Alina blinked, a little startled. "Oh—uh, I don’t want to trouble you, Aunty."
"Nonsense," Aunt Lyla interrupted with a laugh. "This house has more than enough space. You’ll stay. Alina, you can sleep in your old room, and Georgia can share with you if she doesn’t mind. Mr. Dante can take the guest room next to your old one. It’s clean and ready." She looked positively delighted by her own plan.
Dante, who had been quietly sitting by the window, turned his head slightly. His green eyes glinted under the light, calm and unreadable. He didn’t say anything right away, just looked at Alina, waiting.
Realizing everyone’s eyes were on her, Alina fidgeted, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Umm...sir," she said softly, her voice a little shy, "you can decide. I don’t mind going back to the kindergarten or staying here."
Her uncertain tone made Ethan grin, and Aunt Lyla hid her smile behind her hand.
Dante’s gaze softened slightly. "If it’s alright with you," he said after a pause, "we’ll stay. I wouldn’t want to worry your aunt."
Aunt Lyla bead. "Perfect! I’ll get you so extra blankets then."
Georgia clapped her hands together cheerfully. "Good! A little sleepover it is! Don’t worry, I don’t snore. Much."
That earned a quiet laugh from Alina, who felt oddly relieved and a little nervous at the sa ti. She wasn’t used to sharing her ho space with her boss, especially one who could make her heart race with just a single glance.
anwhile, Dante only watched her with a faint smile tugging at his lips, quietly amused by how adorably flustered she looked.
Dante was given the guest room next to Alina’s, and her heart fluttered quietly at the thought. The idea of him being just a few steps away made her strangely nervous, though she tried to ignore the little skip her heart gave every ti she rembered it.
Just when she thought Georgia would be staying with her, the healer clapped her hands suddenly. "Actually, I’ve changed my mind!" she announced with a grin. "I’ll sleep with Aunt Lyla tonight. I can monitor her health and start her early morning therapy at sunrise."
Aunt Lyla’s face brightened instantly. "Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, Doctor Georgia!" she said, clearly pleased.
Alina blinked. "You sure?"
"Of course!" Georgia said, waving a hand. "Besides, you’ll get your room all to yourself for once. Consider it a reward for being such a good girl today."
Alina could only smile shyly as Georgia winked at her.
Aunt Lyla, Georgia and Ethan soon went upstairs to their rooms on the second floor, leaving the house quiet and peaceful. On the first floor, only two rooms faced the small backyard garden, Alina’s and the guest room right beside it. The soft creak of the staircase faded, and soon all that could be heard was the occasional chirping of night insects outside.
Alina walked down the short hallway and stopped by the guest room. Dante followed behind her. "Sir, this is your room," she said softly, opening the door. She stepped inside and switched on the light, revealing a neat space with a single bed, fresh sheets, a wardrobe, a side table with a lamp, and a small bathroom. "If you need anything, just call ."
Dante nodded with a faint smile. "I’ll be fine, Miss Alina. Thank you."
His calm tone made her chest feel oddly lighter. "Goodnight, sir," she said, her voice soft.
"Goodnight," he replied. His gaze lingered on her for a mont before he closed the door.
Alina exhaled slowly. She walked back to her room and went to the window to close it, but paused halfway. The wind outside had picked up, carrying a cool chill through the soft curtains. She smiled faintly as the air brushed her face, her hair fluttering around her cheeks like silk ribbons.
It was quiet, the kind of peaceful night she hadn’t felt in a long ti. The moon hung low, glowing softly through the glass, and sowhere in the distance, the faint hum of crickets and rustling leaves made everything feel safe, alive, and tender.
She rested her hand on the window fra for a mont, letting the cold wood press against her palm. What a strange day, she thought with a small smile. Strange, but good.
Her thoughts drifted toward the guest room next door. Though she couldn’t see him, the thought of Dante being that close, quiet and composed, maybe doing sothing or already asleep, made her heart beat a little faster. She shook her head quickly and smiled to herself. "Get a grip, Alina," she whispered under her breath, pulling the curtains closed.
Then she turned off the light, lay down on her bed, and listened to the soft rhythm of the night, unaware that in the next room, Dante was still awake, standing by his window, watching the sa moon, thinking quietly of her.
After a while, he moved to his desk and opened a small shimring portal. Without a sound, he stepped through it, vanishing into the glowing light. He would return before dawn, but for now, his presence was needed elsewhere. Sable and Lucien might already be waiting for him.
**
Early the next morning, pale sunlight poured gently through the curtains, painting soft lines across the floor of Alina’s old room.
Alina stood before the small mirror, trying to smooth out the wrinkles in her old dress. It had been tucked away in her wardrobe since the last ti she stayed here, and now, as she struggled to zip the back, she let out a small sigh.
It’s just been a year, how did it already get so tight? she thought, tugging at the fabric with a quiet grumble. The dress still looked cute, but it hugged her figure more closely than before, tracing curves she hadn’t realized had grown. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she adjusted it and fixed her hair into a simple braid.
When she looked up again, the won in the mirror looked a little different. Softer, calr, yet with a faint glow that hadn’t been there before. Her skin seed luminous under the morning light. She tilted her head and smiled at her reflection. "Alright, let’s just get through today," she murmured under her breath.
She stepped out of her room and walked to the one next door. Knocking lightly on the guest room door, she called, "Sir? Are you awake?"
Before she could even step back, the door opened—
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