This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 4
Because I went to greet his father and the others, Noël’s material-gathering was interrupted, and the assassination of Professor Roaek was successfully prevented.
That should stop him from falling into darkness for a while.
“Noël,”
“Didn’t we just talk? What is it now?”
I tried calling him by his name for the first time, but he completely ignored that part.
He smiled at me warmly, but there was a slight hint of annoyance. I could practically hear his inner voice saying, “You again?”
Noël had no interest in me, so he never came to see me on his own.
He was wary of me, sure, but with Jill around, he didn’t need to watch me himself.
Still, if people started to doubt the “romantic marriage” narrative, it would be bad. So whenever he came to the academy as a temporary lecturer, we were supposed to meet—though even then, we only exchanged a few words. And outside of that, he never showed himself.
That’s why I had no choice but to be the one to go to him and act interested.
“I forgot to give you a souvenir earlier, so I came to bring it.”
“I see.”
He looked a bit confused, but when I handed him the paper bag, he surprisingly accepted it without any fuss.
“I tried inventing an easy way to enjoy tea. Just float it in hot water.”
“You came up with this?”
“Yes.”
Well, to be precise, I just copied the tea bags I was familiar with in my previous life.
It was surprisingly easy—just cut some cotton cloth into small pieces and sew them together.
The tea itself was made by drying medicinal herbs I grew in the academy’s greenhouse, so it’s basically herbal tea.
Not knowing Noël’s preferences, I made several different types.
If I could win over his stomach, maybe something would change. That was my small, steady strategy.
“If you don’t like it, feel free to throw it away.”
“I wouldn’t throw away something given by my fiancée.”
“We’re not officially engaged yet.”
“…Just a little longer, please.”
The marquis family had already been persuaded thanks to him, but we were still waiting on the next approval—namely, from His Majesty the King.
Well, that’s understandable. Noël might have a slim chance, but he still has a claim to the throne.
Wait a second.
If this keeps up, won’t I also become a target, just like Professor Roaek?
Shuddering at my own imagination, Noël didn’t even notice. He was busy opening the bag and savoring the aroma. And damn, he looked ridiculously cool doing it.
No, no, no—my favorite was and always will be Alois, in this life and the last. I may have gotten a bit sidetracked, but he’s my eternal pick. Noël might be attractive, sure, but next to Alois, he’s nothing.
Still, I hate that I found myself a little captivated.
“By the way, I’ll be joining tomorrow’s field trip too.”
“Oh, really?”
“I’m worried about my fiancée going to the royal palace, so I decided to come along.”
“We’re only going to the botanical garden inside the palace, you know?”
Even as I said that, I understood what he really meant—and felt a chill run down my spine.
That was probably a warning: “If you inform the royal family, I’ll kill you.”
He must suspect I’m some kind of royal informant.
But if that’s true, why did he go to the botanical garden during the game too?
Leticia Bellecour—the one he should’ve suspected—wasn’t there, and yet he still went with us during Alois’s event.
Questions swirled in my mind, but now wasn’t the time.
I needed to make sure Noël didn’t grow even more suspicious of me.
“Anything could happen, after all.”
“Please don’t jinx it~”
The thing is, he’s right—something will happen, and it’s no laughing matter. If I remember correctly, there’ll be an attack aimed at Alois.
Everyone will get caught up in the struggle for the throne.
The battle with monsters is about to begin.
In the game, it was all text, but tomorrow, I’ll be experiencing it for real.
My stomach’s starting to hurt.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right by your side, keeping watch. If anything happens, I’ll respond immediately.”
That’s not “watching over,” that’s “watching me”—so you can erase me the moment I try anything, right?
“Th-thank you. That’s very reassuring.”