Alina’s heart lted softly at their innocence.
She looked at them, two little boys hoping with everything inside them, and then at Dante, who sat with a posture so calm and dignified, yet his eyes held a softness just beneath the surface. He looked like a man who had never asked for help in his life but secretly hoped she would say yes too.
Finally she exhaled softly, her cheeks warming. "If your father agrees," she said, glancing at Dante shyly, "then... I can co."
Both babies gasped loudly, bouncing in place.
"Dad!" Lucien grabbed Dante’s sleeve with excitent. "Say yes!"
Sable tugged Dante’s other hand. "Please, Father."
Dante looked at his children, then at Alina, then back at his children, as if weighing the entire universe in his mind.
And then, very slowly and very softly, his lips curved.
"I would be honored if you joined us," he said, his voice warm like sunlight falling across her floor.
Lucien cheered. Sable cheered. Alina smiled so brightly she had to look down for a mont.
And Dante... Dante watched her with eyes that softened in a way no one else ever got to see.
"Alright then, I am going to change my clothes," Alina said with a light laugh as she stood up from the couch. She brushed her hair behind her ear and gave the boys a warm smile before heading toward her room. "Stay here and don’t break anything," she added teasingly.
Lucien and Sable nodded eagerly. Dante blinked, unsure if he should be offended.
The mont her door closed, Dante slowly crossed his arms, leaned back, and fixed both babies with a narrowed, suspicious stare. The boys stiffened imdiately.
"So," he said in a low voice, "what was that?"
Lucien froze. Sable’s ears drooped.
Dante raised one eyebrow, his expression halfway between amusent and betrayal. "Dad doesn’t know anything, hmm? Dad only knows adult things, hmm? You two actually sat here and talked against ." He tapped his foot. "Never in my life did I imagine I would witness such... cunning boys."
Lucien bit his lip hard, trying not to smile. Sable covered his mouth, shadows dancing around his feet like nervous noodles.
Dante continued, placing a hand on his chest as though deeply wronged. "So. You wanted teacher to co so badly that you threw your own father under the bus?"
Lucien and Sable exchanged one tiny look.
Then Sable burst into a giggle. Lucien imdiately looked away, pressing his lips together so tightly they quivered.
"Oh, Sable," Dante said in a dangerously calm tone. "Did you just giggle?"
Sable shook his head rapidly, still giggling. "No... no Dad... Sable is... serious shadow..."
"No," Dante said, standing up slowly. "No giggle allowed."
Lucien’s eyes widened in horror. "Dad... wait..."
Dante cracked his knuckles in a dramatic show. "You dared to giggle at your Dad?"
"Da...d, no," Sable squeaked.
"Lucien," Dante said with absolute gravity, "do not think you are safe."
Lucien panicked. "Dad, I didn’t... I am very innocent... I was just breathing..."
"You were about to laugh."
"No, Dad, I was just smiling with air!"
Dante lunged forward, grabbing both boys at once with supernatural speed. They shrieked in unison.
"No no nooooo!" "Dad please rcy!" "I am good boy, I promise I will not faint on picnic!"
Dante lifted them both easily onto the couch and dug his fingers gently into their sides.
Sable scread first, a high-pitched giggle that echoed around the room. Lucien squird wildly, kicking his small legs as laughter burst out of him like bubbles.
"Nooo Dad, not the ribs!" Lucien gasped between laughs. "Not the ribs! I need them to breathe!"
Sable rolled around like a helpless puppy. "Dad stop, I am weak shadow demon! Weak! Very weak!"
Dante smirked, continuing the tickle attack. "You dared to insult . How bold. How fearless. How foolish."
"Dad, I surrender!" Lucien cried. "Teacher is boss, not !"
Sable squealed. "Teacher knows picnic more! Dad knows throne more! It is truth!"
Dante’s hand paused mid-tickle. "Throne more?"
Sable nodded very fast, giggling even while trapped in Dante’s grip. "Yes Dad. You are... throne master."
Dante stared at him blankly. "Throne master."
Lucien nodded too, catching his breath. "Yes Dad. Very throne. Much master."
From inside her room, Alina faintly heard laughter and squeals, and she smiled to herself as she slipped on her outfit.
anwhile, back in the living room, Dante finally released his tiny prisoners. Both boys collapsed into a panting heap on the couch, faces red from laughter, hair sticking up in innocent chaos.
Dante crossed his arms again and nodded, satisfied. "Good. Lesson learned."
Lucien lifted his head weakly. "Never giggle at Dad again."
Sable added, "Unless he says sothing funny."
Dante narrowed his eyes. "Sable."
Sable sat up straight instantly. "Sorry Dad."
Lucien leaned in and whispered loudly, "Teacher will protect us."
Dante sighed deeply, staring up at the ceiling. "This is why I lose every argunt."
Just then, Alina’s door clicked open.
All three of them instantly straightened.
Lucien smiled. Sable fixed his hair. Dante looked away as if he had been perfectly mature the whole ti.
"Are you boys ready?" Alina asked sweetly, stepping out into the sunlight.
Dante turned his head toward her.
And forgot to breathe.
How could any woman beco more beautiful every ti he saw her? Dante wondered that exact thing the mont Alina stepped out of her room. It felt as though the air paused just to look at her. She wore a rose pink dress that floated gently around her knees, soft and blooming like a petal touched by morning light. Her lips were painted the sa delicate shade, giving her a warm, gentle glow that made her look impossibly sweet. Her hair was open, falling freely over her shoulders in loose waves that caught the sunlight each ti she moved. In one hand she held a small white clutch pressed lightly against her side, and on her feet she wore simple cream pink flats with tiny bows, soft and pretty shoes that sohow made her look even more angelic.
Even Lucien seed struck by her. His eyes opened wide, then blinked slowly as if trying to take in the entire scene without missing a single detail. Sable’s jaw almost dropped. His eyes stretched wide and sparkly as if he was seeing a fairy for the first ti.
"Teacher... you are looking so pretty," Sable said, his voice filled with pure awe. The sincerity in his tone made his shadows sparkle faintly around him.
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