"Un… Big brother… I can walk by myself…." Little Jean said weakly as he was carried by his Big brother to the Palace.
Maximillien zipped his mouth because he was also unsure of himself. He kept thinking about the engagement between his adopted little brother and that bastard Second Prince, Raphael De Argent.
That callous Emperor really knew how to play his card, manipulating an innocent little boy like Little Jean for his advantage.
Little Jean felt uncomfortable getting carried by his Big brother, so he struggled a little. He wiggled his body, trying to break free.
"Stop struggling," Maximillien said coldly.
"B—But…" Little Jean thought getting carried by his Big brother would feel amazing, but the more they walked, the more nerve-wracking it got for Little Jean.
Because somehow, he could sense that Big brother was angry.
The guards saw Archduke Maximillien was carrying Little Jean, and they were relieved. Because Archduke looked so anxious when Little Jean was nowhere to be seen.
Maximillien entered his office and then put Little Jean on the sofa. He crouched in front of Little Jean with his scrutinizing eyes. He asked, "Do you know what you said in front of the Emperor and his son just now?"
"Un?" Little Jean tilted his head. He didn't understand why would his Big brother get angry at him.
"Big brother, Jean wants to help you…." Little Jean said innocently. He truly didn't understand the repercussion that would befall him in the future.
For Maximillien, who had been well trained to be a noble and a ruler since he was so young, he understood that Emperor Argent must've planned something because there was no way he would allow his precious son who would hold the strongest power in the country as the Holy Saint, to marry a man. Even worse, Prince Raphael would marry an adopted kid from a poor orphanage.
Maximillien wasn't stupid enough to believe this was a cinderella story because it was just simply ridiculous.
No amount of fairy tale could coax Maximillien to believe this kind of pure narrative without any hidden agenda behind it.
Maximillien didn't want Little Jean to be a catalyst of a big scheme. He was truly just a little kid living his life, trying to survive without making any trouble.
He was just unaware of what happened around him, and it was Maximillien's duty to protect him.
Maximillien was conflicted. He felt strangely protective towards Little Jean without knowing the cause.
'I protect him because he is still linked with the Archduchy. All his actions in the future will still affect my duchy until he is eighteen, and I will be able to kick him away, lessening the worry about any scheme going around.'
'That's right, I protect him because I need to protect my duchy. There's nothing about him that's important other than his status as my adopted sibling. I need to make sure that he is alright and won't do anything dangerous until he is eighteen.'
'I will kick him away after he reaches that age.'
"Big brother?" Little Jean grabbed Maximillien's sleeve with his tiny hands and asked, "Big brother doesn't like Jean helping? Jean wants to help…."
"Do you think by getting engaged with that Second Prince, you will be a great help for the Archduchy?" Maximillien asked back but with a much colder tone.
"Wu… but… Jean wants to help…."
"Enough with that. I don't need your help," Maximillien said. "All you need to do is to stay silent and don't make trouble. And you're already making trouble to me. There's no such thing as engagement between you two! I refuse it!"
"All you need to do is sit down! You will never be able to help me or the Archduchy! Just stay still!" Maximillien scolded. He actually meant well because he didn't want Little Jean to mix with that callous Emperor and Second Prince, but his tone was really harsh. It made Little Jean scared of his Big brother again.
"B—Big brother… Jean wants to help…." Little Jean insisted. He clenched his Big brother's sleeve. "I can help! Jean can help! Please let Jean get engaged with Angel!"
[Hm… I don't think Maximillien is hostile here. It's just how he speaks. He is very blunt and heartless in his dialogue. Pupa, do you think that Maximillien is hostile towards Raphael because he secretly loves me?]
[Pupa: Ew, you're four years old. Maximillien is not a pedophile! Also, the Fatemeter is only twenty percent. Do you think Maximillien will get hostile solely because of a twenty percent Fatemeter?]
[Ish, way to shoot my hopes down, Pupa.]
[Pupa: Anyway, there is definitely something that made Maximillien so cautious around Raphael.]
[Hm… I still need to get engaged with him, though. That's the only way for me to keep in contact with Raphael since he will be the next Holy Saint. It would be impossible to increase his Fatemeter.]
Maximillien saw the determination in those doe eyes. Little Jean was just too oblivious to realize that he would only create more problems rather than solving them.
"You—Are you really sure that you will be Raphael's fiancee? Do you know what you're talking about? Do you know how callous Emperor Argent III is? Do you know that he is likely going to leave you once he reaches adulthood? Do you even like him? I bet you don't. You don't even know what like, or love is, right?"
"Un?" Jean tilted his head, and he released his grip on his Big brother's sleeve. He patted his Big brother's cheeks with his palm and then replied, "Jean knows love! Love is when… un… when you want to live in the same place with the person you love when you want to stay with the person you love, and um… your heart beats faster when you're near the person you love! Angel told me what love is!"
Maximillien was astonished. He stared at Little Jean's doe eyes and then asked, "Do you love that Second Prince Raphael De Argent?"
"Um? No!" Jean shook his head. "Jean loves Big brother the most!"
…
[Pupa: Ding! Maximillien Eau Saumont's Fatemeter increases to 25%.]
[Hehe, take that Cutiepie Yunyu's attack!]
…
Maximillien sighed. He got up and distanced himself from Little Jean, "And you still want to get engaged with the second prince?"
"Yes! Jean will be with Angel!" Little Jean replied.
Maximillien chuckled, hearing that answer. Little Jean truly didn't understand what love was. He said that he loved his 'big brother' the most, but he still chose to be engaged with Raphael.
Maximillien sighed. He truly didn't understand this kid's train of thought. But he had a good intention nonetheless.
As much as Maximillien hated it, he still needed the Empire's support until he was fully established, especially against smaller houses who challenged his rule in Archduchy.
Since Little Jean was so eager, Maximillien had no way to stop him because it was tradition.
'Ah, whatever, I will make sure to separate them when Little Jean doesn't like that callous prince anymore. This is just a kid impulse. After he realized the scheme when he is older, he will come to me and beg to break the engagement between him and that prince.'
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