Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 147: The Soirée and the Cursed Child

Still, no matter how unfathomable it seemed, the story dictated that Sylas would eventually be ensnared by Laxus.

It was an unchangeable fact, but Rocco wasn’t ready to accept it.

Rocco tightened his grip on Sylas’s hand.

"Big Brother, I swear—I’ll absolutely protect you!" Rocco declared, clenching his fist with resolve.

Sylas blinked at him in surprise, then his expression softened into a warm, gentle smile.

"...I see. How dependable," Sylas said with quiet affection.

The Del Fiore family’s secondary residence served as the venue for that evening’s gala, specifically its grand hall.

As Rocco entered the hall alongside his father and Sylas, an unsettling sensation washed over him.

It felt as though every eye in the room was on them—or more specifically, on him.

This wasn’t just his imagination.

The piercing stares were blatantly directed his way, and the intensity made Rocco’s heart pound with anxiety.

It was all too much.

The sheer weight of the attention left him on the verge of tears, and he lowered his gaze to avoid the crowd.

He couldn’t even register the whispers and murmurs swirling around him.

"—Is that child really the ’Di Malvento Treasure’?"

"—How exquisite... it’s no wonder the Del Fiore crazy father and son adore him so much."

"—But what’s with that stuffed animal? Is that... a rabbit?"

"—Why a rabbit? Could it be his favorite animal...?"

The whispers grew louder, becoming a dull roar in Rocco’s ears.

Meanwhile, he clutched his Mr. Bunny even tighter, squeezing it as though it were a lifeline.

He was just about ready to break down.

Then, a commanding voice suddenly echoed through the hall, cutting through the noise and silencing the crowd in an instant.

"Ah, our dear comrade from the Di Malvento family! I’m truly grateful that you’ve graced us with your presence at Del Fiore’s soirée tonight. It’s such a pleasure to have you here."

From the parting crowd emerged Makarov Del Fiore, the host of the evening and head of the Del Fiore family.

"...When a comrade hosts a soirée, one can hardly burn the invitation, can they? Though, unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced it. I appreciate you accommodating us nonetheless," Marcus replied coolly, shaking the hand Makarov offered.

The subtle, pointed undertone in his father’s words was likely not lost on Makarov, who must have instantly understood their deeper implications.

Indeed, the invitation to this soirée had been promptly reduced to ashes after a brief glance from Marcus.

Rocco had witnessed the event firsthand when he peeking in as his father with his expressionless face, crushed the letter into an ashtray without a word.

The chilling sight had left Rocco trembling, a visceral sense of unease washing over him.

"I heard Rocco joined us tonight as well..." Makarov began, glancing around.

"Ah, here I am! Rocco is here!" fгeewebnovёl.com

Emerging from behind the shadows of his father and Sylas, Rocco stepped forward toward Makarov while clutching his beloved Mr. Bunny.

Realizing he’d been obscured from view, Rocco felt a pang of guilt and quickly bowed his head, his fluffy voice accompanied by a polite dip of his head.

Makarov’s delighted voice followed immediately.

"Oh, Rocco! I’m so glad to see you! You’re always as angelic and charming as ever, but tonight, you’ve outdone yourself—you’re even more adorable. Especially that cute, exposed forehead. It’s simply delightful!"

"T-Thank you very much, Mr. Makarov. You look very wonderful, too," Rocco replied with a wide, bashful smile.

Makarov’s praise of his pompadour brought a glow to Rocco’s cheeks.

Even if he didn’t entirely understand the comment about his "cute forehead," it was clear Makarov was kind and full of genuine compliments.

"Hmm... truly adorable. Delightfully charming. As I thought, no matter what it takes, I must make him—"

"Del Fiore," Rocco’s father interrupted, clapping Makarov on the shoulder. "Surely, there’s much to discuss. Shall we move to a quieter area for a chat?"

Makarov’s murmuring came to an abrupt halt at the gesture, and he followed Marcus’s pointed suggestion.

Despite the supposed tension between their families, the two of them seemed far less hostile than Rocco had imagined.

A warm sense of relief spread through him, and his lips curled into a soft smile.

"...Rocco," Sylas said quietly, leaning closer. "Shall we step out for some fresh air? Crowded spaces aren’t your favorite, right?"

"...! Yes, please!" Rocco nodded eagerly.

Sylas shielded Rocco from the prying eyes of the crowd with a subtle but protective gesture, then took his hand.

Rocco held tight to Sylas’s grip, and the two of them quietly made their way toward the balcony, leaving the stifling atmosphere behind.

...

Stepping out onto the balcony with Sylas, Rocco was immediately greeted by the cool night breeze brushing against his skin.

The chill made him shiver slightly, and Sylas, ever attentive, removed his jacket and draped it over Rocco’s shoulders.

That effortless thoughtfulness was precisely the kind of refined demeanor Rocco aspired to emulate as a cool, villainous second son.

Rocco rested his hands on the slightly tall railing, his small fingers curling over the edge, and mused quietly, "Now that I think about it, I didn’t see Laxus anywhere..."

Even though this was the Del Fiore family’s soirée, Laxus, who could be considered one of its key figures, had been notably absent.

The room had been crowded, but surely Rocco wouldn’t have missed someone so prominent.

Then again, given Laxus’s stature in the family, he should have been by Marcus’s side earlier.

Confused, Rocco tilted his head in thought.

Sylas, noticing his pondering expression, gently pulled him closer and murmured in a low voice, "...He doesn’t seem to enjoy gatherings like this. At soirées, he tends to disappear after offering only the bare minimum of greetings."

"Really? Is that so...?" Rocco blinked, surprised.

It was unexpected.

Based on Laxus’s personality, Rocco would have assumed he’d actively engage with others to build alliances and expand his influence.

Admittedly, Laxus’s true self likely found human connections utterly trivial, but the mask he wore—the calculated, charismatic façade—would suggest otherwise.