This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 1
The school building at dusk looks like a scene straight out of a painting, and I particularly love the view from the colonnade.
Apparently, he feels the same. I’ve seen him more than once leaning against one of the columns after work, gazing out with a distant look.
He is Noel Fabius, a temporary lecturer in Applied Magic.
He’s here to fill in for Professor Orik, whose back pain—due to age—is taking a while to heal. Normally, Noel works at the Ministry of Magic, but the headmaster, believing his presence would be a positive influence on the students, invited him personally.
Of course, by “positive influence,” what the headmaster really meant was “it’d be great if more of our graduates became civil servants,” which makes his intentions painfully obvious—and rather exasperating.
Still, Noel is an elite civil servant, and though he’s technically a bureaucrat, his toned and balanced physique is enough to make anyone stare. His back, as he leans against the pillar, carries a kind of quiet sensuality that makes me feel like I’m doing something inappropriate just by looking at him. No wonder the players in the game used to call him the “charismatic mastermind.”
But despite that… I have to speak to him.
Swallowing hard, I forced myself to say something.
“Professor Fabius, good evening.”
His shoulder twitched slightly at the sound of my voice—clearly startled. But when he turned, his face remained calm—no, not just calm. He even wore a graceful smile.
As expected of a mastermind. He doesn’t let slip even the tiniest opening.
“Good evening. It’s rare for you to speak to me, Professor Bellecour.”
“Y-yes. I suppose it is,” I replied, barely keeping my voice from cracking.
To be honest, this was the first time I’d spoken to him directly like this, and I was ridiculously nervous. And who wouldn’t be?
This man is not only devastatingly handsome, he also topped the students’ popularity poll among the faculty by a landslide. His beauty alone is striking, and his gentlemanly demeanor makes him even more irresistible.
He’s tall, with sleek, crow-feather-black hair that flows elegantly back from his face, giving off an air of mature allure. His skin is pale and smooth, accentuating every one of his flawless features.
And his eyes—those mesmerizing amethyst irises—are so captivating that I had to turn away. A single beauty mark under his left eye is placed so perfectly it adds to his sensuality like a deliberate finishing touch.
When he was first introduced as the substitute, my first thought was, What on earth was that old man thinking, sending someone so distracting into an educational setting?
“You often watch me from afar, don’t you? But you never come speak to me.”
“I didn’t want to intrude,” I answered honestly.
I hadn’t realized he’d noticed me observing him from a distance. As expected from someone at the Ministry of Magic—his magical sensitivity is no joke.
“So why did you decide to talk to me today?”
“I have something important to discuss.”
That’s right. I came here specifically to talk to him about something very important. If I missed today, I wouldn’t see him again until next week—he doesn’t come every day, after all.
My nerves were choking my throat, so I took a deep breath to calm myself.
“Would you… marry me?”
“…”
He stared at me with that same calm expression.
I expected him to be shocked, but Noel, as always, didn’t waver. And instead of laughing at a plain, unremarkable woman like me proposing out of nowhere, he just listened politely. That gentlemanly nature is likely one reason his reputation is so high.
After all, in this life I’m just a background character—brown hair, brown eyes, always wearing the same kind of clothes and hairstyle. Someone who practically blends into the scenery. I’m fully aware I’m no match for someone like Noel, at least in appearance.
“Why would you want to marry me? Forgive my bluntness, but you don’t seem to be interested in me.”
Of course he’d say that.
Everyone knows me as the plain teacher obsessed with herbs. I used to have feelings for a classmate from my student days, and I’ve had zero connection with Noel up to now.
“My family’s pressuring me to get married soon. But every suitor that comes along says I’ll have to quit teaching after marriage—and I just can’t accept that.”
Moments like this make me grateful to be a noblewoman. Social traditions may be annoying, but they’re handy excuses sometimes.
“So you believe I’d be more understanding?”
“Am I wrong?”
“Well… I do agree. It’s wrong to ask someone to abandon a career they’ve worked hard for.”
But then he added, with a slight edge:
“Still, I don’t see why you’d choose me. There are plenty of other faculty members here who might be more suitable.”
“I thought I might be able to help with Professor Roaek’s condition.”
His brow twitched slightly at the name.
Roaek was his mentor—and the very reason he eventually turned into a villain.
Back in my student days, I too was cared for by Professor Roaek. They say he’s retired and now living in seclusion, but the truth is that he’s suffering from a curse.
Noel’s descent into darkness began after he tried to save Professor Roaek, only to have the king’s agents kill him instead.
“…How do you know about that?”
There was a faint sharpness in his voice—just enough to send a chill down my spine.
I steeled myself, refusing to look away from those amethyst eyes of his.
“I heard from the fairies in the prep room that you were searching for a special herb to help Professor Roaek.”
“Ah… That prep room is close to the forest, now that I think about it. It’s no wonder so many fairies gather there.”
“And since Professor Roaek was important to me too, I want to help.”
…To be precise, I cornered the fairies and interrogated them. I do feel bad for it, but I had no choice.
Because I have to get this man on my side—no matter what it takes.