Chapter 184: Chapter 184 Pretty
Next day dawned with a soft glow, and Alina stirred earlier than usual, her heart oddly light as she dressed for Lucien’s birthday. She slipped into the prettiest dress she owned—a gentle red, not too bright but rich enough to carry warmth and charm. When she let her hair fall open across her shoulders, it framed her glowing skin like silk curtains around porcelain. Ever since she had begun using the skincare Lady Maris had gifted her, her reflection had been slowly changing. Her cheeks looked brighter, her skin softer, and in the morning light she almost startled herself—she didn’t look like the tired, plain Alina she once remembered, but someone softer, more radiant.
Carrying her bag, she stepped into the staffroom, her voice warm as she greeted, "Good morning, Professor Hobb, Miss Kelly."
Both lifted their heads and, for once, offered her a simple, polite "Good morning" back. That alone brought a quiet smile to Alina’s lips. She wasn’t invisible anymore.
Then Gabriel, who was stirring tea near the window, turned to look at her and froze. His blue eyes widened in quiet surprise. For a moment, he simply blinked at her.
"You’re... you’re looking very pretty today, Lina," he said softly, his voice gentler than usual, as though he couldn’t quite help it.
Alina’s breath caught, and her cheeks flushed instantly. Receiving a compliment from an angel, of all beings, made her heart flutter strangely. She ducked her head, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Gabs," she murmured, her voice small but touched with happiness.
He gave a faint smile, still watching her as though a little dazed. The red dress she wore was simple, but against her glowing skin it looked like it was made just for her. With her hair left open, she looked softer, warmer... almost like she had stepped out of a painting.
They exchanged a few light words, Gabriel’s voice angelic and kind, though his eyes often lingered longer than usual. And when it was almost time for the classes to begin, Alina finally excused herself with a cheerful smile.
Her heart was still fluttering a little as she made her way to Class D.
However on the hallway she bumped with Dante.
"Good morning, sir," she said with a bright smile, her voice soft yet full of warmth.
Dante, dressed in a dark shirt that emphasized the sharp lines of his figure, stopped in his tracks. For a moment, his usually steady breath faltered as he found himself staring at her face. Her deep hazel eyes glimmered beneath the sunlight that spilled in through the tall windows, and her long chestnut-brown hair framed her cheeks so perfectly it almost looked deliberate. Her lips carried a natural pink glow, soft and inviting.
His heart skipped a beat—something so uncharacteristic of him that it startled him more than he wanted to admit.
"S-sir?" Alina tilted her head gently, her brows lifting as she noticed his silence.
Dante blinked, snapping out of the haze that had caught him off guard. "...Good morning," he replied at last, his voice smooth though just a shade lower than usual.
Alina nodded politely and walked past him down the corridor.
And Dante... found his gaze trailing after her. The red dress she wore moved lightly with her steps. She seemed brighter than the morning itself, and though he quickly forced his eyes away, his chest carried that same unsteady beat long after she was gone.
***
When Alina opened Class D’s door, her heart instantly softened at the sight before her.
The babies were already inside, buzzing with excitement, and for once the class room looked more like a little fashion show than a classroom. Each of them had come dressed in their best clothes, bright and colorful, and the air itself seemed to sparkle with their joy.
Vlad Jr. looked particularly princely in his neat little outfit, his dark vest buttoned properly and a crisp white shirt underneath. Kelpie shimmered too, his clothes dyed in ocean shades of turquoise and blue that seemed to glimmer faintly when the light hit him—his parents must have prepared them carefully.
And right in the middle stood the birthday boy himself. Lucien looked like a little handsome gentleman today in a dark red shirt that matched his eyes, the simple cut making him seem elegant in a way that startled Alina for a moment. He looked proud, yet also a little shy, as his classmates gathered around him.
Even Luna, who usually ran about in wolf form or wore something simple, had been dressed in a soft pink frock that made her golden-brown eyes stand out even more. She twirled once in place, clearly enjoying the way the skirt flared out.
"Goooood morning teeeacher~~!" Boo sang dramatically, standing proudly on top of his little chair. He was wobbling a bit, but his round ghostly body looked even sillier because someone—probably Boo himself had stuck a colorful paper birthday cap on his head. The cap was crooked and about to fall off, yet Boo wore it like a crown, grinning from ear to ear.
Alina blinked, trying not to laugh. "Boo... why are you standing on your chair?" she asked gently.
"Because teacher!" Boo puffed out his little chest. "Today is party day! Boo must look tall! Important!" He pointed at his cap as if it were a royal symbol. "And also, Boo has clothes! Look, look!" He spun around proudly, showing off the mismatched vest and shorts he had somehow squeezed over his floaty form. The buttons didn’t even line up.
The rest of the babies burst out laughing.
Drake slapped his desk, giggling. "Boo, you look like banana with hat!"
"I DO NOT!" Boo gasped in outrage, clutching at his paper cap as if Drake’s words might tear it off. "This is fashion, not fruit!!!"
Luna snorted in her pink frock, muttering, "You look like Boo-Banana..."
"Teacherrrr!! They bully birthday cap!!" Boo wailed, flopping dramatically over the back of his chair like a dying ghost.
Alina chuckled, shaking her head. "No one’s bullying, Boo. Everyone just thinks you look... very festive."
Boo’s eyes sparkled instantly. "Festive means handsome, right??" he asked hopefully.
"Yes, Boo," Alina said warmly. "Very, very handsome."
The class erupted in laughter again, and Boo immediately floated down with pride, parading around like a tiny king with his paper crown, shouting, "Bow to the Banana King!!!" until even Vlad Jr. had to hide his smile behind his handkerchief.