This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 8
Since then, I’ve continued spending time with Noël as usual, but once I started thinking about the back of his hand, I couldn’t keep the conversation flowing naturally.
Noël noticed my change and grew more worried about me, which only made me even more confused.
Because the Noël who now showed me a different side from the game… was walking the same path as his in-game counterpart.
I had thought his future had changed.
But maybe that was just my wishful thinking, and I hadn’t managed to save him from the darkness after all.
If that’s true, then what is this Noël—this one who worries about me—really thinking?
The more I thought about it, the more depressed I felt.
While I was brooding like that, the day of the ball finally arrived.
“My lady, please don’t make such a sulky face before dressing up. You’re not a child anymore.”
Sophie, who had come all the way from our territory again to help me prepare, sighed the moment she saw my face.
“You know I don’t like balls, don’t you?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
With that, Sophie tugged the corset tightly.
“Guh! Sophie, if you pull any tighter, I’m going to throw up everything in my stomach! Please loosen it a little!”
“My lady, you’re heading into the battlefield that is a ballroom. You must be tightened up and ready.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to literally tighten me!”As always, the ever-strict Sophie wouldn’t listen to a word I said. Without loosening the corset at all, she continued with the preparations in her usual calm, efficient manner.
“This is such a lovely dress. One can really feel how much Lord Fabius cares about you. He’s been writing letters to your father quite frequently lately.”
“Noël has?”
“Yes.”
“He’s been exchanging letters with Father?”
“Yes. He’s sent several letters asking not only about your preferences, but also about the affairs of House Bellecour.”
—Um, excuse me, what?
Maybe it’s not because he cherishes me, but because he’s trying to investigate whether I’ve been up to anything suspicious through my family?
“Especially before the Winter Star Festival, they were writing back and forth very often. He seemed quite troubled over what to get you as a gift, and even asked for my opinion.”
“No way… seriously?”
He told me he picked something he thought would suit me, but to think he went out of his way to research what I’d like… I hadn’t imagined that.
“You won’t be going to the ball alone tonight. Lord Fabius will be right there with you.”
“I know, but still…”
“I’m sure it’ll be a much more enjoyable evening than going by yourself.”
Sophie hugged me tightly, just like always.
“Today is the first time you’ll be appearing in high society as Lord Fabius’s fiancée. I’m so happy I was able to help prepare you for this new chapter. To dress you up for such a special day, with someone who truly treasures you…”
“…Thank you.”
I still don’t know what Noël really thinks of me.
Even so, when he arrived in the carriage to pick me up, and his face lit up the moment our eyes met as he reached out his hand to me, I couldn’t help but feel happy.
“That dress really does suit you.”
“Thank you. And you look wonderful yourself, Noël.”
Even though he’s probably heard compliments like that more times than he can count, Noël looked genuinely pleased. He kept smiling all throughout the carriage ride.
This potential future final boss… I really don’t understand him at all.
◇
“Oh my, how rare to see Lord Fabius accompanied by a lady.”
As soon as we arrived at the venue, a portly man approached us.
He wore a cheerful smile, but there was something slippery about him—he gave off the vibe of someone who couldn’t be trusted entirely, as though there was more beneath the surface.
“It’s been a while, Count Sabatier. I brought my wonderful fiancée today to introduce her to everyone. It’d be a problem if people kept bringing up marriage proposals when I’m already engaged, you see,” Noel replied with a bright smile.
At that, the man’s lips twitched slightly.
Ah, so this is the infamous Count Sabatier. He certainly seems capable—and dangerous.
Just as Lady Mother warned, if I let my guard down, he might sweep the rug right out from under me.
Looks like it’s time to put my experience handling monster parents to good use.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Leticia Bellecour.”
“Oh, the young lady of the Bellecour house, is it? Unlike our lands, yours doesn’t produce magistones, so it must be quite the struggle, no?”
Tch. He really came at me with a straight-up social power play.
No choice but to flatter him and ride it out.
“Yes, your domain is truly blessed with rich resources. I can only admire it.”
Time to become a Buddha in spirit and survive this with the holy art of sweet diplomacy!
As I braced myself, Noel gently pulled me closer by the shoulder.
“Even without magistones, the Bellecour domain boasts many skilled apothecaries, vast fields of medicinal herbs, and beautiful lakes. It produces the majority of the medicine that supports the people of this country. I think it’s a truly remarkable territory.”
…He went and flattered me to death.
“And to think I met someone raised in such a wonderful place at Oria Magic Academy—I’m a very lucky man. Don’t you agree, Count?”
To top it off, he completely redirected the conversation.
As expected of Noël—he’s skilled at steering things back onto his own turf.
“Y-Yes, seeing Lord Fabius looking so happy, I can’t help but think the same.”
Count Sabatier stumbled over his words before making a hasty retreat.
“Thanks. Talking to him always wears me out, so I usually dread it, but today’s conversation was actually kind of fun.”
“…I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, Noël.”
I wonder if that really counted as a conversation.
I’m so drained, it felt like I was cursed with every word exchanged.
But there was no time to rest—Noël kept getting approached by various people and introduced me to all of them.
So many people swarmed around him like waves that before I knew it, he had vanished into the crowd.
Left on my own, I sipped on a glass of fragrant fragem juice when D’arcaic appeared.
“Leaving your fiancée alone? Careless of Noël, isn’t it?”
He, too, had been invited. Dressed in a refined gray suit with a wine glass in hand, he looked perfectly at ease.
Several young ladies nearby kept sneaking glances at him.
“Mind keeping me company for a bit? When I’m alone, girls tend to crowd around me.”
“Must be tough being so popular.”
“In return, I’ll tell you something about Noël. Please?”
Noël’s mother had warned me to be cautious around Darciac, but since he had accompanied Noël to the border, he might know something about that strange mark on Noël’s hand.
“Alright.”
I followed him out of the hall.