This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 6

“I’m coming over now, so please hold on!”

A young man’s voice called out. At the same time, the sound of shattering glass rang out, and several knights entered.

It was the Royal Knight Order.

“We will distract it!”

The knight with tawny hair slicked back shouted, and together with his comrades, launched an attack on the monster. The moment it turned toward them, I sprinted at full speed to reach Isabelle.

“Lady Seraphine!”
“Professor!”

As soon as I reached her, Isabelle clung to me. She must have been terrified, all alone trying to escape from that monster. She trembled in my arms, tears streaming down her face, and it was heartbreaking to see.

I held her tightly, trying to offer her some comfort.

“Professor Bellecour!”

I heard Noel’s voice. Turning toward it, I saw the monster exhaling a purple mist from its mouth. It was trying to spread a deadly poison throughout the area.

“Protect us, Escudo!”

I released my magical power at full force, casting a barrier around us and the knights.

“Damn you! Die!”

The tawny-haired knight coated his sword in flames and slashed at the monster. The beast turned to ash and disappeared.

A heavy silence settled over the botanical garden.

“I-Is everyone okay?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, professor, we’re all unharmed.”

Tears welled in Sara’s eyes as she threw her arms around me.

“I’m so glad.”

Then suddenly, Alois appeared in front of me.

With his golden hair and sky-blue eyes, he was the picture of a princely hero. His neatly styled blond hair sparkled, almost blindingly so.

Alois’s graceful face contorted in anguish as he looked at me.

“Professor, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m just happy everyone’s safe.”

Alois, I know everything, so please don’t worry. I know this monster was after you, but if I say that, you’ll only blame yourself. So I’ll pretend I don’t know.

As your fan—no, as someone who adores you—I’m simply glad I could be of help. That’s all I want.

“…P-Professor.”

Alois’s sky-blue eyes trembled.

“It’s true.”

I really was relieved that we got through this event without a single casualty.

Wait a second—didn’t Sara fail to awaken her sacred maiden powers?

I’m a bit anxious about how that’ll affect the story going forward, but… oh well. As long as everyone’s safe.

As relief washed over me, my legs gave out. I nearly collapsed on the spot, but the tawny-haired knight caught me just in time.

“Thank you for your help.”
“It is I who should be thanking you. Your magic protected us. My name is Victor Castanier. May I ask yours?”
“L-Leticia Bellecour…”

Before I could finish, dizziness overwhelmed me. My words slurred.

It felt like my voice was echoing from far away, and my head was so fuzzy I couldn’t think straight.

This is bad. I still have to escort the students back to the academy.

“You likely used up all your magic and stamina at once. I’ll arrange for you to rest inside the royal palace.”
“Th-thank you.”

As I was thinking about having the students sent back ahead of me—

“No. I’ll take her back to the academy.”

Noel grabbed my hand as he said it.

“Please… take me back to the academy.”

He pleaded in a trembling voice, and so I agreed to be taken back.

Castanier initially opposed the idea, saying I shouldn’t push myself, but when I told him I’d prefer to rest after seeing the students safely returned, he accepted.

Though in reality, I fell asleep in the carriage and wasn’t able to see the students off after all.

◇

By the time we reached the academy, I was fast asleep in the infirmary bed. When I woke up, it was already dark outside.

“Ugh… I can’t get up…”

My entire body was weighed down. It felt like something heavy was pressing down on me—I couldn’t move at all.

“Hey, girl, don’t go using magic recklessly at your age!”

Suddenly, I realized Jill was at my bedside, huffing and puffing indignantly.

“I-I just… I had to protect everyone. I didn’t have time to think.”
“Even if you didn’t, your master would’ve taken care of it!”
“I was desperate in that moment!”

I tried putting some strength into my body again, but I still couldn’t move.

Resigned, I lay limp as someone entered the infirmary.

“Leticia, may I come in?”
“Please do.”

It was Noel. His face looked completely exhausted. Honestly, I wanted to tell him to rest too.

“You don’t look well. You should really go rest.”
“I decided to stay in the faculty dorm tonight, so I can still be here.”
“No, seriously, you should—”
“Leticia.”
“Yes?”

Noel called my name again, looking straight at me with eyes like amethysts.

“Being engaged to me means your life will constantly be in danger. Even so, do you still want to continue this engagement?”
“Of course.”
“…I still don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

His piercing gaze made me feel uneasy.

“By the way, did everyone get back safely?”
“Yes. Not a single injury. They all returned to the dorms.”
“Did you collect the assignments?”
“Of course. Though Barte handed in a blank sheet, so I made him stay behind and finish it.”

When I tried to change the subject, he surprisingly went along with it, so I continued talking about the students.

In the game, he always seemed like someone too calculating for this kind of empathy.

Maybe he’s being a bit gentler since I’m sick.