This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 10

That night, after a small party in the classroom, everyone went outside to perform a charm—a traditional custom of the Winter Star Festival.

Snow was falling softly and steadily. As far as the eye could see, the world was covered in white, bathed in the gentle light of the moon, which gave it an even more mysterious glow.

“Waaah! The snow’s piling up!”

Sara jumped up and down with joy, but when the northern wind blew, she shrank back and clung to someone for warmth.

Unlike in the game, she still hadn’t awakened as a Lightbearer.

I wonder what will happen to her once the break ends and Olson transfers in.

It’s not just Sara.
Alois, Isabel, and the others are also following different paths from the game.
But once Olson is in place, will that trigger any changes?

I hope… whatever changes come, they’ll be good ones.

“Alright, before we catch a cold, let’s begin.”
“Okaaay!”

Noel lit a candle infused with a plant called Stellaherba.

Long ago, when disaster struck the Kingdom of Nox, many stars fell across the night sky, and the Stellaherba began to glow, guiding the people to a safe place.

At that place, a single girl had arrived ahead of them.

When she chanted a spell, a warm light spread across the kingdom, healing the wounded trees and mending the cracked earth.

The people believed the goddess had bestowed the power of light upon her and wept tears of gratitude, thinking the stars had led them to the savior who possessed such divine strength.

She became the very first Lightbearer.
Since then, this day has been celebrated as the birth of the first bearer of light.

“Here, I’ll hand out everyone’s candles.”

As each person received their Stellaherba candle, they lit them from Noel’s candle with practiced ease.

“Now, let’s offer our thanks to the goddess and the stars, and present our flowers. Burn, Flamma!”

In response to the spell, the flames of the candles flickered.

The fire took on the shape of a flower—and then, with a levitation spell, they began to float.

I love watching these flowers.

The temperature of the flame changes depending on who makes them, so the color of the flowers varies, and the shape—well, that’s different for everyone, too.

The flower-shaped flames, now free from their candles, floated high into the sky.

“I wonder if Natalis is okay…”

As I looked up at the sky, I couldn’t help but worry.

I’d tried looking for him several times over the past few days, but there had been no sign of him at all.

Even the officials from the Ministry of Magic hadn’t managed to find him yet.

Natalis’s injuries shouldn’t have healed yet.

I applied medicine to his wounds, but it was only that one time.

Ideally, I should be adjusting the ingredients daily and reapplying it while monitoring his condition. That’s the fastest way for him to heal. But if I’m not by his side, I can’t even do that.

I just hope he’s safe…

It frustrates me that all I can do is pray for his well-being.

“You’re thinking about that dragon again, aren’t you?”

When I turned around, Noel was standing right behind me.

“Yes… I’m just worried. He was so badly hurt. I really hope he’s not out there suffering all alone.”

“He’ll be fine. Dragons have a strong sense of kinship across their species. I’m sure the dragons of Nox Kingdom have already found and helped him.”

Noel’s voice was calm, but there was a weight to it—as if he was remembering something from his childhood.

When I placed a hand on his back, he leaned into it—just a little.

◇

After the charm ritual, Noel and I escorted the students back to the dormitories, then headed to the prep room.

While Noel tended to the fire in the fireplace, I brewed some tea.

Of course, I also prepared milk for Jill and Mika.

Jill, who usually fusses at my feet with her endless list of demands, wasn’t doing that today—she was curled up on Noel’s lap.

In that moment, she truly looked like a cat.

I can’t say it aloud because she’d be mad, but the way she closed her eyes as Noel gently petted her—she looked nothing short of a cat.

I couldn’t help but let out a small giggle… and Noel caught me.

“Leticia, come here. I have something I want to give you.”

“What is it?”

The moment our eyes met and he smiled, I felt a little flustered—but that’s my secret.

I sat down beside him, and he handed me a small gift box.

“Open it.”

I untied the ribbon and opened the box to find a pair of earrings inside.

Delicate silver flowers adorned the area around small violet gemstones. They were beautifully crafted, dainty, and sweet—something I could wear even on ordinary days.

“I thought they’d suit you. I’ve enchanted them to protect you, so make sure to always keep them on.”

“Got it. They’re a beautiful color—just like your eyes.”

The purple gemstones sparkled as I held them up to the light.

Knowing he had chosen them while thinking of me made me so happy… and a little embarrassed, too.

“Thank you. I’ll treasure them always.”

When I tried the earrings on right away, Noel’s eyes softened as he gazed at me, which made me feel like I might’ve gotten a little too excited—and suddenly I was embarrassed.

I must’ve looked like a kid who just got a Christmas present.

Feeling self-conscious under his gaze, I hurriedly reached into my coat pocket and pulled out that package.

“N-Noel, I have something I want to give you too.”

“Huh…?”

Noel looked uncharacteristically puzzled as I handed him the package.

He accepted it with both hands, almost ceremoniously, then untied the wrapping and opened the box containing a ring.

“They say it’s enchanted with a protective spell. Keep it with you—for luck.”

“…I’ll treasure it.”

The way he said that, like he was really savoring the words—it made me so glad I decided to give it to him.

I’d been unsure if a ring was the right choice, but now I felt relieved.

Then, Noel glanced at me—almost shyly.

“Would you… put the ring on me?”

“Eh? Of course!”

Just as I reached out to take his hand, a burst of noise came from beyond the door.

“Clarlac, stop pushing!”

“Well, I can’t see anything with Gerald in the way!”

“Geez! Be quiet or they’ll hear us!”

There was no mistaking it—it was the voices of the main cast.

I froze in shock, but Noel? He moved instantly.

“Restrictus Limitesio.”

As he chanted the spell, screams echoed from the hallway.

He stood up and opened the door himself, revealing Sara and the others frozen in place, mid-escape, completely immobilized.

“Out wandering around at this hour? Naughty kids.”

Noel’s voice was low and calm—so pleasant to the ear, and yet, it sent chills down to the very core.

Sara and the rest were visibly trembling, their faces drained of color, ghostly pale.

“Teacher, it was Gerald who suggested we come look! He said it was time to put into practice one of Oria Magic Academy’s Three Tenets: ‘Pursue knowledge endlessly!’”

“Clarlac, don’t lie! You were the one who proposed it!”

“It was Prince Alois who brought it up first!”

“Lufier, don’t you dare pin this on me!”

An undignified squabble, completely unbecoming of heroes and heroines, broke out among them.

And as it did, Noel simply smiled—while releasing a chill so cold it could freeze the room to sub-zero temperatures.

“In that case, let’s have a little reflection meeting… with the teacher.”

Needless to say, they were thoroughly scolded and, as punishment the next day, were assigned to polish all the flying brooms.

And with that, the first winter of their time at Oria Academy came to an end.