His room was simple, functional. A high, broad bed stood against the far wall, elevated just the way he preferred, its dark sheets already arranged with military precision. A few solid pieces of furniture lined the sides: a table, a chair, a rack for his coat and weapons. Along one wall, washroom charms were embedded into the stone. Everything was prepared perfectly. And yet, the room felt empty.
He exhaled slowly and sat down on the edge of the bed, rolling his shoulders once as if shedding the weight of the day. His mind, traitorously, drifted back to her voice. To the way she’d spoken about the train, about the views, about the boys’ excitent. He pulled his phone out again, unlocked it, and typed in the place na she had ntioned earlier.
A video loaded.
A train slid through mountains and valleys, rivers flashing silver beside the tracks, sunlight spilling across endless stretches of green. The cara moved gently, unhurried, the scenery changing slowly, patiently, as if inviting the viewer to breathe with it. Dante watched in silence, his focus sharp. He imagined her sitting by the window, Sable pressing his face to the glass, Lucien watching everything with quiet intensity. He imagined the sound of the train, the soft rocking, the shared blankets, her careful hands making sure the boys were warm.
His jaw tightened just slightly.
He replayed the video once more, then set the phone aside and leaned back against the headboard, staring up at the stone ceiling.
*********
A week before the kindergarten term was set to begin, Alina found herself standing once again outside the familiar, intimidating doors of the principal’s office.
She, Dante, and the babies had returned two days ago after that bittersweet farewell, and although everything had gone back to its usual rhythm, Georgia was still there with her aunt and mom.
Inside the office, Dante sat behind his desk, posture straight, expression unreadable, every inch the dignified Demon Lord and principal. When he lifted his gaze to her, there was no softness there at all.
"Miss Alina," he said coolly.
Her brows lifted imdiately, and she narrowed her eyes just a little, lips pressing together as she stared back at him. Not even a flicker. Not even the smallest crack in his composure.
Oh. So that’s how it’s going to be, she thought. Professional.
"Yes, sir?" she replied, matching his tone perfectly. Her back was straight, her hands folded neatly in front of her, and very deliberately, she did not look at his horns, or the elegant line of his jaw, or his lips. She t only his eyes, calm and formal, like an employee addressing her superior during an inspection.
Dante frowned.
Just a little.
And in that brief mont, he almost regretted calling her in like this. Almost.
But he had started it, and backing down now would be... undignified.
He cleared his throat. "Before the new kindergarten term starts, I’ve decided to teach you so basic elents of magic and related knowledge," he said evenly. "You’ll need them to guide the children in that area. It won’t be very hard."
Alina’s professional mask cracked instantly.
Her eyes lit up, excitent sparkling so brightly it was almost embarrassing. She nodded quickly, unable to hide her enthusiasm. "Really? That sounds amazing," she said, already leaning forward slightly. Learning was her weakness, especially when it involved understanding the world of her students better. "I’d love to."
That enthusiasm softened sothing in his chest, though his face remained stern. He paused for a second, then spoke again.
"Fluffy?"
Alina blinked. "Fluffy?"
Before she could ask another question, there was a soft popping sound in the air, like a bubble bursting gently. Right in front of her, sothing appeared.
It was round. Very round.
A small, floating creature with enormous, shiny eyes, dark fluffy fur like a perfectly grood cloud, and tiny stubby limbs that barely seed capable of holding its own weight. It bobbed slightly in the air, tilting as if adjusting to existence.
"Helloooo!" it chirped cheerfully, waving one fuzzy arm.
Alina froze.
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened. No sound ca out.
Dante glanced at her reaction with quiet satisfaction. "This is Fluffy," he said calmly. "He’ll be teaching you everything."
She stared at the creature again, her brain clearly lagging behind her eyes. "...Everything?" she repeated faintly.
Fluffy floated closer, peering at her face with intense curiosity. "You sll nice," he announced helpfully.
Alina made a small, strangled sound, sowhere between a gasp and a squeak.
"FLUFFY." Dante’s jaw clenched so hard the muscle twitched, his voice sharp with warning.
Fluffy froze mid-air, his big round eyes blinking once. Then twice. "Okayyy, okayyy," he said quickly, backing away with tiny floating hops, laughing nervously. "No slling. No comnting. Professional teaching mode only." He zipped a tiny invisible zipper across his mouth for dramatic effect.
Alina pressed a hand over her face, trying not to laugh.
"Okay, sir, can I take leave?" she asked, turning back to Dante, still half-embarrassed, half-amused.
He gave a short nod. "You may."
She turned to go, and to her mild horror and secret amusent, Fluffy imdiately drifted after her, floating at shoulder level with wide, sparkling eyes like a loyal balloon.
She had just stepped into the hallway when she heard footsteps.
Before she could even turn fully, Dante was suddenly beside her, his long stride matching hers easily. The shift in his presence was imdiate. The cold principal aura was gone. The man beside her now was not "Lord Principal." He was just... Dante.
She stopped and looked up at him suspiciously. "Why are you following , sir?" she asked, clearly teasing now.
He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. "Lina. I am not the principal anymore."
Her heart gave a small, traitorous flutter.
Before she could react, he reached out and gently caught her arms, pulling her just a little closer to him.
Fluffy’s eyes went huge.
He gasped dramatically, then turned around so fast he nearly spun himself dizzy, floating a few feet away and facing the wall. "I see nothing. I hear nothing. I am fluffy wall decoration now."
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