Chapter 568: 13.66

"And that little bugger… I don't like him staying around you. I'll kick him out to another room," Maximillien said without pity. 

[Pupa: Ding! ????]

[Pupa: Alert! ????]

[Okay, seriously, what the heck with all those strange notifications?]

[Pupa: I'm not sure either, it's an automated response whenever the male leads had a change, whether in Fatemeter or Breakmeter. But there has never been an instance like this.]

[Have you try asking that Father Admin? He is in your headquarters, right?]

[Pupa: He is sleeping. That spicy chicken Father Admin said that he is too lazy to take care of this, so he will just let us roll with it.]

[Pupa: His laziness and whatever attitude remain me of a certain spicy chicken host.]

[… What? Why are you looking at me like that?]

"No! Matthew is my best friend! How could you kick my friend like that?!" Jean refused vehemently, just like what Raphael did before. It seemed that nobody really liked Matthew except him.

"Best friend?" Maximillien frowned displeasedly. He had to admit that he was a bit selfish because he felt that Jean didn't need any best friend or close friend. He could have colleagues or friends, but he didn't need a best friend.

Maximillien was twenty-seven years old now, and he never had any close friend or whatsoever. He was busy taking care of the Duchy and Jean, and he preferred that way.

Including Jean… he wanted Jean to be on his side. 

"You don't need a best friend. You also don't need a fiancee," Maximillien stated. "I heard from Second Prince that you've accepted his hand-in marriage proposal. You should've consulted to me first before accepting such a thing."

Maximillien came to the Academy because of this. He met Raphael yesterday, and he claimed that Jean had accepted his hand-in marriage p proposal, so there was no way that the Archduke could stop them from marrying. He was so angry, thinking that Jean was going to be married off with someone else. 

He was already planning to break off the engagement between Jean and Raphael because he couldn't just see how his Little brother would get married to someone and leave him. 

Though he also didn't know the reason for this burning feeling inside his heart either, maybe he was just worried about Jean.

"Un, Jean, and Raphael have been fiancees for twelve years already. Of course, I will naturally get married to him, right?" Jean didn't find any problem with it. Both Raphael and him loved each other, so it was natural for them to get married.

Maximillien grabbed Jean's arms and clenched tightly, "Jean, do you know what will happen if you decide to go with him? You will permanently leave the Duchy and travel far, far away. We won't meet in years!" 

"Are you really that eager to leave me?" Maximillien asked. He had to admit that he felt something was stabbing his heart once he heard Jean said that. He didn't expect Jean to be that heartless to leave him alone inside the Palace of Eau Saumont. 

"Big… brother?" Jean blinked a few times because it was the first time he saw his Big brother being emotional like this. He was always strong, cold, and controlled most of the time.

Big brother was like a hero that Jean loved and adored, and now, the hero that completed his life was staring at him with a hurtful expression. 

"I… I don't understand why aren't you happy with me marrying Angel… you have no problem with it for twelve years…." Jean said. He knew that his Big brother disliked his fiancee, but he never knew the severity.

"Do you think I'm happy with it in the first place? I just allowed you because… because—"

Maximillien was tongue-tied immediately. He just realized that he was also the one who allowed the engagement between Raphael and Jean. Because back then, Maximillien hadn't realized how important Jean was in his life. 

He thought that Jean was just an orphan kid adopted by his parents by mistake. So back then, Maximillien was thinking about throwing Jean away. Suppose he could marry after he reached the age of maturity. In that case, that'd be even better because that meant he would have less burden in his heart after throwing this kid away from his life. 

Who would've expected the same kid could make him like this.

Jean was the first person who could make him think of someone else other than himself and the Duchy he took as responsibility. 

He was utterly enraged when Raphael smugly claimed that Jean had agreed to marry him after he reached eighteen. While Maximillien was trying hard to find a way to break the engagement between Raphael and Jean. 

"Big brother… you're not happy with my engagement with Raphael?" Jean asked worriedly. He never thought that his Big brother cared about his marriage that much. 

Maximillien was also confused about his own feeling. He kept trying to find a way to justify his extreme care for Jean, but in the end, it led to only one thing…

[Pupa: Ding! Maximillien Eau Saumont's Fatemeter increases to 75%.]

Maximillien gritted his teeth once he realized this feeling inside his heart. He didn't want to admit it because he thought that it was simply the heart of a beast.

He didn't want to be a beast that would ruin his beloved Jean. 

"I'll leave now." 

Maximillien suddenly released his grip on Jean's arm and sidestepped Jean. He walked away, making Jean even more confused than before. 

"Big brother, you're making me confused!" Jean complained.

Maximillien halted his step in front of the door. He was holding the doorknob, then he turned his head towards his Little Jean, "Jean, you don't understand my feeling, and I need time for myself. You don't need to return to the Palace if you don't want to."

"But if you need anything, just send me a letter or send Wolf as your envoy. I will help you, as always."

Maximillien opened and slammed the door. Maximillien left Jean's room, leaving his beloved Little Jean alone and confused.