I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 402 Boyfriend

"Alina..." he murmured against her lips, sounding almost breathless, almost undone.

Her heart skipped violently, and she pulled back just a little, her face burning, her eyes wide and shy as she met his gaze.

He looked at her like she was the most precious thing he had ever touched.

Her cheeks were warm, her lips still tingling from his kiss. The faint coolness of his scent lingered around her, dark and clean and strangely calming, and she couldn’t stop the shy confession that escaped her.

"...I didn’t know you liked me too... sir," she whispered, her lashes lowering as if she couldn’t handle the intensity of his gaze. Her heart felt too full, fluttering uncontrollably in her chest.

Dante’s chuckle was low and warm, the kind that brushed against her skin like a gentle ripple. His shadows softened behind him, curling along the floor like tame creatures listening to their master’s heartbeat.

"Yeah... you really didn’t know," he said, and there was a hint of amusement in his tone, something playful beneath his usually unreadable voice. "But I want to know something. When did you... start feeling anything for me?" His eyes dropped to her lips for a second before returning to hers, full of quiet curiosity.

Alina swallowed, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. She looked so shy, so flustered.

"I don’t know..." she murmured honestly. "I guess I had a strong crush on you after the picnic." She looked away for a moment, cheeks burning. "I... I like your smile."

For a man like Dante, who never reacted to the world the way others did, her words hit him differently. His eyes lit up, truly lit up, like a soft ember flaring to life. A slow smile pulled at his lips, warm and deep, a smile he didn’t show to anyone except his babies and his Alina. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"You like my smile?" he asked, almost disbelieving, almost boyish. As if no one had ever complimented something so simple about him.

Alina nodded shyly, unable to look away from him even if she tried.

And Dante smiled again—slow, breathtaking, the kind that softened the sharpness of his face and made him look almost human.

He is so... gorgeous.

Alina stared dazedly, her eyes wide, her breath catching in her throat.

He leaned a little closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur near her ear. "Then maybe I should smile more... if it’s you watching."

Her heart nearly burst.

And the shadows behind him curled upward like they were smiling too, thrilled beyond control.

Alina bit her lower lip, her cheeks warm and her eyes shining with a mixture of shyness and excitement as she looked up at him.

"So... sir... you’re my boyfriend now, right?" she whispered, barely able to believe her own words.

Dante blinked once, the faintest flicker of surprise crossing his face. In the Shadow Domain, there was no concept of dating—only choosing, claiming, bonding for life. But for her sake, he nodded slowly, the smallest smile touching the corner of his lips.

"Sure," he said with that deep, calm seriousness that always melted her. "I can be your boyfriend... if you need that label." His gaze softened as he stepped a little closer. "Or even your husband."

Alina’s breath jumped. Her eyes widened in pure shock.

"No, no, wait... slow down," she said quickly, her hands flying up in flustered panic. "We can take it slow... and we also have to consider how the babies will take this, and I’m your employee, and—"

Dante cut her off gently, lifting one eyebrow as if her concerns were adorable rather than alarming.

"My babies," he said, "would be more than happy to call you ’Mummy’ right away." His tone was calm, matter-of-fact, but his eyes held a warmth that made her stomach flip. "Sable already sleeps in your arms whenever he gets the chance." He remembered clearly the night Alina stayed with them, how Sable had rolled right into her arms and fallen asleep with a peaceful little sigh, as if her embrace was the safest place in his world.

"And Lucien watches you like you hung his moon. They’ll probably celebrate before you even finish explaining."

Alina’s heartbeat stumbled at the thought of those little boys calling her "Mummy." The image was too soft, too sweet, too overwhelming. She pressed her hand lightly over her chest as if trying to calm the fluttering inside.

"And yes," Dante continued, voice low but steady, "you’re my employee, but I don’t care about that." His fingers brushed lightly against her elbow, guiding her a little closer. "We can maintain our professional behavior in the kindergarten. I trust you. And I don’t intend to hide our relationship."

Alina blushed so hard she felt warm down to her toes, her breath turning soft and uneven. She lifted her gaze shyly, catching the faint curl of a smile on his lips.

"...Okay," she whispered, her voice trembling in a way that made his shadows shiver with happiness. "Then... we’ll go slow."

"Slow," Dante agreed, though the way he looked at her suggested he was already imagining much more.

But for now, he leaned slightly closer, his forehead touching hers, his voice brushing her skin like velvet.

"You’re mine," he murmured with quiet certainty. "Even if we take it slow... you’re mine."

And Alina’s knees nearly gave out beneath her.

The moment they stepped out of Dante’s shadow space, he didn’t let go of her hand immediately, and something about the way he kept her close made her heart flutter all the way up her throat.

"Do you want me to tell Sable and Lucien about you now?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with a quiet eagerness. His crimson eyes softened in a way she had never seen before, like he was already picturing their little family fitting together naturally.

Alina felt her cheeks warm as she nodded, shy but unable to hide the tiny smile tugging at her lips. He was so fast... almost too fast... but instead of fear, a strange sweetness spread in her chest. It felt like he wasn’t just confessing; he was already choosing her, already settling his heart right beside hers.

"Sure," she whispered, her fingers curling nervously into the fabric of her dress.