I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 460 When Light Met Darkness (2)

As soon as he appeared at the festival venue, the quiet he had carried with him vanished almost instantly.

"Gabe!"

Voices called his name from every direction, familiar and warm, and before he could take more than a few steps, his friends had already surrounded him in an easy, affectionate circle. Their robes brushed against one another, pale feathers and soft glows mingling with the distant lights of the gathering. One of them stepped closer, an amused grin on his face, ocean blue eyes bright with curiosity, his long silver hair catching the lantern light like liquid metal.

"So," he said, lowering his voice as if this were the most important secret of the night, "how has your work been going with Lord Dante?"

Gabriel smiled gently, the kind of smile that came naturally to him, unforced and sincere. "It’s been good," he replied. "Very good, actually."

The silver haired angel raised a brow, clearly not satisfied. "Good?" he repeated. "That’s it? Is he rude? Does he drown you in work? I heard he doesn’t tolerate mistakes at all."

Gabriel shook his head softly. "He’s demanding, yes. But never unfair. He values effort more than perfection."

Another friend leaned in, curiosity sharp now. "Come on, don’t lie to us. He has demonic blood in his body. Can demons really be... good?"

Gabriel didn’t answer immediately. He simply smiled again, slower this time, his gaze drifting briefly toward the distant lights of the venue, as if recalling something personal. When he looked back at them, his expression was calm, steady, and quietly confident.

"Goodness isn’t decided by blood," he said gently. "Or by wings, or horns, or where someone was born. It’s decided by what they choose to protect when no one is watching."

His friends fell silent, surprised by the depth in his tone.

"Lord Dante," Gabriel continued, his voice warm now, "carries great responsibility. He protects children who are not even his own, listens when others would command, and bears loss without turning cruel. If that is not goodness, then I don’t know what is."

The silver haired angel blinked, then let out a quiet laugh. "Wow," he said, half teasing, half impressed. "You sound like someone who truly respects him."

Gabriel chuckled softly, a hint of fondness in his eyes. "I do."

For a moment, no one spoke. Then one of them smiled, nudging him lightly. "Alright, alright. We get it. Maybe demons aren’t the problem after all."

Gabriel smiled again, serene and unbothered.

His eyes drifted away from the chatter and slowly took in the venue itself, and for a moment, even his boredom softened into quiet appreciation. The festival was held in the open, spread across layers of clouds that felt firm beneath one’s feet yet looked like they might dissolve if touched too roughly. Long tables curved through the space in gentle arcs, each one prepared with care, holding different kinds of feasts. There was no alcohol anywhere, only crystal vessels filled with juices in colors that did not exist in the lower realms, pale gold, soft lilac, deep emerald, each carrying flavors found only here, pressed from fruits grown where sunlight never burned and rain never fell harshly. The moon hung unnaturally close, so large and luminous it felt like it could be reached if one stretched a hand far enough, its glow bathing everything in a calm, silvery light. Tall pillars of gold stood all around the venue, polished yet warm, not blinding, their surfaces catching reflections of movement and wings. Between them, white drapes of light fabric were tied loosely, fluttering and flowing with the wind like slow, graceful breaths. The air itself was cold in a strange, unreal way, not biting, not painful, but clear and sharp enough to make every sensation feel heightened.

He wandered toward one of the tables and picked up a crystal glass filled with a pale gold drink. The liquid caught the moonlight softly, glowing like melted starlight. He took a slow sip, then let out a quiet sigh of satisfaction as the cool sweetness settled through him, calming his nerves in a way only drinks from this realm could. With the glass still in hand, he began to walk, letting the distant music and low murmur of voices wash over him, his mind drifting without direction.

"Oh my god! Dark Angels are here!"

The sudden shout from his group of friends made several heads turn, but Gabriel didn’t react. He didn’t even look in their direction. Instead, he froze mid step.

There was a scent.

It came out of nowhere, subtle yet overwhelming, threading itself through the cold air and straight into his senses. His fingers tightened around the glass as his breath slowed, then stilled. Without realizing it, he closed his eyes, the world fading into quiet darkness as a deep, unfamiliar calm wrapped around him. It felt ancient. Right. Dangerous in the gentlest way.

"What’s this...?" he murmured under his breath as his eyes opened again.

His heart slammed hard against his chest, beating at an unnatural speed, loud enough that he was sure others could hear it. His gaze lifted, drawn irresistibly toward the source of that scent, and the moment he saw her, his breath caught painfully in his throat.

She stood a short distance away, framed by drifting white fabric and golden pillars. Her eyes were dark, deep as a starless night sky, holding a quiet intensity that made it impossible to look away. Long, dark hair spilled over her shoulders, catching faint sparks of moonlight, and she wore a black dress that shimmered softly, clinging to her figure as if it had been made with her alone in mind. It wasn’t extravagant, yet it was breathtaking in its simplicity.

MATE.

The word didn’t form in his mind. It roared through his blood.

He staggered slightly, shock rippling through him as instinct took over. His feet moved on their own, carrying him forward without permission, pulled by something older and stronger than thought. Every step felt inevitable, like gravity itself had changed direction.

Then he stopped.

She turned her head, glancing around the venue as if searching for someone, her expression calm, unaware of the storm she had just ignited. That single, absent movement snapped him back to himself just enough for reality to crash down. Around them, the atmosphere shifted.

The Royal family appeared.