over there. Isn't that your faculty's Tulip? She actually brought a man to the Rose Pavilion!"
"Wait—he looks like a commoner? I guarantee you, this will be in tomorrow's campus paper!"
Natasha turned to look—
and let out a small gasp.
Right on cue, Audrey Hepburn walked in, dragging along a visibly reluctant Mozo.
After exchanging a few words with the attendant, the two headed straight for a private room upstairs.
The entire café stirred.
Audrey Hepburn—the Tulip of the Floriculture Faculty—was one of the three most famous beauties in all of Cromwell University. Admired by countless students—and even nobles.
And yet, she had never been linked to any scandal.
Until now.
Walking openly into the Rose Pavilion—
with an unknown man.
A commoner, no less.
And heading straight for a private room.
Students immediately began whispering, some eagerly asking if anyone knew who Mozo was.
Even after the two disappeared upstairs, the buzz only grew louder.
Under the table, Kurt's fingers rubbed together thoughtfully.
Unseen by anyone, a faint, translucent sprite appeared beside him—
only to vanish again as he shook his head.
"…That sort of behavior isn't very noble."
With that, he stood once more and bowed slightly to Natasha.
"Forgive me, my dear. I'll be taking my leave."
"As for your concerns… I can only say this—it won't be bad for either of us. If you want the full answer, you'll have to wait for the Holy Night Festival."
He paid and left.
Leaving Natasha sitting there, stunned.
Not bad… for either of us?
---
The moment Kurt stepped outside, he hurried across the street and ran up to the third floor of an apartment opposite the café.
Inside, he casually removed his brooch and tossed it onto a nearby cabinet.
Then, with practiced ease, he took out paper and a pen.
With a flick of his fingers, the translucent sprite reappeared.
Kurt grinned, pointing toward the second floor of the Rose Pavilion.
"Go on, my dear little Natasha! I'm not a noble right now—I'm a reporter! The master of gossip—your mysterious party guest!"
The tiny sprite saluted playfully, spun in midair, and darted toward the café—
Only to smack straight into the window and drop like a cartoon character.
Kurt's lips twitched.
A moment later, the sprite turned fully transparent and flew back up.
This time, it passed through the closed window—
only to collide with an invisible barrier and tumble all the way down again.
Kurt slowly set aside his pen and paper, stroking his chin with a serious expression.
"A barrier…? A supernatural…?"
"…Who?"