This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 5
“Oh, Prince Alois.”
After dropping off the bags from my shopping trip in the classroom, I returned to the prep room—only to find Alois standing just outside the door.
The moment our eyes met, he gave me a soft, gentle smile.
“Thank you for organizing such a lovely party, Professor. May I help with anything?”
E-EXCUSE ME WHAT?!
He’s one of the invited guests, and yet he’s offering to help of his own volition?! Could he be any more angelic?! My heart can’t take this—my favorite is too good for this world!
I was so overwhelmed I just kept looping his words in my head like a broken record.
And then—
“Hold it riiiight there! If you want to get close to Miss Four-Eyes, you’ll have to go through me first!”
Sarah burst in dramatically, stepping protectively in front of me like a human barricade.
I could understand if she got this worked up when someone approached Isabelle, but why me? What’s even going on?
From the look on his face, Alois seemed just as confused. He narrowed his eyes slightly and tilted his head in question.
“Miss Lufier, why are you interfering?”
His voice was calm, but there was a chilling pressure behind it, like the temperature around us had dropped several degrees. Even I could feel the sharp edge of his presence.
“I promised Professor Fabius I’d protect Miss Four-Eyes from you!” Sarah declared with absolute seriousness.
And yet, Sarah didn’t seem fazed at all—on the contrary, she looked rather smug as she responded.
Wait, wait, wait.
Since when does the heroine team up with the final boss?! What even happened?!
And why in the world would Noel ask her to do something like that?
Alois is the one who’s always protecting my mental well-being—don’t take away my emotional support character, please.
As I was secretly cursing Noel in my heart, Gerard appeared.
“…What’s this? Some kind of lovers’ quarrel?”
“Gerard, what’s up?”
“…I thought I’d come help. If there’s anything I can do,” he said.
“Thanks, actually—I could really use an extra pair of hands for the shopping run,” I replied, grateful.
At my thanks, Frederic suddenly turned his face away with a swift little jerk.
His brows were furrowed—he looked angry, but I was pretty sure that was just his way of blushing.
“…Well, Fabius-sensei did ask me to keep an eye on you, so there’s that too.”
“Wait, what?!”
Another chaperone added to the list?!
And now a romance route character is helping the final boss spy on me?! How did we get here?!
Between the gossip going around high society and all these mysterious moves, it’s clear Noel is plotting something.
I have no idea what his goal is, or what he’s really after… and honestly? It’s starting to scare me.
◇
The next day, after work, I headed into the capital with Sara, Alois, and Frederic in tow.
As expected, the royal capital was still crowded from the Winter Star Festival festivities, and Frederic protected me from the bustling throngs.
He looked every bit the part of a full-fledged knight, and I couldn’t help but be moved by how reliable he’d become.
“It’s such a comfort to be protected by the fencing club’s most promising newcomer.”
“…Thank you.”
Though his expression was grumpy as ever, a faint blush colored his cheeks—he was probably actually happy.
He wasn’t very honest about his feelings, but that just made him all the more adorable.
As we wandered from shop to shop, searching for the last of the decorations I couldn’t get yesterday, we ended up straying toward the outskirts of the city.
“Whew! The capital’s really crowded, huh!”
Sara stretched out her arms with a big sigh.
Alois looked a little tired, and while Frederic kept his face stoic, he’d clearly been on edge the whole time—he must be exhausted.
“Thanks for helping out today, everyone. Let me treat you to some tea. Let’s stop by a café somewhere.”
“Yay! I love you, Glasses-sensei! Can I get cake too?”
“Fufu, of course.”
“Miss Lufier, your shamelessness knows no bounds.”
Alois shot her a sharp glare.
He’d been showing more expression lately, and even started interacting with more of the other students—his whole aura seemed gentler than before.
Maybe the ‘Prince of Ice’ had finally graduated from his title.
Thinking that filled me with a deep sense of relief.
I just want my favorite to be happy. And seeing him take those first steps toward happiness truly makes me glad.
I was quietly basking in the joy of my beloved character’s growth when—
Suddenly, a dark mass dropped from the sky in front of me.
“Glasses!”
Frederic grabbed my hand and pulled me back, just in time to avoid it.
What had fallen at our feet was a creature, its entire body covered in black scales, with wings sprouting from its back. Bl00d oozed from wounds all over its body.
“A dra…gon?”
“Yes. Judging by its size, it should still be with its parent, but…”
The young dragon, pitch black and about the size of a large dog, had eyes like shimmering amethyst—so much like Noel’s that it sent a chill down my spine.
Maybe that’s why.
A sense of foreboding gripped me, and fear started to seep in.