Chapter 704 - World 13 Alternate Ending: Maximillien Eau Saumont (1)

Forbidden Love of the Archduke (1)

'The fountain looks beautiful tonight, it reminds me of that small trick Jean often does to create a rainbow water fountain, and he called it RGB fountain. I don't know what RGB means, but it does sound poetic,' Maximillien thought as he stared at the fountain in front of him.

"Big brother, you're here," Jean called his big brother, who was sitting alone on a bench near the fountain. Maximillien was sitting dazedly for a long time until Jean called him. 

"Jean…" Maximillien mumbled. 

Jean walked towards Maximillien and sat beside his big brother, "Big brother, are you alright? I've been searching for you for the whole night, and you just disappeared."

"Jean, it's late. You should go to sleep because tomorrow will be one of your big days," Maximillien said, ignoring Jean's question. 

Jean realized that his big brother wasn't like his usual. He looked weak and dispirited, unlike the regular handsome and majestic Archduke Maximillien Eau Saumont.

"Big brother, is everything alright?" Jean asked again. He held his big brother's hand and frowned. "Big brother, your hand is cold now. You shouldn't stay here for too long. It's not good for your health."

Maximillien could feel Jean's smooth and warm hands engulfing his cold hand, and their fingers intertwined, "Big brother…."

That soft and gentle voice was like music in Maximillien's ears. He had realized his own feeling for Jean for about two years now, but he had no courage to confess because he was a coward.

He was afraid that Jean would be disgusted with him since they were 'brothers' despite not being blood-related. 

Maximillien let his fingers intertwine with Jean's for a good while before yanking his hands out, separating himself from Jean.

Jean was surprised by his Big brother's behavior. Because he didn't think that his big brother would reject him like this, "Big brother? Is there anything wrong?" Jean asked. 

"It's nothing. You should return back to your room, Jean," Maximillien replied coldly. 

He looked away because he couldn't stare at Jean's beautiful eyes for too long, afraid that he might've acted out of control. 

Meanwhile, Jean was hurt by his Big brother's attitude towards him. Two years had passed since their fight in the academy's dorm. His Big brother treated him like air now, no matter how much he tried to mend their relationship. 

Jean still remembered that day, when his Big brother was visiting his dorm, only to start a fight between them and stormed out. After that, Maximillien never talked to him except it was an important matter, and all of their previous family activities together were all gone. 

No more breakfast and dinner, no more having teatime together, no more going around the city and duchy for relaxation. And the most grievous thing that hurt Jean's heart was… the fact that Big brother started talking with a few noble girls to see a suitable candidate for marriage.

"Big brother, look at me," Jean requested.

"I don't need to. You should go now," Maximillien refused, which aggravates Jean even more.

"Am I that detestable for you, Big brother? Why do you hate me now?" Jean asked. "Was it because of the inheritance? Big brother, I've never once asked for any part of this Archduchy. I know that you're the sole heir of the Archduchy, and I've told you I'll find a work in the city after I graduate!" 

…

Still no answer from Maximilien. He kept his silence and looked away as if he didn't want to look at Jean ever again. 

Jean was hurt by his Big brother's silent and harsh treatment. He got up from the chair and stood right in front of his Big brother, "Big brother, look at me! Just once, please!"

…

Maximillien didn't move at all. He kept ignoring Jean and treated him like air. Honestly, it also hurt Maximillien deeply, but he knew this was the best because Jean was about to marry Saint Raphael De Argent.

Tomorrow was when Saint Raphael would come and officially propose to Jean Eau Saumont for his hand-in marriage right before Maximillien as Jean's only relative and Emperor or Argent, Raphael's father. 

Of course, everyone in the Archduchy was ecstatic hearing the news that Jean would finally marry. He was at the legal age of marriage in the empire, so nobody questioned it.

But there was someone who had a bitter and cold face since the day of the announcement, Archduke Maximillien himself. 

He looked so cold, and in a terrible mood, he wouldn't even hesitate to yell at servants and guards for the slightest mistake possible. 

They thought it was because Young Master Jean was about to get married, so it was just Archduke's sentimental feeling over his little brother. 

But after Jean came to the palace, Archduke's expression turned even worse.

Realizing that his Big brother wouldn't budge, Jean could only clench his fist and ask, "Big brother, if you want me to leave, then I will leave from the palace!"

Jean turned his head, but before he could take one step away, Maximillien suddenly grabbed his wrist, "You won't leave anywhere. This palace is your home."

"But I don't feel like home… because you don't accept me, Big brother," Jean said. He was almost crying right now. "If you really don't like me, then just say it, big brother. I will leave…."

"I never dislike you," Maximillien denied. "It's just—a complicated feeling. But I should be able to brush this away as time passed on."

'I hope,' Maximillien wished in his heart. But he knew exactly that he wouldn't be able to move on from Jean because his love for Jean was already rooted deep inside his heart, and it wasn't familial love.

It was romance. He wanted to kiss Jean and make him his person. He wanted to sleep with Jean and woke up with Jean on the other side of the bed. 

Despite his feelings growing stronger every day, he also felt dirty and disgusted by his own thoughts. Because obviously, Jean only saw him as a big brother, nothing more. 

It was a forbidden feeling that he wanted to keep inside his heart forever. 

"Don't feel upset. The fault is on my behalf, Jean," Maximillien said, trying to pacify his beloved little brother. "Of course, I have given you my blessing. You can—" Maximillien choked on his own words. He was unwilling to release Jean from his palace to Saint Raphael.

But this was Jean's choice. He wouldn't be so egoistic to hoard Jean all for himself. He knew that Jean would hate him for that. 

"I give you my blessing. You can marry Saint Raphael if that is your choice."

Jean's heart skipped a beat because he said something this evening to Raphael about their engagement and agreement. Yet, the palace had prepared everything for the celebration tomorrow.

He was afraid that his big brother would get mad, but he couldn't lie about his real feeling forever.

Thus, he turned around, and their eyes finally met, "Big brother, about the marriage proposal tomorrow. I've told Angel Raphael that I cannot marry him.. Because I don't want to live in a lie…."