CPT 2

Episode 2

Trying not to break it, she set the cup down carefully — and of course, it didn’t even crack.

Good control. Yuha gave herself a mental pat on the back and placed the glass back on the table.

“Oh-ho…”

The drunk’s glossy eyes and greasy grin were fixed squarely on her.

Yuha ignored him calmly. She had done this expecting exactly this outcome.

‘Come to think of it, I’m the foreigner here, and he’s the local.’

A bit of a headache, this…

While she was still gauging the situation, the sound of footsteps drew closer — cold and deliberate. People seated between her and the drunk began to quietly move aside, clearing a path.

Like the parting of the Red Sea — how generous.

Observing without much interest, Yuha flicked her eyes up, studying the man’s throat and nape in turns.

She would have to defend herself, that much was clear. But where would be the cleanest spot to strike?

“You look like a better sample. Honestly, you’re the more interesting one…”

The reek of alcohol hit her as the man leaned in close, his face mere inches from hers. Yuha didn’t even blink. She merely slapped away the hand that tried to caress her cheek.

“Feisty, huh?”

A light whistle — fweet.

The unmistakable tone of catcalling, brazen and lewd, stirred the people around them.

Rashid’s hands tightened around a chair, ready to throw it if things escalated. Daisy leaned forward, phone in hand.

The man’s hand shot out toward Yuha’s wrist, but she smacked it away again, already deciding to grab his neck next—

Then, she noticed a hand.

Not his.

A hand appeared out of nowhere, shattering her tense awareness. Startled, Yuha could only stare at the fingers that aimed for the same target as she did.

The owner of that hand moved with deadly precision.

He seized the drunk’s nape exactly where Yuha had intended to strike—

“Gk—!”

The strangled sound of choking filled the air as the drunk was subdued with effortless grace.

The stranger lifted his phone to the man’s ear.

“You’d better take your father’s call, Matthew Tailssbury.”

Smooth as flowing water, his movements radiated chilling elegance. The voice — low, sweet, and demonic — resonated from behind.

Yuha couldn’t tear her eyes away.

“Your father’s been very desperate to find you, hasn’t he?”

— Matthew Tailsbury! You wretched little bastard—!

The furious voice on the phone was loud enough for everyone to hear.

— What the hell are you doing?! I must’ve lost my mind raising you!

The father’s anger was enough to snap his son out of his drunken stupor.

Matthew flinched violently, blinking as if suddenly awake. His eyes, though dazed, cleared in an instant.

Sobriety hit like a slap.

Realizing the disgust in everyone’s eyes — Yuha’s included — he stammered, grabbed the phone, and bolted.

Even as he fled through the dining hall doors, the furious shouting from the phone echoed after him.

“A daddy’s boy, huh.”

Someone’s mocking laugh finished the job of crushing the man’s reputation.

As the heavy doors slammed shut with a bang, Yuha clicked her tongue and turned her gaze to her rescuer. She wanted to thank him — properly — and put this awkward moment behind her.

But then—

She froze.

The person who’d stepped in was far more striking than she’d expected.

Utterly disarming.

He looks… like an angel.

She’d never described a person that way before — but there was no other word for it.

Golden hair, grey eyes, refined features, and an elegance that seemed airbrushed straight from a magazine.

Yuha found herself staring, dazed. And when their eyes met — even for an instant — her mind went blank.

He reached out, gently but firmly taking her arm.

She barely reacted, too stunned to move. He rolled up her sleeve, checking her wrist for injury, then released her.

“Um, I… thank—”

Before she could even finish, the golden-haired young man turned and walked away without a word.

Matthew Tailsbury was escorted out, unconscious and subdued.

Once the mess was cleared, people began to gather around Yuha.

“Are you okay?”
“Thank you so, so much for stepping in earlier. Really, thank you.”
“Eve, are you alright?”
“Wow! I didn’t think you’d actually jump in like that — that was amazing!”

As she exchanged brief words with the shaken student, waiters arrived with dessert.

The bright red raspberry mousse cake, decadent and inviting, was enough to lure gossip-hungry students back to their seats.

Finally, with things calming down, Yuha sat back with a weary sigh. Across from her, Rashid and Daisy watched her with amused expressions.

“What?”

“Nothing. Not to stereotype, but… you’re not exactly the quiet, model-student type we thought.”

“I am a hardworking nerd, thank you very much.”

“Too late for that. You saw how no one else moved? You’re the hero now. Maybe not ‘the Legend of Dunfield’, but close.”

Rashid chuckled, and Daisy joined in, smirking.

Yuha pouted, poking her cake with a fork, then glanced toward the huge doors again.

The guy who helped her hadn’t come back since he left.

Her wrist still tingled faintly where he’d touched her. She rolled her sleeve down slowly.

“Daisy? The one who helped me… that guy. Who is he?”

The entire table went quiet — like someone had pressed pause on the world.

Not just Daisy — everyone nearby perked up, ears tilted her way.

No, it wasn’t her imagination. They were all staring.

What’s going on…?

Before she could ask again—

“He’s so handsome!”

Daisy squealed.

“They said he looks even better in person — and wow, they weren’t kidding. He’s incredible.”

The others joined in, their voices brimming with admiration.

“I heard he enrolled at Dunfield, but I didn’t know he’d be in our college.”
“When I heard he was joining Everett, I could’ve hugged my past self for applying here!”
“Same! Totally worth it.”

Yuha blinked.

“Okay… so who is he?”

Every girl at the table looked at her as if she’d just confessed she didn’t know what the sun was.

“You don’t know?”
“Nope.”

Daisy looked scandalized — personally betrayed.

Yuha raised her hands in surrender. Daisy sighed, clicked her tongue, and shrugged.

“That incredibly handsome gentleman was Sir Geoffrey Haster.”
“To be precise — Sir Geoffrey Haster, son of an earl, currently holding the title of baron.”

Another girl jumped in, finishing for her.

“Right! The Sun calls him ‘Gentleman Geoffrey.’”