This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 5

“Oops—I’ve actually used quite a bit in the last class,”

When I opened the drawer in the medicine cabinet, I realized we were out of Cambio—the key ingredient for the transformation potion.

Well, fortunately tonight is a full moon with clear skies, so we’ll just have to make it.

Thinking that it was a good opportunity, I changed into my casual overalls and headed to the greenhouse.

“Sensei, you’re wearing that outfit again, huh?”

“Y yes—I like how it’s easy to move in and I don’t mind if it gets dirty, so it’s really practical.”

As I was getting everything ready, Alois suddenly appeared.

I felt a little embarrassed that my favorite person got to see me in these casual clothes.

“What are you working on?”

“Preparing the pre processing for Cambio.”

“Can I help too?”

“Of course–! I’d be happy, but is it okay time wise?”

“Yes—I want to help you, Sensei.”

My heart almost melted—my favorite is just so sweet. I’m falling even harder.

“Well then, Your Highness, you should change into overalls too. You might get dirty.”

Is it divine punishment for harboring such impure thoughts, wanting to see my crush in overalls?

“Professor Bellecour, so you’re here, huh?”

Noel arrived with a dark aura around him, wearing a smile. That guy, thanks to Jill—his watch-cat—can find me no matter where I go.

“Professor Fabius, did you need me for something?”

“I wanted to ask about what happened when I spoke with the fairies.”

“I’d love to talk, but right now I’m prepping the Cambio batches and it requires my full attention. Can we talk later?” I tried sending a plea with my eyes.

He understood. “Okay, tell me later then.”

Yet he wouldn’t leave. “I’ll help too.”

“Oh—It’s okay, His Highness is already helping.”

“Are you saying I can’t help? How insulting!”

Even though I was busy and tried to politely refuse, Noel’s dark aura intensified strangely.

“If you’re not that busy, I’d like your help.”

“Is that so? Then I’m glad to help.”

Immediately his mood brightened, and I let out a relieved breath. I wondered if he was just bored.

Eventually, we agreed to meet again tonight after preparations.

◇

When I arrived at the greenhouse, both Noel and Alois were already there. They were talking, but stopped when I came in.

I wondered what they’d been discussing—something about the royal family, perhaps?

“What were you talking about?”

“Just chit chat.”

Noel smiled brightly. Before, he’d had a cold vibe around Alois, but things felt different now.

I worried he might have been pretending to sympathize like in the game—but part of me believed he really had changed.

“By the way—why are you wearing overalls, Noel?!”

“I borrowed them from Barte.”

So Noel and Dona are closer than I thought—surprising, given their opposite personalities. And the surprising part? Noel made those overalls look good—like some designer brand. Darn handsome guys are so lucky.

“Now, I’ll extinguish the lights.”

Noel snapped his fingers and the lanterns went out, plunging us into darkness. Once our eyes adjusted, the moonlight made everything visible again.

“Okay, using the silver scissors bathed in moonlight, let’s start harvesting.”

The Cambio in the pots had absorbed enough moonlight to shimmer. I held a bundle upside down to prevent light from leaking, preparing to cut a hand-sized bunch.

“Next, we tie it with spider silk.”

We use the golden thread from a gilded spider—legend says it helps retain the herb’s magical power. I bundled and tied the Cambio with the silk.

“Now comes the hard part.”

The bundles must be infused with magic and dried until dawn, and with Noel here, I thought Alois should safely leave.

“Alois, it’s late—you should return to the dorm.”

“I’m okay—I can stay up.”

“The others in the dorm will worry.”

“…I don’t think they will.”

He smiled sadly—and I couldn’t make myself send him away. I sent a magical letter to his dorm advisor to let them know Alois would be helping with potion prepping tonight.

Not because of favoritism—I just thought his anxiety might be eased by helping.

“Alois, who do you talk with most?”

“Clarac.”

Of course—César is the chancellor’s son and his childhood friend.

“And anyone else?”

“Not really.”

He smiled wryly.

“Everyone talks to me because I’m a prince. Once the crown prince is chosen and it’s not me, no one will talk to me.”

“Alois…”

That lines up with what he confessed to Sarah in the game. Since childhood, he misunderstood superficial friendships from adults around him.

“Noel, let me recharge the magic for a bit.”

“Sure.”

I took Alois’s hand—it was very cold. I cupped it in my hands to share some warmth and began transferring magical energy.

“This is a school. It’s a place where your peers gather. Here, you don’t need to act like a prince—you can just be Alois, a youth of your age. Then people will relate to you, Alois, as a peer.”

The young man before me wasn’t just the handsome character from the screen—he was a teenager with worries. And that reminded me: they’re all kids.

“So, during your time at Oria Magic Academy, you don’t have to overdo it. Live freely as yourself, with no regrets.”

“…Sensei.”

His sky-blue eyes trembled. Then, he rested his head gently on my shoulder, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Sorry—I couldn’t help clinging a little.”

That shy confession—I need someone to praise me for staying conscious.

After that, we took turns infusing magic: first Noel, then Alois, then me.

“He’s asleep.”

“Huh.”

Alois, now resting in a greenhouse chair, had fallen asleep. Seeing his peaceful sleeping face, I felt as though I could die happy.

“Even royalty is just a child when they get tired.”

“Yes.”

To hear Noel say that was unexpected. He draped his coat over Alois and looked at me with a complicated expression.

“You should rest too.”

“I will.”

Noel brought a chair next to me and sat quietly.

“Stay with me—you might fall asleep.”

“Of course.”

When he raised an eyebrow kindly and smiled, my heart felt like it skipped a beat.

We talked—Noel and I—until sunrise, about the teachers who’d taken care of us at Oria Magic Academy.