Chapter 239: Chapter 239 Sable new room
Sable was given the room right next to Lucien’s, and the moment he stepped inside, his little eyes grew wide. The space was small but perfect, his perfect. The bed stood neatly in the corner, its sheets a rich dark shade that looked soft enough to sink into. A little side table stood ready, and a wardrobe sized just right for his height made him feel grown-up already. But what caught his attention most were the toys placed on the bed, a line of soft animals waiting to be hugged.
Without a second thought, he rushed forward, his tiny legs carrying him in a quick hop as he jumped onto the bed. The mattress puffed beneath his weight, and he giggled as he bounced once before settling down. His hands instantly grabbed a plush brown teddy bear, its stitched brows giving it a serious little face. Hugging it tightly against his chest, Sable buried his face in its fur.
"I like it... no, no—I love it!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing with pure joy as he looked up, cheeks glowing.
Dante stood by the doorway, his tall frame casting a shadow into the room, but his eyes softened as he stepped inside. "Really?" his voice was low, but there was a gentleness in it few ever heard from him.
"Yes! Yeah, I do!" Sable nodded quickly, his small horns peeking out as his eyes sparkled brighter than the room’s lamp.
He clutched the teddy tighter, then looked at Dante with a wide, unguarded smile. "Thank you," he said simply, but with all the sincerity his little heart could muster.
Dante’s lips curved in the faintest smile, his crimson gaze lingering on the boy who had been through too much and yet still found joy in something as simple as a toy and a soft bed.
"If you want something, you can ask me or any of the maids. Lucien’s room is right next to yours, you can play with him anytime. There’s even a playroom inside his room," Dante said, his voice calm but steady, as though he had already thought of every detail for the boy’s comfort.
Sable’s eyes lit up instantly, round and sparkling like tiny stars. His little hands squeezed the teddy bear tighter, as if it shared his excitement. "Okay!" he said quickly, nodding so eagerly that his horns bobbed.
Dante studied him for a moment, watching how the boy’s smile seemed to brighten the room more than the lamps ever could. He had seen many warriors, leaders, and demons bow under loneliness, but seeing a child’s happiness bloom from something so small made the cold inside his chest ease, if only a little.
Lucien peeked from the hall, his voice curious. "Sable, come see! I’ll show you the playroom." His crimson eyes gleamed with a rare spark of excitement, clearly eager to share his world.
Sable jumped off the bed and padded toward the door with teddy still clutched in his arms. He looked back once, his face flushed with pure joy. "Thank you," he said shyly, before darting after Lucien.
Dante stood in the doorway, his tall frame unmoving, but his gaze softened at the sound of their laughter echoing down the hall. For once, the silent chambers of his estate felt less empty.
***
The next morning felt strangely light. Dante had given class D a day off, and though Alina’s heart leapt at the thought of resting, she quickly found herself at loose ends.
She worked through the few tasks Dante had emailed, updating some paperwork and fixing a few small errors in reports. The neat clicking of her keyboard filled the silence of her small house, but once she was done, there was nothing pressing left.
With a sigh of freedom, she wandered into the kitchen, cooked something simple, and enjoyed it quietly. It felt odd, eating without chattering little voices around her, but it was also peaceful. After cleaning up, she curled onto her sofa with a blanket and finally indulged herself in something she hadn’t done for so long—watching a movie. The colors, the laughter, the drama swept her away, and she smiled more times than she could count.
Her phone buzzed just as the credits rolled. A call from her aunt. Alina blinked, sat up straighter, and answered, her voice polite but tinged with caution.
As her aunt spoke, Alina’s thoughts began to wander. She hadn’t heard a single word from Riccardo since that day. No desperate messages, no shameless threats, no more phone calls that made her blood boil. Silence.
Her fingers tightened around the phone. What exactly did Dante say to him? she wondered. The man who had pestered her endlessly seemed to have disappeared overnight, as though wiped clean from her path.
A shiver ran down her spine. Dante had a way of dealing with things... final, ruthless, and leaving no trace behind.
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"Oh, so that’s what happened?" Gabriel leaned forward, his pen forgotten over his notebook, eyes wide with astonishment as Alina finished her story.
She nodded, her fingers curling around the edge of her teacup. "Yeah... it was such a different experience. I’ve never faced something like that before. For a while, I wasn’t even sure if we would make it back safely." Her voice softened, though a small smile curved her lips as if she didn’t want to worry them further.
Miss Kelly let out a low whistle, pushing her spectacles up the bridge of her nose. "To think those children went through that... thank goodness Principal Dante was there."
Even Professor Hobb, who was usually grumpy, softened his sharp eyes and gave a rare nod of approval.
Gabriel exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief. "That’s incredible. And thank goodness you’re all safe. Flix has always been Principal Dante’s enemy. His hatred for Shadow demons knows no limits. To think he’d strike when the children were there..." His words trailed off, thick with unease.
Alina glanced at the clock on the far wall, her eyes widening. "Oh, classes are about to start." She stood quickly, brushing down her skirt and gathering her papers.
"Have a good day," Gabriel said softly. He smiled at her, though his gaze lingered longer than he meant it to. There was admiration in his eyes, not just for her courage, but for the warmth she carried, even after such fear.