The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Then, his lips were touched by a slightly cool, soft touch.

　"what!"

　Pandora seemed startled and let out a short scream.

　Her slightly forward-leaning posture instantly straightened, and she shyly covered her rapidly blushing cheeks.

　Dak opened his mouth, his eyes filled with astonishment.

　The sense of crisis, as if being watched by a ferocious beast, vanished as if it had never existed.

　At this point, even if he had already been tricked, he naturally wouldn't be able to say it.

　Moreover, it's still unclear who actually benefited.

　……

　Tonight, Pandora Drogon, contrary to her usual style, wore a black and red lace dress, and her face, which was usually only lightly made up, was now more colorful, making her slightly pale complexion appear even more radiant—this was naturally the work of Hephaestus Drogon.

　Her everyday appearance reflects her paternal lineage: long, straight, jet-black hair. However, unlike the delicate, long-haired, straight-haired literary girls often depicted in literary works, her magnanimous spirit makes it difficult to evoke that delicate feeling.

　But it was precisely this perfect compatibility of these two qualities that firmly attracted Dark's gaze, making it impossible for him to look away.

　Although it's a little embarrassing to say, every point Pandora made was precisely aimed at his strike zone.

　Before falling in love with someone, humans are ultimately visual creatures.

　Even after you've fallen for someone, physical compatibility is definitely a plus.

　A cold wind blew by, and the crowd surged.

　Dark Dimon stood at the bridgehead, his eyes fixed on her.

　Pandora's cheeks flushed as he stared at her intently.

　But before her face flushed red, she hesitated and asked, "Have you seen enough?" in order to maintain control of the situation.

　“I can’t get enough of looking at him,” Dark said softly, then extended his white-gloved hand toward his dance partner for the night.

　Pandora then raised her hand and placed her veiled palm on his, their fingers intertwined and gently closed.

　"Let's go, we don't have much time left."

　The embarrassment of being teased earlier was completely masked by cuteness.

　Darko Dimon, +1 point!

　……

　The Christmas ball starts at 7 p.m. sharp.

　However, students usually set off from the tower at 6:30 a.m., and then stroll through the castle before entering the venue one after another.

　Like most men, Robert Broheim wore a neat suit. However, his overly broad shoulders and prominent muscles stretched the suit too wide, completely ruining his austere and dignified demeanor.

　On his way to the tower alone, he suddenly turned and headed towards the college's only infirmary.

　On the way, I happened to pass by Scott Hearst, who was already in the third grade.

　He knew that this senior from the "Marine Biology Research Department," who had a very good relationship with Victor, must have just come out of the infirmary.

　Sister Caryan was still in the infirmary at this time. Robert knocked on the door and entered the ward after obtaining Sister Caryan's permission.

　The faint sounds of conversation that could be heard at the door suddenly disappeared, leaving only Victor lying half-reclined in the room, listlessly flipping through a book.

　Witt Gold was "protected" in the infirmary under the pretext of illness.

　To avoid any unforeseen complications, he will have to spend this Christmas in his hospital bed.

　"Thinking about it carefully, every holiday is always a time of misfortune," Witt said calmly, his eyes serene and detached, as if he had seen through the illusions of the world.

　Robert glared at him and said with amusement, "Stop pretending. The melancholy school is outdated."

　Witt smiled and then said, "Go to the party, don't worry about me."

　Robert immediately pointed to his suit and said, "Do I look like the kind of person who would stay here and bother you? Never mind, you seem to be in good spirits, so I won't bother you any longer."

　As he spoke, he stood up again, touched his nose, and said, "I'll come back after the first half ends."

　Witt smiled and said, "Okay, I'll prepare the chessboard."

　Robert nodded and left.

　He knew of Ophelia Brad, but he didn't delve into the more detailed aspects.

　……

　After Robert left, Ophelia Brad reappeared and exclaimed, "What a good boy!"

　Witt's lips twitched as he listened, but he did not refute.

　Even the most mischievous child will eventually behave a little better in front of adults.

　Of course, he wasn't implying that Robert wasn't a good kid, just that he was sometimes impulsive, foolish... well, a bit naive.

　However great their friends' flaws may be, they do not hinder their friendship; at most, they just have to carry on with their burdens.

　……

　As the clock struck seven, the clear sound of bells rang out from inside the castle.

　Dark and Pandora walked slowly along the castle corridor toward the banquet hall on the first floor.

　Neither of them are actually talkative, but when they are together, they always have endless things to say.

　From past joys and sorrows to present life, and then to aspirations for the future.

　You can say as many as you want.

　Whatever their initial attraction was, by now, there's a mutual liking built upon that foundation.

　Time slipped by amidst countless words, and it was seven o'clock.

　The two walked through the corridor, down the stairs, and arrived in front of the banquet hall.

　Through the open gate, a huge Christmas tree came into view.

　Dazzling.

　……

Chapter 741

　On either side of the main entrance to the banquet hall stood a glowing reindeer, each wearing a red Santa hat.

　Dak walked to the door, took off the Santa hat from one of the reindeer, and saw a new hat spinning and falling from above its head, landing on the reindeer's head again.

　He smiled slightly, turned around, picked up the Santa hat, tilted his head back slightly, and carefully placed the Santa hat on Pandora's head.

　Pandora smiled and took off a Santa hat, placing it on his head.

　Their eyes met, and they paused briefly before parting ways.

　"go in."

　Pandora said this, then quickly glanced away.

　"it is good."

　Dak calmly took her hand and walked into the banquet hall.

　Two seemingly strong-willed young people, but in reality both experiencing life for the first time, entered the hall to the sound of clear and melodious piano music.

　Once inside, the two twitched their fingers slightly, then naturally let go, said "See you later" to each other, and finally walked towards the long table in their respective courtyards.

　Pandora's pace was noticeably faster than usual.

　Dark paused slightly, gazing thoughtfully at her retreating figure. Suddenly, he grinned and walked towards the long table in the noble academy, where he met Aurora's gaze directly.

　Although Aurora departed later, she arrived at the banquet hall first.

　As a first-year student, she naturally sat in the seat closest to the door.

　But when Dark appeared at the door with Pandora, she had already caught his eye.

　Then she watched them put Santa hats on each other and walk into the hall hand in hand before quietly looking away—but in the end she couldn't help but look up again.

　"Merry Christmas Eve."

　Dak waved to Aurora.

　Suppressing her increasingly turbulent emotions, Aurora also raised her hand and clenched it.

　The two smiled at each other, and Dark walked past them to his second-year seat.

　Almost all the second-year students of the Noble Academy had arrived, and there weren't many empty seats. Dark glanced up and saw that there was still a seat left between Diana and Rose.

　However, as soon as he walked in, he noticed a small bear holding a lollipop on the seat, and his smile froze.

　“There’s someone here,” Diana said in a monotone, mechanical voice.

　But before Dark could even open her mouth to speak, she couldn't hold back and covered her mouth to laugh.

　The little bear was inexplicably summoned and then inexplicably returned to the card, leaving the seat empty again.

　Dark opened his mouth, but then pulled out a chair and sat down.

　People who are too thin-skinned will find it difficult to achieve anything.

　But as soon as he sat down, he heard Diana ask, feigning ignorance, "Where have you been?"

　"Lovers' Bridge," Darke blurted out the wrong answer without hesitation.

　Diana's little face visibly puffed up as she thought to herself, "This person is really annoying; he can't even coax people properly."

　But if Dark really lied to appease her, she would definitely be even more unhappy... There's nothing she can do, she's just unhappy!

　I'm unhappy, I'm just unhappy!

　Diana's lips were so pouty you could hang a sock on them.

　Rose was sitting on the other side of Dark, and since it was difficult to feed him at this time, she could only blink frantically at Dark.

　Dak sighed, then moved the plate containing the whole cake in front of him to his side, neatly cut it into three pieces, and offered one piece, saying, "Want some?"

　"Food," Diana replied reflexively, then puffed out her cheeks again.

　But when the cake was placed in front of her, she obediently picked up her fork and started eating.

　The atmosphere finally eased a bit... well, I wasn't nervous to begin with.

　This year's Christmas party was as lively as ever. Students chatted and laughed, the tables were filled with the aroma of desserts and black tea, and the lively piano music carried a cheerful mood. The unlit "mountain"-shaped candlesticks danced up and down on the musical staff, and colorful orbs of light floated in the air, sometimes contracting and sometimes expanding.

　Four long tables, clearly separated by a clear line, were covered with deep red tablecloths. At intervals stood small Christmas trees, with reindeer pulling sleighs and bags full of gifts under them—but there was no Santa Claus.

　On the stage directly in front, the huge Christmas tree was covered with countless gift boxes and ornaments.

　A dazzling golden crown, a spellbook radiating magical light, a gleaming lance—a complete set of tarot cards, beginning with "The Fool"...

　Four iconic items float around the Christmas tree, while glowing elves twirl and dance around it, occasionally emitting silvery laughter.

　Looking up, a magnificent Milky Way flowed across the ceiling, with countless stars twinkling and shimmering, a sight both beautiful and mysterious.

　Amidst the overwhelming festive atmosphere, the elegantly dressed professors finally filed in from the side and back of the stage and took their seats in the faculty section.

　Within St. Marian Academy, staff changes are not uncommon every year. This year, the teaching staff has seen several new faces and several old faces have left.

　But students only need to get to know the professors of each subject and the deans of each department.

　Dark glanced in that direction and saw Hephaestus Darrowon, but not Ophelia Brad.

　Professor Ryan Haxes, who arrived after Christmas last year, has already blended in seamlessly.

　For some reason, his head, which had grown back with flowing long hair, became completely bald again, rounder than the moon.

　Professor Lily seemed to be in a good mood, and as soon as she sat down, she and Professor Nini began to devour the desserts on the table.

　Ms. Bella from the library seemed to have a good relationship with Hephaestus; the two sat next to each other, whispering to each other.

　Professor Sylph sat in the second seat. Tonight, she wore a thick coat and a snow-white scarf around her neck. Her expression was aloof, a stark contrast to Professor Mitia, who was still dressed in a thin purple robe.

　Professor Jones sat in the back, with Professor Holder Bode, whose face remained as somber as ever, on her other side.

　Professor Thompson, Professor Eric, Professor Bacon, Professor Steven Harvey…

　Almost all the professors I could think of were present, except for Kazel.