I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!
Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Chapter 97

After Lucien finally drifted off to sleep, Alina carefully stood from the bedside, making sure not to wake him.

She gave one last glance at his peaceful face – his tiny hand still loosely holding the corner of his blanket–before tiptoeing out of the room.

The hallway outside was quiet.

She walked slowly, making her way back downstairs, following the path the maid had shown her earlier. The castle was large, moody, and old, but something about it felt less cold than before. Maybe because of the little boy upstairs.

When she reached her guest room, she stepped inside and closed the door gently behind her. She let out a small sigh and sat on the edge of the bed, stretching her arms.

Her body was tired.

She stood up and walked over to the wardrobe, curious if there was anything inside she could wear to sleep. When she opened the tall wooden doors, her eyes widened.

Neatly arranged on the shelves... were clothes.

Her size.

Soft nightdresses, folded shirts, even a set of warm socks. All in gentle colors — cream, pale blue, light gray.

She blinked. "Did they... prepare these for me?"

There wasn’t a tag or brand in sight. Just clothes that fit perfectly.

Feeling strangely touched, she picked a set and slipped into the bathroom for a hot shower.

The warm water melted the tension in her shoulders. When she returned, wrapped in a towel, she changed into the soft nightdress and sat on the bed. She pulled her phone from the bag and stretched out across the blanket.

She scrolled aimlessly through a few old photos — her mom in the hospital, some blurry selfies, screenshots of cake recipes she never tried. Her chest felt tight, but not painfully so.

Suddenly, her phone lit up with a call.

Aunt Lyla.

Alina smiled faintly and picked up. "Hello, Aunt Lyla," she greeted, voice soft.

From the other side came a sweet voice, warm and familiar. "Lina! How are your classes going, sweetheart?"

Alina relaxed a little, curling her legs beneath her. "Everything’s going well," she said. "The kids are... really cute. Surprisingly manageable, actually."

There was a soft laugh on the line. "I’d really love to meet them someday. I felt so guilty for missing you when you visited. I was stuck on a double shift at the hospital on another floor, and then your uncle suddenly planned that trip with Lan. Everything just happened all at once."

Alina smiled, touched by her tone. "Aunt Lyla, please. Don’t feel bad. Your life doesn’t revolve around me or Mom. I understand. I really do."

Her voice was light, but sincere.

There was a pause on the other end.

"You always sound so grown up now," Lyla said softly. "I wish I could do more for you."

"You’ve done plenty," Alina whispered. "Really."

After hanging up the phone, Alina let out a long sigh and flopped back onto the bed.

Her head sank into the soft pillow as she stared at the ceiling for a moment.

She reached for her phone again and opened a few tabs, scrolling through social media half-heartedly. After a few minutes of staring at cake videos and someone’s pet raccoon, she switched to searching for kid-friendly educational content.

"Let’s see... how to teach simple counting with dancing frogs... no thanks..." she muttered, swiping to the next.

Her eyes wandered to a video titled "Ten-Minute Quiet Activities for Hyper Toddlers." She clicked it. It was mildly interesting. Some coloring tricks, a few puzzles, a song with ducks wearing hats.

After five minutes, she yawned.

"I’d rather be stuck with my cute students all day than sit here watching ducks with hats," she mumbled to herself.

She threw her phone gently to the side, arms flopping down on the bed.

Her body was relaxed... but her heart felt strangely restless.

***

Alina sat quietly at the long dining table, her hands folded politely on her lap.

She glanced down at her plate.

Meat.

Then to the dish beside it.

Meat.

Then the next one... and the next...

Meat. Meat. MEAT.

She blinked slowly.

Not a single leaf. Not even a decorative tomato slice. Just an army of sizzling, roasted, spiced meat — laid out across silver trays like a grand offering to some meat god.

Across from her sat Dante and Lucien — the most serious father and son duo she had ever met.

They weren’t talking. Just eating.

Each slice cut with silent precision. Each bite chewed with calm dignity. Their faces emotionless, but every few seconds... they glanced at each other.

Lucien mirrored every move his father made. When Dante reached for the pepper sauce, Lucien did too. When Dante wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin, Lucien followed a second later. It was like watching a tiny version of the big boss.

Alina sat frozen in the middle.

She picked up her fork slowly.

Beggar can’t be choosers, she reminded herself. I’m living here rent free. This is not the time to ask for cucumbers.

Just as she poked a piece of smallest meat, Dante’s voice cut through the silence.

"You’re not eating."

Alina flinched slightly, then forced a bright smile. "Oh no, I am! Just... admiring the presentation."

Lucien paused mid-bite, eyes narrowing. "You don’t like meat teacher?"

"No, no," she said quickly. "I love meat! Very... iron-rich. Builds strength! Great for circulation!"

Alina shifted slightly in her seat, trying not to make her chair creak.

The only sounds in the grand dining hall were the soft clinks of silverware against porcelain... and the occasional, intimidating silence of Dante chewing.

Lucien mirrored every bite with the same stoic face.

Alina glanced between the two and let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

Is this how they always eat?

She picked up her fork again, trying to be as quiet as possible and sat straighter, holding her breath as she took a tiny bite.

Don’t chew loud. Don’t clink. Don’t slurp. Or he’ll hear it. Or worse... judge it.

She looked up and caught Dante calmly sipping from his wine glass. He didn’t look angry but he didn’t exactly look friendly either.