Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 263: Broken Promises and Moonlit Encounters

The Don Ferocelli family’s garden, though not as extravagant as the Del Fiore estate’s rose garden or the Di Malventos’ colorful floral displays, had a unique charm.

Perhaps because the lady of the house was from a foreign land, there were many unfamiliar, exotic flowers.

And that, in its own way, made it just as special.

Even the small bridge crossing the stream was made of red-painted wood rather than the grand stonework typical of Western gardens.

As Rocco took it all in, a strange sense of nostalgia washed over him.

Honestly... if he had to choose, the Don Ferocelli family’s garden felt the most familiar—like something from a distant memory.

Just as he was lost in thought, a sulky voice sounded from behind.

"...You’re staring awfully hard. Do you really like this garden that much?"

Rocco turned around and, just as expected, found Laxus standing there, his cheeks puffed in a pout.

Laxus then shot the Don Ferocelli estate’s garden a glare as if it had personally wronged him and muttered something truly outrageous.

"Maybe I should burn this place down and build the same garden at our estate. That way, I can have all of Rocco’s sparkly-eyed admiration to myself."

"Mmmff! Absolutely not, you idiot!"

Rocco stormed over and gave Laxus a light smack, scolding him for such nonsense.

However, the moment he struck, Laxus seized the opportunity and caught him in a tight hug.

Damn it! I walked right into his trap!

"Mmm..."

"Heh heh, gotcha~ My little easy-to-catch Rocco."

"Don’t call me easy! Mmmph—!"

Despite Rocco’s indignant protests, Laxus shamelessly continued to cuddle him, rubbing his cheek against him like a satisfied cat.

What’s so fun about this?

As Laxus squeezed him with a delighted "Ufufu, ahaha~!", Rocco looked up at him with an exasperated expression.

The relentless snuggle attack only came to an end when Sylas, with a terrifying expression, arrived to put a stop to Laxus’s antics.

And just like that, Laxus was whisked back into the venue—without ever keeping his promise to return for more pudding and cookies.

Apparently, Laxus had his own reasons for attending this soirée.

Not long after Sylas’s interference, one of Laxus’s attendants—a shadowy figure in a pitch-black hood—appeared at his side, muttering something about "that matter" in a disapproving tone.

Like something out of a nightmare, the hooded figure had practically materialized from the darkness, gripping Laxus by the arm.

"Nooo, Roccoooo! I don’t wanna gooo!"

Despite his protests, Laxus was dragged away, disappearing into the hall.

And so, Rocco was left alone on the balcony.

Even though Laxus had survived Sylas’s wrath just moments earlier, in the end, work took priority.

He still left me behind.

Maybe... maybe even becoming my partner was just something he did ’on the side’ while handling his real duties.

"Ah—!"

Realizing the dangerous train of thought he was heading down, Rocco quickly shook his head and straightened his posture.

No, no, no.

He couldn’t let himself go down that road.

Laxus was still a mafioso at the end of the day.

Of course, his missions would always take precedence.

Even Rocco’s father and Sylas dropped everything the moment work called.

Rocco knew that well.

Maybe because he was seen as too much of a fool, or maybe for some other reason, he had never been allowed to accompany them.

He’d spent more than a few nights alone because of it.

But still—he had never once dared to say that he was lonely.

This was a world where childish whims held no weight.

Rocco knew he was soft—that much, he was aware of.

That’s why, at the very least, he had to learn to see people off with a smile instead of getting in their way.

Yes.

Children’s selfish desires—his selfish desires—had no place in a world like this.

"...Haaah. Laxus, you idiot. Stupid, stupid Laxus..."

Even though he understood, frustration still bubbled up inside him.

Because—because this was different.

He and Laxus had made a promise.

They were supposed to come back later and eat pudding and cookies together.

That promise had been real. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

And breaking a promise was just plain wrong, no matter the circumstances.

Laxus had done something bad.

This called for an official letter of complaint... or maybe even something worse.

"...What should I do? I don’t wanna go back in there..."

Rocco glanced back and forth between the now silent balcony and the lively venue just beyond the door.

Before Laxus left, Sylas had clearly told him, "The moment you’re separated from Laxus, come straight to me."

But as he cautiously peeked into the hall...

"...Oh, come on. He’s completely surrounded..."

Even from here, he could see the overwhelming crowd gathered around Sylas and his father.

With the head of the Di Malvento family and his heir present, people were naturally flocking to them, desperate for a chance to curry favor.

Jumping into that crowd and making his way back to them?

Yeah... that was going to be pretty difficult.

Just as he let out a sigh, wondering what to do—

A voice suddenly broke the silence of the balcony.

"Oh? Seems like I wasn’t the first to step out here."

For a fleeting moment, Rocco’s heart leapt.

Had Laxus come back after all?

But the moment he turned, he realized it wasn’t him.

His shoulders slumped.

Then... who?

Tilting his head in curiosity, he looked up—

And saw a long, green braid swaying in the night breeze.

A beautifully embroidered Chinese-style robe shimmered under the moonlight, and Rocco sucked in a breath.

The man standing there, holding a glass in one hand, was Feilu.

"...Feilu?"

"Yes, it’s me," the man replied with a gentle smile.

"We’ve met a few times before, but this is the first time we’ve spoken alone, isn’t it, Rocco?"

As he spoke, Feilu stepped beside him, still wearing that same easy-going smile.

He rested a hand on the railing and gazed down at the garden below.

In the moonlight, his profile carried a faint air of melancholy.