Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 289: An Unexpected Engagement

It had been a long time since they had shared such a moment together, scrubbing away with foamy bubbles.

From the moment they started washing up, Rocco had been in an unshakably cheerful mood, practically floating with excitement.

His father gently patted his head, and when Rocco turned around, their eyes met.

A smile spread across his face as he took in the sight of his ever-dignified father.

Father never seems to age at all... In fact, with time, his elegance and allure only seemed to deepen.

If Sylas grows up, he’ll probably become as dashing as his Father someday.

And if that was the case, then maybe... I will too?

As his mind wandered into pleasant daydreams, he let out a soft chuckle—only to be brought back to reality when his father spoke.

"Rocco. Shall we talk for a little bit? About your future."

"Mmm...?"

The unusually fatherly tone caught Rocco off guard, and he tilted his head in curiosity.

His future? It sounded like one of those heavy conversations fathers would have with their sons.

He blinked his eyes in mild surprise, but before he could respond, his father tightened his hold and continued speaking.

"Are you aware that, right now, you are the most closely watched people in this kingdom? Both in high society and the underworld—every move you make is being observed by them."

"...Mmm, well..."

It was something Rocco had been trying not to think about.

Lately, he had been avoiding the newspapers he once enjoyed reading every day, pretending not to see or know anything.

It seemed his father had keenly noticed his attempts to turn a blind eye.

So that’s why he had decided to speak to him directly like this.

"You are a royalty. On top of that, even the leader of the rebel forces—has made you his target. There is not a soul in this kingdom unaware of that fact. Many people see great value in you, and because of that, fools continue to plot against you."

Rocco fell silent.

"As disgraceful as it is, keeping you solely within the protection of the Di Malvento family has become too great a risk. Incidents like what happened at the soirée are bound to repeat themselves."

Hearing that, Rocco’s shoulders drooped.

Sensing his emotions, his father gently patted his head once more.

Rocco knew the truth.

He had been dragged into too many troublesome situations.

The crown prince’s abrupt public declaration of marriage.

The fact that the rebel forces had targeted him—and now, everyone knew about it.

And, most significantly, Del Fiore had used him to forge an alliance with the Di Malvento family.

His name and circumstances had spread across the entire kingdom.

People were probably wondering just who he really was.

And because of that... he had caused an incredible amount of trouble.

Especially for the Di Malvento family.

For his father.

The guilt weighed heavily on him, and he had to force himself to hold back the sting of tears.

No. He refused to become even more pathetic than he already was.

Now more than ever, he had to keep himself together.

"I-I’m sorry... Father... Because of me, you’ve become so busy... I’ve caused so much trouble for you..."

"What nonsense. You have caused me no trouble whatsoever."

His father swiftly turned him around in the water, shifting their positions so that they faced each other.

He cupped Rocco’s cheeks, lifting his face slightly.

Their gazes met—his father’s sharp, amethyst eyes shimmering as if carefully choosing his words.

Then, with a dissatisfied frown, he muttered:

"If you don’t want something, then say so. No matter what choice you make, I will protect you."

"Mmm...?"

Rocco blinked in confusion.

What’s he talking about...?

But before he could fully process it, his father dropped an even more shocking question.

"Do you have feelings for that Del Fiore’s kid?"

"...Huh?"

"If a marriage were to be arranged... would you be opposed to having that Del Fiore’s kid as your fiancé?"

His father averted his gaze slightly, as if avoiding Rocco’s reaction.

Rocco stared at him, dumbfounded.

And the moment he realized what his father was truly asking—his entire body turned red with heat.

...

"Acknowledging Rocco and Laxus’s Engagement...?"

In the office, Sylas’s eyes widened in shock as he muttered those words.

His face seemed to scream disbelief at the statement their father had just made.

And honestly, Rocco understood how he felt—he had been just as dumbfounded at first.

It was completely unlike their father to say something like this.

No wonder Sylas was so taken aback.

Seated on the opposite sofa were Mr. Makarov and Laxus.

Their father sat in the seat of honor, while Sylas, who had been sitting beside Rocco, suddenly shot to his feet, trembling as he addressed their father.

"W-What do you mean, Father...? You were so strongly opposed to Rocco’s marriage before...!"

Unlike Sylas, whose face had lost all color, the Del Fiore father and son were sipping their tea with utter elegance.

Even with Sylas practically despairing, they were happily munching on cookies as if they had no care in the world.

Meanwhile, Rocco, too afraid of Sylas’s reaction, could do nothing but shrink into himself as much as possible.

Their father who is maintaining his usual unreadable expression, answered in a low voice.

"Do not misunderstand. This is merely an engagement. The moment Rocco feels the slightest discomfort, the arrangement will be annulled."

"However... if it is a formal engagement on paper, it would establish a clear contractual relationship. Even if it is later annulled, the disgrace of having been engaged to the Del Fiore family would never fully disappear."

Sylas had just said "disgrace" right in front of the people involved.

Truly, he was the epitome of a cold, unyielding man, utterly unfamiliar with the concept of flattery.

As expected, the Del Fiore side immediately started grumbling in protest like a couple of children, but Sylas batted away their complaints with effortless indifference, completely ignoring them.