CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103 PEACEFUL

The whole day passed... and Alina didn’t see Dante even once.

She wondered if he was still working on the shield or if he had left for some high council meeting again but no one mentioned anything.

Still, the silence didn’t feel heavy. Lucien had kept her company.

They spent the afternoon painting together on the balcony, where the sun poured in gently, warming the floor beneath their feet. Lucien wore a tiny black shirt, sleeves pushed up, carefully dabbing sky-blue paint onto his paper with an almost comically serious expression, pretending not to enjoy it—though the tiny curve at the edge of his mouth betrayed him.

Alina told him stories as he leaned against her side, his little head growing heavier with sleep, his hair brushing against her arm as she spoke. Her voice softened naturally, words flowing slower as he blinked up at her with tired eyes.

Later, in the grand old library that smelled faintly of dust and old books, they built a tower out of thick books—stacking and re-stacking with focused determination until it nearly toppled.

For a boy who rarely spoke... Lucien stayed surprisingly close to her all day.

And Alina smiled more times than she could count.

Evening came quietly.

The castle grew dim again, with its usual moody lamps and hushed corridors.

After helping Lucien get ready for bed—gently combing his hair, straightening the covers—she leaned in and brushed his bangs back from his forehead. He blinked up at her slowly, eyes heavy with sleep, and in the softest voice, he whispered, "Goodnight, Teacher."

When she returned to her guest room, the air felt still. Peaceful.

She changed into nightdress, slowly combed through her hair, and sat by the window for a while, resting her chin on her knees as she watched the silver mist curl like ribbon over the dark trees outside.

Eventually, she climbed into bed, the blanket soft and cool against her skin, and pulled it up to her chin. She curled slightly, one hand under her cheek.

Her body felt tired in that warm, heavy way but her mind refused to follow.

She stared at the ceiling for a while. Thinking about Lucien’s smile. Thinking about the worm monsters attack. Thinking about everything that had changed so quickly.

Then finally, her eyes drifted shut.

And sleep slowly came.

***

The next morning, Alina woke up early.

The room was still filled with the soft hush of dawn, a faint golden light spilling in through the pale curtains. The air was cool and quiet, the kind of stillness that made everything feel gentle.

With a small, sleepy groan, she reached out from under the blanket and rubbed her blurry eyes, her fingers brushing over her lashes as she blinked a few times. Her hand searched the side table until it found the smooth surface of her phone.

She lifted it slowly and squinted at the screen.

6:23 AM.

She yawned, long and wide, covering her mouth with one hand. Her eyes were still heavy, but her mind was already beginning to wake up. Today... she had to go to the kindergarten.

After lying there for a few more seconds, curled up in the soft blanket, she finally sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

She padded across the room with bare feet, heading toward the wardrobe. As she pulled open the doors and looked through the clothes, she realized this wardrobe had more clothes than her own. Her fingers paused when she spotted something—

a pretty yellow dress.

Her heart fluttered softly.

Happiness bloomed in her chest like warm sunlight rising through her ribs. The color was soft but cheerful—a warm, buttery yellow with tiny white daisies embroidered along the hem. Delicate lace ruffles lined the sleeves, and a small satin bow sat right at the waist, tied perfectly.

It was even prettier than the yellow dress she had once admired in the mall.

A small smile spread across her face as she held it up against herself, the fabric light and smooth under her fingers.

Still smiling, she headed off to do her morning routine—brushing her teeth with sleepy movements, washing her face with cool water that made her gasp a little, combing through her soft, messy hair. She moved slowly at first, but as her thoughts drifted to the children she would see again—Lucien, Kelpie, Rocky, and the rest—she started to feel a little lighter, a little quicker.

After getting dressed, she stood in front of the mirror beside the wardrobe and looked at her reflection.

The yellow dress fit her like a gentle hug.

It brought a soft flush to her cheeks, like she had been kissed by the morning light. Her eyes, still waking up, looked brighter somehow—shinier, almost playful, as if they were carrying a little sunshine of their own.

She tilted her head to one side, then to the other, smoothing the skirt with both hands.

And for a moment, she just stood there... admiring herself quietly.

Once she was done admiring herself in the mirror, Alina grabbed her bag from the bed. She carefully peeked inside to make sure everything was there.

She walked out of her room and made her way toward the dining room. Her shoes clicked lightly against the cool stone floor, and her yellow dress swayed softly with every step, brushing against her knees like petals. The castle was quiet at this hour, the soft golden light of morning filtering through the tall windows and landing in patches on the cold gray walls.

But as she reached the wide, curving staircase and began walking down, something made her pause.

She caught sight of someone already sitting at the long table.

Lucien.

Alina blinked in surprise.

There he was, perched neatly on the cushioned stool with his little legs dangling just above the floor, back straight, a small silver spoon resting near his untouched bowl of fruit. His black hair looked freshly brushed and tidy, and his tiny feet, clad in soft shoes, kicked the air gently beneath the table.