Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 293: An Unusual Audience

So much for making an effort...

With a defeated sigh, he latched onto Laxus, pressing his face into his stomach as if to escape reality.

Laxus, as if sensing his distress, effortlessly picked him up and patted his back in quiet reassurance.

"It’s okay, Rocco. You’re just a late bloomer because of your weaker constitution. Once you turn fifteen, I bet you’ll hit a major growth spurt."

"Sniff... Really? Will I grow up to be cool like my brother? Handsome like you, Laxus?"

"Of course! You’ll become a refined, elegantly fragile young man, with a touch of melancholic beauty that makes you seem both mature and otherworldly. A stunning boy with an allure far beyond his years!"

...That’s not what I meant!

Rocco wanted to be a handsome man, not some ethereal beauty!

He let out a strangled groan of protest, but before he could argue further, both his father and Sylas—who had already taken their seats—sent him impatient looks, silently ordering him to sit as well.

Truthfully, their visit to the King was just a formality.

The real reason Rocco was here had to do with Ares.

His father was in charge of interrogating Ares, but the man had apparently refused to speak, declaring that he wouldn’t say a word unless he was allowed to meet Rocco.

And he had stuck to his silence ever since.

Upon hearing this, Rocco had insisted on coming along, wearing his father down until he finally agreed.

Even more suspicious was the fact that Ares, of all people—a known coward—had managed to endure his father’s interrogation.

That alone was enough to set off alarm bells.

So, naturally, Rocco had to step in.

As for why they were also meeting with the King...

It was simply because this was Rocco’s first time in the royal palace.

His father and Sylas didn’t need to go through any formalities, but as a newcomer, he was expected to greet the King.

Honestly, Rocco just wanted to hurry up and meet Ares.

He wanted to be useful during his father’s interrogation.

But... etiquette was important too.

So, he would get them over with as quickly as possible.

That had been the plan.

Had been.

But then—

"Munch, munch. Munch, munch. Delicious. Absolutely delicious."

This was a disaster.

Emergency! Emergency!

Why had no one told him the palace’s pastries were this good?!

This was vital information!

Even in the presence of the King, he couldn’t stop himself from grabbing more of the beautifully arranged sweets and popping them into his mouth one after another.

Yes, he knew it was bad manners.

Yes, he understood he was being improper.

But what was he supposed to do?

His hands just wouldn’t stop reaching for more!

Just as Rocco finished off the last of the madeleines on his plate, he suddenly snapped back to reality.

"Ah! Ugh... I did it again... I stuffed my face like a bad kid..."

Sniffing and sulking in shame over his own lack of restraint, he barely noticed Laxus—who had apparently been watching him eat the entire time—until he was pulled into a firm yet gentle embrace.

"There, there, Rocco. You ate a lot, huh? Your cheeks puffed up like a little squirrel—so, so cute. And since you’re cute, it’s totally fine. You’re a good boy, a very good boy."

"Hwahh! Laxus!!"

Rocco clung onto him in return, squeezing him tight. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Sniff, sniff... Thank you for saying it’s okay...

After their usual playful exchange, Rocco suddenly tensed up again.

This was bad.

He had just displayed such a disgraceful scene in front of the King.

Surely, the King must be furious by now!

Moving ever so carefully, he snuck a peek at the King’s reaction—only to freeze in shock.

...Wait... huh?

What was that overly soft, grandfatherly smile on the King’s face?

"Hah... Even if they call you an angel, I assumed you were still a Di Malvento at heart—a cold, ruthless devil without a shred of mercy. But... you’re actually an angel?! Ohh, I’m so moved... I’m overwhelmed..."

"Huh? Wh-why is he suddenly crying? This is scary..."

"Shh! Rocco, don’t look."

As the King suddenly burst into tears, Laxus protectively hugged Rocco and shielding him as if keeping him safe from a strange old man.

So warm. So cozy. So safe.

Then, a sharp voice cut through the atmosphere.

"That should be enough, Your Majesty. Instead of staring at my child so shamelessly, perhaps it’s time we moved on to the main discussion."

"Hmph... What kind of genetic miracle produces an angel from a devil like you—cough, cough! Ahem. Yes, let’s move on. Oh, and remember, no firearms in the palace."

The moment those muttered words left the King’s lips, Marcus narrowed his eyes—a cold, mafia-like gleam flashing in them as he subtly revealed a handgun.

...At this point, Rocco wasn’t sure who the real ruler was anymore.

Still, actually meeting the King changed Rocco’s impression of him a little.

He had assumed the man was nothing but a coward, but if he could joke around like this in front of his father, then maybe there was more to him.

It made sense, after all.

A pure coward could never run a kingdom.

And then—

"I’ve decided to abdicated from the throne."

A weighty, unexpected announcement, casually dropped after a simple cough.

The sheer shock made Rocco drop the cookie he was nibbling on.

"Hweh?! For real?!"

He blurted it out in pure disbelief—like he was chatting with a friend, not the King.

Oh no.

This guy was literally the highest authority in the country.

"Ah! S-sorry about that."

Slapping a hand over his mouth, Rocco zipped it shut.

But rather than being annoyed, the King actually teared up again.

"This... this is healing. For the first time, I actually feel healed when meeting someone from the Di Malvento..."

Rocco frowned.

Why was this King so emotionally unstable?

Through his tears, the King continued speaking.

"Sniff... well, that’s how it is. I just ask that you quietly look after the Crown Prince from the shadows. Not out of loyalty to the royal family—nothing like that."