Chapter 233 Shy babies
Alina stood at the edge of the bed, unable to hold back her smile. Two little boys were tucked neatly beneath the blanket, their chins barely peeking above the fabric as they stared at her with wide, sparkling eyes. They looked so obedient, so suspiciously angelic, that she had to laugh.
"Teacher, you sleep too!" Sable piped up, patting the empty space beside him with his tiny hand. Lucien blinked once, slowly, as if agreeing but far too proud to say it aloud.
Alina chuckled. "No, no. We'll bathe first."
At once, both boys froze. Their pale cheeks flushed pink, and Sable quickly ducked under the blanket until only his little horns were showing. "No, teacher…" he mumbled in a muffled, embarrassed voice.
Alina raised a brow playfully, already calling for the shadows. Within seconds, dark figures slipped into the room, carrying neat stacks of towels, folded clothes, and two tiny toothbrushes.
Lucien's crimson eyes widened as he caught sight of them. He immediately flopped backward, squeezing his eyes shut as if already asleep. No way. Absolutely not. Teacher is not bathing me.
"Let's go, Sable and Lucien~ It's bath time!" Alina teased, enjoying the way their little faces turned pinker by the second.
Lucien shot upright, cheeks burning. "No, teacher! We'll bathe ourselves!" he declared quickly, his baby pride clinging on for dear life.
Beside him, Sable gave a frantic nod, curling tighter into the blanket until his horns wiggled out like shy little sprouts.
Alina pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. "Haaah, such shy little ones. Fine, fine. I already set the water temperature for you. You can bathe on your own since you're too shy."
The boys let out identical sighs of relief, though Sable's little shoulders still trembled under the blanket, and Lucien turned his head away so she wouldn't see the lingering blush on his face.
Alina smiled softly to herself. They're so ridiculously cute.
Finally, Lucien was the first to bathe. He came out with damp hair clinging softly to his forehead, dressed in crisp white pajamas dotted with little black spots. He looked like a tiny noble cub, his expression composed as if nothing in the world could embarrass him, yet his slightly pink ears betrayed him.
Sable followed after, shuffling out of the bathroom in pale blue pajamas printed with tiny clouds. His cheeks were still warm from the steam, and his little horns peeked shyly from his soft hair. He clutched the edge of his sleeve as he looked up at Alina with wide eyes.
"Awww…" Alina couldn't stop the sound that escaped her lips. They were simply too adorable—one looking elegant and calm like a miniature gentleman, the other soft and innocent like a fluffy cloud. Her heart melted as she crouched before them. "You two must be tired. Go ahead and sleep."
But Lucien, ever the composed one, shook his head firmly. "No, teacher. We already slept. You need more rest," he said with a quiet certainty that made him sound far older than his years.
Sable's small head bobbed quickly in agreement, his eyes earnest as he tugged lightly at her hand. "Teacher… please rest. We'll be good."
Alina blinked, caught off guard by their sincerity. "But… who will watch over you if I sleep?" she asked softly, her fingers brushing through Sable's hair to smooth it down.
"We'll watch over each other," Lucien said without hesitation, his red eyes steady on hers. "You always protect us, so let us protect you this time. You can trust us, teacher."
Sable nodded harder, puffing up his little chest bravely even though his voice was small. "Yes! I'll keep my eyes open… even if I get sleepy…" His words trailed off with a yawn that betrayed him instantly.
Alina laughed gently, her chest warming. "You two… trying to act all grown up, hm?"
Lucien leaned closer, lowering his voice as though sharing a serious secret. "We'll only sleep if you sleep."
Sable clutched her hand tighter. "So please, teacher… sleep too."
Alina felt her heart squeeze at their stubbornness. For such little ones, they were trying so hard to take care of her, to give back the comfort she had always given them. With a soft smile, she finally relented. "Alright, alright… I'll rest. But only because you both look too serious to refuse."
The two boys exchanged the smallest glance of victory, Lucien hiding his satisfaction behind a calm expression while Sable's little smile shone openly.
Alina hadn't slept at all, though her body longed for rest. She simply lay there quietly, her lashes lowered, pretending. The room was peaceful, filled with the soft rustle of blankets and the gentle rhythm of two little heartbeats beside her. The bed was far too cozy for Sable and Lucien, their small frames swallowed up by its warmth, and yet they seemed to fit perfectly as if it had been waiting for them.
After a long moment of silence, Lucien shifted. His crimson eyes flickered toward her, hesitating as though he were embarrassed to say the words out loud. But eventually, in a whisper so soft it was nearly lost, he muttered, "We… should sleep too."
Sable, curled up like a kitten with his little horns peeking from his hair, nodded without a word. Slowly, the weight of their tiny bodies settled deeper into the mattress as both boys drifted closer to slumber.
Within minutes, their breaths grew even. Lucien, though determined to be strong, had fallen asleep with his arm stretched near Alina's side, his face calm and childlike in dreams. On her other side, Sable's small hand crept across the sheets until it found hers. He clutched her fingers shyly, holding on even as sleep claimed him, as though making sure their teacher wouldn't vanish.
Alina's eyes opened at last. A smile curved on her lips, tender and quiet. She hadn't truly meant to rest, but she had accepted their offer, pretending so they could feel proud of themselves, so they would know their teacher trusted them enough to "let go." Sometimes children needed that, to be taken seriously in their little ways, to feel their efforts mattered.
Her gaze lingered on their sleeping faces and slowly she drifted to Sleep.