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

D’arcaic flinched under Noël’s glare, though he didn’t seem nearly as shaken as I was.

“O King of Darkness, I beg you—please reconsider this engagement. If you calm down, you’ll see there’s no advantage at all to marrying Lady Bellecour.”

So he is trying to talk Noël out of it.

I mean, yeah—he has a point. Now that Professor Roaek’s curse is gone, there’s barely any benefit left for Noël to stay engaged to me. At most, I’m just a convenient political shield.

Still, even if it’s true, it stings to hear it said right to my face.

“An advantage, huh… That’s something you would never understand. Not someone like you, who keeps forcing this ridiculous ‘King of Darkness’ title onto me.”

Noël’s voice sounded angry… but also, somehow, sad. Yet even when I looked up at his face, I couldn’t see a trace of that emotion. His expression was calm as ever.

Hearing that suppressed tone—like he was swallowing all his true feelings—made me want to cry.
Noël’s gotten so good at hiding his emotions, it’s like he’s erased himself in the process.

“I want to remain human. That’s exactly why I need Leticia—someone who treats me as just Noël Fabius, a person.”

Even someone like me—he needs me.

The moment he said that, my eyes blurred with tears. I started sniffling without meaning to.
Jill, down at my feet, whispered sharply, “Quit that pathetic face already!”

“But you’ve clearly grown weaker because of her! Can you truly say that’s acceptable?!”

D’arcaic shot back defiantly.

D’arciac continued to press his argument, but it seemed to have no effect on Noël at all.

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m no match for Leticia.”

“Wait—what’s that supposed to mean?”

You’re making it sound like I boss you around or something.
Can we not exaggerate?

Even when I glared at him, Noël just chuckled like he found it amusing.
Weren’t you just being all reserved a moment ago?

And while I was still recovering from being flatly “acknowledged” like that, D’arcaic stood there opening and closing his mouth like a stunned fish.

“Don’t interfere with us any further.”

Noël left him with that final warning before taking my hand and leading me back toward the ballroom.

Once we were back inside, he steered us into the shadows behind one of the pillars—out of sight from the crowd.

“How much… Did Laurent tell you?”

His voice was quiet, but I knew exactly what he meant.He wanted to know just how much I had learned.

About his revenge. About his special powers. About the fact that he’s supposedly destined for the throne. All things he wouldn’t want just anyone to know.

But the truth is, I’d already known from my memories of my past life. That’s why I hadn’t been shocked by anything Darciac said. Still, maybe that made my reaction seem unnatural.

Even so, I didn’t want to pretend I knew nothing—not anymore.

“I heard… that you’re seeking revenge.”

“…”

Was Noël going to silence me now that I knew?
Even so, I’d come this far. I felt like I had no choice but to keep moving forward.

“Is it true?”

Noël stared silently at my face.

His expression was unreadable—so much so that it almost felt like rejection.

Up until now, whenever we were together, he’d always smiled at me. So seeing him like this filled me with a wave of anxiety.

“Lately… it feels like you’ve been keeping more and more from me. Like the mark on your hand—you won’t tell me anything about it. It scares me, Noël. I don’t know what you’re doing, or what you’re thinking, when I’m not around. It’s hard not knowing.”

“I’m sorry. No matter how much you worry about me… There are things I just can’t tell you.”

He reached out his hand, and I reflexively closed my eyes.

His hand gently brushed my cheek—and it was warm. That warmth filled me with relief.

He wiped something away, and only then did I realize… I’d been crying.

I probably couldn’t take another step closer to his heart.

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to back away either.

“Noël… revenge is wrong.”

“…”

“I—I know how naive that sounds. And I hate the people who hurt you just as much. But if you go down the path of revenge, it’ll only create more pain. And I don’t think hurting them will really make the pain inside you go away. So instead—let’s get even with them. Together.”

“Get… even?”

Noël blinked, visibly confused.

“Yeah! Let’s totally make them pay!”

I knew how ridiculous I sounded.
None of it had any weight. It was nonsense.

But I was desperate—grasping for anything that might pull Noël away from his revenge. I probably looked like a child, saying things like that.

Then Noël suddenly let out a soft chuckle, his beautiful face wrinkling with laughter.

Noel, you’re making it sound like I’d end up getting beaten instead.”

“Don’t say scary things like that!”

In the end, it felt like he was just dodging the issue.

Before I could object, Noël held out his hand to me.

“Look—the music’s started.”

He said it with a softened expression, as if to say he didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

“I’d like to see the results of all your practice.”

Right in front of me, on his outstretched finger, shone the ring I gave him on the day of the Winter Star Festival. As I looked at it, I found myself wishing we could go back to that happy day.

Then Noël gently took my hand.

“There’s one thing I can tell you, Leticia.”

He pulled me into his arms, and before I knew it, my cheek was resting against his chest.

“I was about to do something I shouldn’t have done. The mark… is the price for that.”

He must’ve been talking about forbidden magic.

If he was about to do it, does that mean he didn’t go through with it in the end?

When I looked up, I saw my own reflection in his eyes—eyes like sparkling amethyst.

“And one more thing. I’m going to treasure you, Leticia.
That won’t ever change. So I want you to remember it.”

“That’s two things, not one.”

“Are you listening?”

Noël smiled—but added a bit of pressure behind it.

“Y-Yes sir! I’m listening!”

That smile… was scarier than when he was glaring down D’arcaic earlier.

My heart was pounding in my chest.

“I’m always wondering what you’re up to when I can’t see you. So—even if it’s someone I know, don’t go off with them again.”

“Do you think I’m a child or something…?”

What was that, some standard parental warning like don’t follow strangers?

What does he think I am?

“You’re more trouble than a child.”

“Excuse me?!”

I wasn’t going to just take that lying down.

I was about to shoot back with something scathing—

But Noël led me into the dance in perfect rhythm with the music, wearing a smile so genuinely joyful…

That I couldn’t bring myself to say anything at all.

Just you wait!