I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 346 Warm

Alina exhaled slowly, sinking into the smooth coral seat as she watched the babies. Platters of warm sea-friendly lunch were placed before each one, little shells filled with rice pearls, sea dishes arranged neatly, and slices of soft sea fruit shining with moisture. Each child dug in with hungry enthusiasm.

Boo, of course, was not eating.

He was performing.

He floated above the table with dramatic flair, his small hands lifted high as he retold the incident, except his version was filled with squeaks, gasps, wild gestures, and enough suspense to make Felix choke on his food.

"Teacher and I were surrounded by shadows. So many shadows. And I was glowing like a hero ghost," Boo declared proudly as he puffed out his tiny chest. "And teacher held me like this." He twisted mid-air, almost flipping upside down. "And I told her, ’Teacher, don’t worry. Boo will protect you.’"

Rocky and Kelpie watched him with wide, sparkling eyes, believing every exaggerated word.

A soft smile tugged at Alina’s lips as she pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, grateful for the warmth it still held from Dante’s hands. It protected her from the cold water better than anything she had used all day.

After finishing a few more bites, she slipped away to a quieter corner of the hall and took out her phone. The bright screen reflected softly across her face as she scrolled through her messages.

More updates from Georgia.

Her fingers slowed.

Georgia had extended her stay at Aunt Lyla’s house. She refused to leave until Alina’s mother was completely stable. And the messages spoke for themselves. Improvements every day, more colour returning to her mother’s face, fewer signs of exhaustion, clearer breathing, deeper sleep. Progress Alina had barely dared to dream of.

Every line Georgia wrote felt like a warm hand resting on her heart.

And Aunt Lyla... these days she sounded happier than she had in years. The stress that once crept into her voice was gone, replaced by soft laughter, gentle emojis, and playful scoldings about small things like eating too late. She was settling into her new job beautifully, waking up excited each morning and resting peacefully each night.

Alina hugged the phone lightly to her chest, closing her eyes.

"Thank you, Georgia. Thank you so much," she whispered in her mind. "If you weren’t there... I don’t even want to imagine..."

She felt a deep wave of gratitude. She didn’t know how to repay Georgia. She didn’t know how to repay Dante either.

Behind her, Boo’s dramatic storytelling rose again.

"And then teacher said, ’Boo, if something happens to me, you run.’ But I did not run. Because hero ghosts never run."

"Boo, eat your food," Felix sighed.

Alina bit back a laugh, wiping her eyes gently.

The babies were safe. Her mother was getting better.

"Miss Alina."

Alina lifted her head the moment she heard Dante’s voice, and for a heartbeat her chest fluttered with the soft memory of shadows curling gently around her waist.

"Hi, sir," she murmured, her voice calm as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The shawl around her shoulders hid most of her shivers, though not all.

Dante stopped beside her, tall and unwavering, the faint glow of the underwater hall brushing across the sharp line of his jaw. For a moment he said nothing. His gaze drifted to her shawl, then to her hands rubbing her arms softly, and his brows pulled together with something close to worry.

"I hope you are not feeling cold now," he said, his voice deeper and softer than before. It almost felt like he was being careful with her, as if the memory of her inside his shadow space still lingered on his skin.

Alina’s lips curved gently. "Thanks to you, sir. I am feeling much better."

He looked away for a second, a brief motion, but the faint warmth in his ears gave him away. He cleared his throat, trying to return to his usual composed tone.

"King Corvus offered accommodations for the night. Rooms, meals, attendants. Everything. But I declined."

Alina blinked. "You said no?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He nodded once. "This palace becomes colder as the night deepens. Too cold for Drake, Luna, Felix. And too cold for you."

He said it simply, but the quiet concern beneath his words touched her more than she expected.

Alina smiled gratefully, her voice soft. "Thank you, sir. You are right. I could not stay overnight anyway. I already feel like a frozen fish. All I want is a warm bath and a warm blanket."

Something in Dante’s expression softened, just slightly.

"Well," he said slowly, "once the children finish eating, we will return. And if you would like, you are welcome to come to my place."

Alina froze.

Dante continued, calm but with a subtle warmth in his tone. "I have a warm spring there. Naturally heated. You might like it."

"Really?" Her eyes widened, excitement lighting her whole face. The idea of real warmth felt like a small blessing from heaven itself.

Dante nodded. "Yes. It is quite warm and very quiet."

Her excitement bubbled instantly, bright and innocent. "That sounds wonderful."

Dante looked at her then, really looked at her, and something in his gaze softened like melting shadows. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Good," he said quietly. "Then after we return, I will take you."

Alina lowered her eyes for a moment, trying to steady the tiny tremor in her breath. His closeness, the warmth in his voice, the way his eyes lingered on her just a heartbeat longer than needed... all of it made her heart flutter in a way she did not know how to control. She curled the edge of her shawl between her fingers, suddenly aware of the soft glow of the hall dancing over the two of them.

"Thank you in advance," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. She felt shy under his steady gaze, as if his attention alone was enough to warm her despite the cold.

Dante’s lips curved gently, a quiet smile softening his usually composed face. "Do not thank me," he said, his voice warmer than she had ever heard.

Alina met his eyes, and for a fleeting moment it felt as if the water around them had stilled completely, leaving only the two of them suspended in that gentle, glowing pause. She could not help the smile that bloomed across her face, soft and sincere, reaching her eyes and warming her whole expression.

He held that gaze just a heartbeat longer before looking away, the faintest shade of warmth colouring the edge of his cheek.