Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 296: Flower Crown ( Marcus’s Side Story )

Marcus Di Malvento had two sons.

His eldest son had grown into a fine mafia man that was fitting as a successor to his legacy.

However, his younger son was a far more unpredictable case.

At first, Marcus had neglected the boy.

He treating him coldly because he was the child of a woman he despised the most.

Now, he loathed his past self so much that he could hardly stand it.

How could he have ever ignored that angel?

The love he felt for the boy was so

overwhelming that he could no longer recall the bitterness that once clouded his heart.

These days, his entire world revolved around that child.

Even today, as he waded through the bloodstained, oppressive routine of his life, it was his son who brought light into his existence.

From the moment he awoke in the morning, his day had already begun—with Rocco at its center.

Before the sun had even risen, Marcus awoke with deep furrows in his brow and faint shadows under his eyes.

It was the same as always.

After dressing himself quickly, he left his bedroom.

The mansion was silent, his footsteps the only sound echoing through the vast halls.

His destination, as always, was his younger son’s bedroom.

He opened the door without a sound and peeked inside.

Hm. He was fast asleep again. Good.

Stepping inside the room, Marcus approached the bed in silence.

As expected, Rocco had somehow managed to roll halfway off the mattress in his sleep.

With practiced ease, Marcus gently scooped him up and placed him back in the center.

His precious Rocco had the habit of ending up in the strangest places while sleeping.

There was even a day, not too long ago, when Marcus had panicked upon not finding him in bed—only to eventually discover him tucked beneath an enormous pillow.

How on earth did that even happen?

"...Rocco, good morning."

He pressed a soft kiss to Rocco’s forehead, ignoring the little trails of drool escaping from the boy’s lips.

This was an essential part of his morning routine.

If he didn’t do this, his day wouldn’t start properly.

He took a moment to enjoy the warmth of Rocco’s soft, relaxed cheeks, savoring the rare moment of peace.

Only then was his morning truly complete.

The middle of the day was the worst.

Reports of petty squabbles, territorial disputes caused by rival mafias, and, worst of all, the never-ending proposals from suitors seeking Rocco’s hand in marriage—there were far too many irritating people, enough to make him physically ill.

After finally getting through the worst of his paperwork, Marcus picked up his now-empty cup.

At that moment, his right-hand man, Strasbourg, finally spoke the words he had been waiting for.

"Would you care to take a break first and visit young master Rocco, Master?"

Strasbourg was a ruthless man—both a blessing and a curse.

He never allowed distractions during work.

Any time Marcus even hinted at slacking off to see Rocco, Strasbourg would thwart his attempts with a chillingly perfect smile.

As a result, Marcus had learned to complete his work at breakneck speed, all to earn the right to see his beloved youngest son.

This was, perhaps, the greatest change in him since Rocco’s birth.

"Very well. Take care of the documents."

Leaving behind Strasbourg’s crisp reply of "Understood," Marcus exited the office.

The servants who passed him in the halls did double takes, startled by the sight of their typically composed master moving at such a brisk pace.

His destination: the garden.

Earlier, when he had glanced out the window, he had seen something—an angel, playing among the flowers.

Without hesitation, he strode forward.

And there, in the heart of the flower field, the vision remained unchanged—his little angel, Rocco, who is surrounded by a sea of blossoms.

Rocco sat with his round cheeks puffed out while diligently weaving flowers together. His delicate fingers worked with care, stringing one flower after another.

Marcus approached him without hesitation and his footsteps alerting the boy.

Rocco lifted his head with a curious expression, his innocent face quickly blooming into a radiant smile, as if a flower had opened under the sun.

"Father!"

In that instant, all impurity was cleansed.

This was one of the sacred moments of the day, a purification brought by the angel before him.

Marcus stepped closer to his son and running a gentle hand through his soft hair.

The way the light reflected off its silky strands almost resembled a halo.

"What were you playing with, Rocco?"

Careful not to step on the flowers Rocco cherished, Marcus knelt down.

There had been a time, in the past, when he had thoughtlessly trampled over the garden, only for Rocco to burst into tears.

That moment had left a deep scar on Marcus’s mind—more traumatic, even, than the first time he had taken a bullet.

After making sure that his knees rested only on the grass, he posed his question.

Rocco who is beaming with joy lifted a delicate crown of flowers toward him.

"A flower crown! I made it to say thank you to Father, who always working so hard everyday!"

Rocco grinned, his small chest puffing with pride.

Marcus looked down at him, his expression stay calm, though internally, he was in complete chaos.

He barely restrained the overwhelming urge to pull Rocco into his arms and smother him with affection.

Reaching out to accept the flower crown, he was caught off guard when Rocco suddenly pulled his hands back.

...?

What was this about? Was he suddenly reluctant to part with his creation, having realized how well it had turned out?

If so, Marcus supposed he couldn’t blame him. He lowered his hand, slightly disappointed.

Then—something soft landed gently atop his head.

"...?"

Lifting his hand, he carefully touched the object, feeling its delicate texture—so fragile that even the slightest pressure could crush it.

Realization struck.

He looked up, only to find Rocco fidgeting shyly, rocking his small body side to side.

"Umm... Father is really rich, so... maybe you’d like a crown with jewels instead. I’m sorry, I can only make one out of flowers..."

Marcus fell silent.

"But, um, if it makes you even a little happy... that would make me really happy too," Rocco added, his cheeks rosy as he gave a sheepish smile.

Marcus felt something tighten in his chest.

What nonsense was the boy saying?

Jewels? That’s just worthless stones. He had seen countless of them in his life, to the point of exhaustion.

But this flower crown—this was a true treasure.

No amount of wealth, no mountain of gold, could ever buy something as precious as this.

In his entire life, he had never seen a jewel more beautiful than this one.

"Ah—F-Father?"

Marcus could no longer hold back.

He pulled Rocco into a tight embrace.

He wrapping his arms around the small warm body securely.

Rocco, blinking his eyes in surprise.

He hesitated only for a moment before reaching up to wrap his arms around Marcus’s back.

"So warm... so cozy," Rocco murmured happily.

Marcus gazed down at him, his expression softening without him realizing it.

"Rocco, Rocco... Thank you. This makes me very happy."

As Marcus smiled gently at him, Rocco’s face lit up—like a flower in full bloom.