Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 235: A Sleepover at Del Fiore Manor

"Oh no, I completely forgot! I haven’t even given you a proper proposal yet! I’ll prepare the perfect setting next time, so look forward to it! And, of course, I need to get the finest ring for you!"

Laxus squeezed Rocco tightly in his arms, pulling him down onto the bed, already chattering away about their future together.

At this point, Rocco felt like crying.

Nothing he said seemed to get through.

When, exactly, had he ever agreed to marry Laxus?

Well... okay, maybe he had said something along the lines of "If I had to choose between the Crown Prince and Laxus, I’d rather marry Laxus."

However, that was just a figure of speech, wasn’t it?

Sure, maybe he had gotten a little jealous, but that was just childish possessiveness over a close friend!

It wasn’t like he...

"...Hmm."

...Okay.

Maybe he had said and done a lot of things that could be misunderstood.

Looking back, he had definitely given Laxus the wrong idea.

Now, how was he supposed to fix this...?

"Ehehe. I can’t wait for our sleepover, Rocco. It makes me so happy to sleep beside you."

As Laxus beamed in pure excitement, Rocco broke out into a nervous sweat, unsure how to talk him down.

But in the end, he never managed to escape.

Even when his father and Sylas stormed into Del Fiore Manor upon learning of his whereabouts, Laxus somehow managed to evade them with ease and still secure their permission for the sleepover.

How he had managed to calm down the two people who had been absolutely furious—and even get them to agree—was beyond Rocco’s comprehension.

When he asked, Laxus only smiled and dodged the question.

And just like that, his father and Sylas left, albeit looking less than pleased.

To make matters worse, they took Ragar and Georgio with them, leaving Rocco completely stranded at Del Fiore Manor.

Wouldn’t the household staff be troubled by his sudden stay?

With that thought in mind, Rocco tried sneaking around the manor, avoiding Laxus’s gaze as he investigated.

But much to his surprise, not a single person showed any displeasure toward him.

Everyone in the manor was practically in tears, saying things like, "Thank you for taming young master!" and "We’re so grateful that you’re holding his reins!" with overwhelming emotion.

Honestly... what kind of person did Laxus usually show himself to be?

Rocco had read the original story, so he knew that, deep down, Laxus was a cunning and borderline psychopathic schemer.

However, in front of him, Laxus was always kind, charming, and gentle.

It was hard to imagine him as anything else.

"Rocco? You were making the cutest little grumbling noises. I could hear them all the way from outside the room."

"Mmh. Laxus, you’re back? I wasn’t grumbling."

Rocco had been sitting there, deep in thought, grumbling softly to himself as he recalled the incredibly eventful day.

Then, the door suddenly opened, and Laxus returned.

He had left earlier to report Rocco’s unexpected stay and the Crown Prince situation to Makarov.

Now, it seemed that task was finished.

Laxus walked over and effortlessly picked up Rocco—who was still clutching his beloved shark plush—before settling onto the sofa.

Without hesitation, he plopped Rocco onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him from behind.

Rocco absentmindedly kicked his legs back and forth as he sat there, snugly enveloped in Laxus’s warmth.

It was around sunset, that lazy time of day when moving around felt like too much effort, but sitting still was equally boring.

The worst time to have nothing to do.

Perhaps because of the lull in activity, a wave of sleepiness washed over him.

He rubbed at his eyes, feeling a little bit drowsy, when Laxus suddenly began stroking his head.

Mmh... head pats make me sleepier... Stop it...

"Something on your mind?" Laxus asked, still gently patting Rocco’s head. "You had the cutest little wrinkle between your brows earlier, and you were grumbling so much."

"Mmm... it’s not really a problem or anything..."

Rocco pouted as Laxus lightly pinched his cheek, to which Laxus simply smiled warmly and whispered, "No matter how small it is, if it’s something on your mind, I want to know. Will you tell me?"

Laxus’s voice was gentle—yet for some reason, it was more persuasive, more inescapable than a harsh demand ever could be.

Trembling slightly, Rocco gave a small nod, pressing his cheek against Laxus’s large hand as he hesitantly spoke.

"Well... Unlike you or my brother, I’m small and kinda useless, but... everyone here seems to welcome me? I was just wondering... why?"

"Huh? Rocco, you’re not small and scrappy at all. You’re an absolutely adorable angel. Who in the world made you doubt yourself?"

Laxus blinked his eyes innocently, but behind his pure expression lurked a darkness so deep it was terrifying.

Rocco had only called himself "scrappy" as a self-deprecating joke, based on his knowledge of the original story.

But if he so much as uttered a name now, someone might actually end up dead.

He needed to deny it—fast.

"N-No, that’s not it. It’s just... you and my brother are both really cool. I doubt there’s anyone else as cool as you two. So, compared to you, I’m not cool at all, which makes me scrappy. That’s all."

"...! Ohhh, so that’s what you meant!"

Laxus suddenly grinned, his dark aura vanishing in an instant. "I see, I see! So basically, I’m just too cool, which makes everyone else seem scrappy in comparison? Heh, Rocco, you really love me, don’t you?"

"Mmm... Y-Yeah. I love you."

Rocco let out a relieved sigh as Laxus’s ominous presence disappeared.

Even though Laxus was now squeezing him tightly to the point of being a little breathless, Rocco endured it.

If keeping Laxus in a good mood meant avoiding trouble, then so be it—better not say anything that might trigger another dangerous reaction.

As he gazed up at Laxus, who was now humming cheerfully, Rocco felt his exhaustion creeping up on him again.