This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 1

“Professor, doing some research?”

“Y-Yes, just a little.”

After school in the library, I happened to run into Alois.
The way he poked his head out from behind the bookshelf was so adorably calculated it almost made me squeal. But I held it in. This calm response in front of my favorite student—someone please praise me.

“What are you researching?”

“Just something about medicinal herbs.”

To stop Noel from falling into darkness, I’d sworn to ease his worries as soon as possible. Right now, I was searching for materials necessary to lift Professor Roaek’s curse.

According to what I heard from the fairy, a plant called Moryu—which Noel is searching for—might be able to break the curse. But since it’s a legendary plant, I needed to dig into it further.

“There are things even you don’t know, Professor?”

“Of course. Even adults have lots of things they don’t know.”

As we talked, my eyes scanned the shelves—and the title of a book on the top shelf caught my eye: The Ecology of Legendary Medicinal Herbs. It looked promising.

I stretched to reach it, but Alois beat me to it, effortlessly handing me the book.

“Here you go.”

With a soft smile, he handed me the book. If I were still a student, I would’ve fallen right there and then.

Dear gods, what kind of divine reward is this?

“Um, I had some trouble reviewing today’s lesson. Would you mind explaining it to me?”

“Of course! (Instant response)”

Apparently, Alois was reviewing today’s class in the library.
Reviewing the same day you learned it? Admirable. So admirable. As expected from my favorite.

I got to admire his beautifully written notes.
I got to hear his voice from up close.
And best of all, I had his sweet smiles all to myself while I explained things.

Spending this kind of sweet time after school with my favorite student—it’s almost scary how happy it makes me.

“I was looking for you, Professor Bellecour. So you were talking with Prince Alois.”

And just like that, with Noel’s arrival, the sweet moment ended.

“Professor Fabius?!”

What’s more, although he’s smiling, he’s somehow radiating killing intent.
I didn’t do anything to make him angry, so what gives?

We already talked first thing this morning, so if he’s come looking for me again, maybe something happened?

“Your Highness, would you mind if I took my fiancée with me?”

“Not at all. My apologies for keeping her.”

Both of them were smiling, but the atmosphere was tense and crackling.
Could it be that Noel’s in a bad mood because Alois was here?

Noel and Alois are half-brothers, though it’s not publicly known.
One is an illegitimate child born of a capricious affair with a dancer, the other the legitimate heir of the First Queen. It’s understandable that things are a bit strained.

In the game, Noel feigned sympathy for Alois, who was caught in the middle of the succession war, only to betray him.

Alois was raised strictly from a young age, never receiving love from his mother, groomed to become a king.
Caught in the adults’ power plays, he ended up in fierce rivalry with his siblings and eventually gave off such an unapproachable aura that people called him the Ice Prince, claiming he had no heart.

Originally, the heroine Sara was supposed to reach out to him and melt that frozen heart…
But Sara didn’t even try to approach him.

In fact, when I saw her glaring at Alois as if to keep him away from Isabelle, I couldn’t help but hold my head in despair.

What’s going to happen to these kids?

If Noel doesn’t fall to darkness, I think we can avoid the bad end, but still…

“Professor, will you be here again tomorrow? If I have more questions about potionology, I’d like to ask you again.”

Still, isn’t my favorite student too cute?

“Of course! Feel free to ask me anything, anytime.”

I barely managed to suppress my urge to scream “Too precious!”

Right now, I’m the professor and he’s the student.
I must set aside all worldly desires and face him like a benevolent saint.

“But don’t overdo the studying. It’s good to take a break now and then. You’ve been working very hard, Your Highness.”

Turning up the saintly vibes to max, I praised him wholeheartedly.

“N-No, I really haven’t…”

He gave me this shy, unbelievably precious look, and I nearly stopped breathing.
But I used every ounce of reason I had to return his smile as Professor Bellecour.

He’s too precious—I might actually stop breathing.
Blushing just from being praised? Too cute, seriously.

“You don’t need to be so modest. You really are doing great.”

Okay, I’ll admit I got a bit carried away.
I reached out and gently patted Alois on the head. His cheeks turned red, but he let me pat him.

The moment I thought, So cute, thunder cracked outside and the sky suddenly went pitch black. A giant tree on campus fell with a loud crash.

“Leticia, it’s dangerous—let me walk you to the prep room.”

That low voice beside me made me turn around out of morbid curiosity.
Noel was standing there, wearing a dazzling smile… while radiating a sinister aura.

That’s when I remembered.

The lightning falling right now—it’s one of the spells Noel used during the final battle.

Looks like the time has come to prevent Alois’s bad ending.

But before that…
Will I even make it back to the staff dorm alive today?