I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

When she was arranging supplies inside the cabinets, her fingers brushed against something crinkly. Pulling it out, she chuckled—a half-eaten snack bag, hidden away like a secret treasure. She shook her head. "Honestly… which one of them sneaks food here?"

Dante stepped closer, curiosity in his crimson eyes. Seeing her holding the bag, his lips curved slightly—not a full smile, but enough to soften his sharp features. "They've been hiding snacks here?"

"Looks like it," Alina laughed softly, her voice carrying warmth. "I wouldn't be surprised if it was Drake. Or Boo. Or both."

Dante's gaze focused on the bag, then on the shelves filled with crayons and books. He thought of how often they tore through paper and colours, how quickly snacks vanished, and how eagerly they reached for the smallest joys. His chest tightened with something unfamiliar—something like pride, something like responsibility. "I'll tell the kitchen staff to prepare more," he said quietly.

Alina blinked up at him, touched. "That would be wonderful. Thank you, sir."

Finally, when all the work was done, Alina stood in the center of the transformed classroom, dusting her hands against each other. She turned slowly, taking in the cheerful walls, the neat desks, the cozy nap corner, and the glittering little decorations that caught the fading light from the windows. Her heart swelled with joy, and she clapped her hands together with a bright smile.

"They are going to love this!!!" she said, her voice filled with pride and excitement.

She didn't notice, but Dante had fallen still. His tall frame, usually so commanding, rested in silence as his crimson eyes stayed fixed on her. There was a softness in his gaze that no one else would have believed him capable of, and the faint curve of his lips was not for the room around them, but for her alone—the human teacher whose laughter and quiet joy seemed to light every corner without trying.

****

By the time Alina returned home, her body felt like lead. She dropped her bag by the door, pulled her hair up, and stumbled straight into the shower. The warm water washed away the day's fatigue, and she stepped out wrapped in a towel before slipping into her favorite baggy t-shirt, the one that practically swallowed her whole.

Her tiny house felt comforting. The fridge hummed softly when she opened it, and she smiled at the sight. Stocked shelves, fresh vegetables, Fresh fruits—so different from her past days when she sometimes had to stretch a single meal into two. Now, her fridge never ran empty, and the small luxury still felt like a dream she hadn't fully accepted.

She quickly cooked herself a simple dinner, ate until her stomach was pleasantly full, and leaned back with a sigh of contentment. Her gaze fell on the seaweed bags sitting on the counter—the gifts Dante had handed her earlier. Her pulse fluttered. She hadn't had the chance to look properly, and now curiosity stirred inside her.

She pulled the first box out and ran her fingers along the smooth surface. It was crafted from something she couldn't identify, almost slippery like polished glass but warm like seashell. As she opened the lid, her breath caught.

Inside lay a necklace of pearls, but not like any she had seen before. Each pearl shimmered with a faint inner glow, catching the light like drops of moonlit water. They weren't perfectly round—each had a slightly unique curve, making the strand look alive, as though strung together from pieces of the ocean itself. In the center hung a teardrop-shaped pearl, translucent with the faintest swirl of blue running through it, like the ocean tide trapped inside a gem.

Alina touched it with trembling fingers, her eyes wide. The coolness of the pearls sent shivers across her skin. "It's… beautiful," she whispered, almost afraid to breathe too loudly, as if the delicate piece might vanish.

Her heart warmed as she thought of the Kelpie's father. He hadn't needed to give her anything, yet he had offered her a gift for caring for his child, and that simple gesture made her happy. A soft smile touched her lips.

Setting the necklace down carefully, she reached for the second bag. This one bore a neat label, From Lady Maris. Alina blinked. Must be Kelpie's mother, she realized. She untied the seaweed wrapping and gasped softly at the sight.

Inside was a collection of bottles, tall and elegant, each crafted from clear glass that shimmered faintly as though filled with enchanted water. One bottle glowed with a faint aqua tint, another sparkled faintly with silver specks that floated lazily as if alive. Their stoppers were made from tiny carved seashells, delicate yet regal.

Her fingers brushed over the labels—Moon Tide Cleanser, Coral Dew Essence, Deep Sea Radiance Cream. Each name sounded magical, poetic, and utterly unique.

She picked up the moisturizer bottle, a round crystal-like container that seemed to glow faintly when tilted. Opening it released a scent so fresh it felt like breathing in the ocean breeze itself—soft, salty, and tinged with something sweet, like blooming sea flowers.

"Woah…" Alina murmured, mesmerized. She scooped the tiniest patch onto her hand and rubbed it gently over her skin. Within seconds, the cream melted like silk, disappearing without a trace, leaving behind a soft glow that made her skin look smoother, almost radiant. She blinked, staring at her hand.

"It's… so effective," she whispered, turning her hand this way and that under the light. The skin looked plumper, healthier, almost as if it had been renewed from within.

Alina carried the bags into her small bedroom. After carefully placing the pearl necklace inside her drawer—safe and away from dust—she arranged each bottle neatly on her dresser. Under the soft glow of the bedroom light, they looked elegant and almost otherworldly, their surfaces catching a faint shimmer.

Her fingers itched to try them. She unscrewed the cleanser, washed her face, then carefully applied the glowing essence that left her skin cool and dewy. Finally, she opened a small jar labeled Ocean Bloom Pack. The thick cream sparkled faintly as though starlight had been caught inside it. With careful strokes, she applied it over her cheeks and forehead, giggling softly at her reflection.

With her face shining faintly under the mask, she settled back into bed and reached for her phone. Her fingers hovered for a moment before pressing call. After a few rings, a familiar warm voice answered.

"Lina!" Aunt Lyla's cheerful tone rang through the speaker.