This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 2

As usual, when school was over for the day, Noel came into the prep room.

“Let me see your hand, Noel.”
“Like this?”

He casually held out his hand. It was flawless—not a trace of any scales.
Thank goodness. At least for now, everything seemed fine.

Even though I knew it had just been a dream, I couldn’t help but worry about Noel whenever I recalled that traumatic scene from this morning.
What if something had already started to change in his body?

After all, in the game, Noel eventually stops being human.

“Are you feeling okay?”
“I don’t feel anything out of the ordinary.”
“Really?”
“Why the sudden concern?”

There was no way I could say, “Well, I saw you fall into darkness in a dream.”
So frustrating, only being able to say vague, noncommittal things.

“I just… worry about you.”
“The so-called second mother of mine sure is soft on me.”

Noel said that with a smile, then sat me down and brewed some tea for me.

Maybe because of that dream this morning, I kept finding myself staring at Noel’s face.

Sitting across from me, his expression was so gentle, I couldn’t believe he was the same person I’d seen in that nightmare.
He’d gotten into the habit of stopping by the prep room after school even on days without classes, and sometimes that attracted girls who came by under the pretense of asking questions—just to see him.

When one of the senior teachers scolded us for being too cozy in front of the students, I told Noel we needed to tone it down.
But the next day, that very teacher had been transferred to a different school.

Honestly, it was kind of terrifying.

He really is sharp and capable of doing anything if he sets his mind to it.
I was reminded of that all over again.

Even so, I truly believe he’s no longer the same mastermind Noel I saw in that dream.

“Leticia?”

Maybe because I was staring, Noel tilted his head and looked at me curiously.

“Sorry. I was just lost in thought.”
“Hmm? You looked more like you were spacing out.”
“How rude. I was thinking, thank you very much.”

I knew glaring wouldn’t work on him, and sure enough, it didn’t faze him in the slightest—he just chuckled amusedly.

Ugh.
And here I am, worried about you.

“By the way, Mother said she wants you to come visit again.”
“…Again? I feel like I see her every week lately…”

Ever since that tea party, Mother-in-law has been inviting me over constantly.

And every time, it’s just the two of us, where she grills me for updates on Noel.
So I end up recounting the highlights of his week, then quietly listening as she gushes over how wonderful he is based on those stories.

The frustrating part is that she acts completely normal around Noel, so when I try to tell him about it, he doesn’t believe me at all.
Honestly, she’s a bit too tsundere when it comes to her own son.

“I’ll come up with a good excuse on your behalf,” he said.
“Thanks…”

This isn’t running away.

It’s just that I need to be around Noel and the students to keep them all from falling into a bad ending—that’s why I can’t go.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

“Leticia, there’s something I need to tell you. I won’t be able to come here next week—I’ve got work near the border. It’s an overnight trip, and since exams just ended, it lines up well.”
“Near the border…”

A scene from the game flashes through my mind.

I recall the dazzling smile of the final romanceable character: Orson Doruille.

He arrives under the false identity of a transfer student from the Kingdom of Dies, but in truth, he’s a prince from the enemy nation of Shear—sent here with the hidden goal of bringing the Kingdom of Nox under their control. A dangerous person to underestimate.

In the game, Noel notices Orson’s infiltration and uses his position in the Ministry of Magic to make contact. Sensing royal magic within Orson, Noel meets with him right after his arrival and forms a cooperative relationship.

Since Orson’s encounter with Sara happens around the same time, and Noel is heading to the border, it might mean he already suspects Orson’s arrival.

I have to stop him.

“The border’s dangerous. Do you really have to go, Noel?”

“There’ll be other staff with me. I’ll be fine.”

“But Shear’s been acting more aggressively lately. That makes me even more anxious.”

“To be honest, I’m not thrilled about being away from you either, Leticia.”

“Then don’t go. I don’t want to be apart from you, Noel.”

“…”

His eyes—those amethyst eyes—waver.

“I can’t cancel the trip, but… how about we go out together before I leave?”

“Ah, that won’t work. I’m on duty during the Winter Star Festival holiday this year, so I’ll be really busy.”

The Winter Star Festival is a big in-game event. Though it marks a long break, the main characters all stay behind at the academy due to various circumstances.

And as in the game, it’s already been decided that Sara and the others will remain on campus. So I secretly volunteered to be the staff member in charge during the holiday.

“…I see. I was hoping we could go on a little trip together during the festival.”

Noel’s expression visibly deflates.

More surprising than that was the fact that he even wanted to go on a trip with me.
He used to hate the idea of going on dates, and now he’s this eager?
Maybe his affection level has gone way up.

If that’s the case, I want to raise it even more and do whatever I can to prevent his descent into darkness.

And maybe, just maybe… it wouldn’t be a bad idea to help him grow closer to the other main characters during the holiday.
If he creates happy memories with them, he wouldn’t want to betray them later.

Yes. I’ve got a plan.

I’ll call it: “The Party for Happy Hearts☆ Strategy”!
We’ll celebrate the Winter Star Festival with a big party and help Noel bond with everyone!

“So Noel, about the upcoming holiday…”

“Yeah?”

“I want you to spend your time with me.”

He went silent for a moment, then finally spoke.

“Sorry, I needed a second to calm myself. What’s the reason?”

…Since when did you become a monk or something?

I had to fight the urge to snark.

“I want you to stay with me in the staff dorms.”

“—Eh?”

He fell silent again, and for some reason stared at me with a bright red face.

“Leticia… why?”

He looked flustered, averting his gaze.

Maybe he also wanted to spend the holiday at the academy rather than his family home, and now feels caught?

“I want to throw a party for the students who’ll be staying behind. And I’d like your help getting everything ready.”

“…”

“Noel?”

“I knew it… I knew it, but I still let myself hope…”

Noel covered his face with both hands and muttered like he was chanting a spell.

I have no idea what he thought he “knew,” but…

“You’ll come, right?”

“…I’ll come.”

His voice was barely audible, muffled behind his hands.