"Um… don't work too hard. Jean doesn't want Big brother to get sick…."

Maximillien stopped reading the report about Little Jean's orphanage. He put down the document and asked Little Jean, "Do you think reading this kind of documents will get me sick? I'm not that weak, I've been trained since I was at your age to be a good duke, so it's nothing much for me."

​​

"But Big brother… you look so lonely. Jean doesn't want you to be lonely because loneliness will get you sick!" Jean jumped out of the sofa and walked towards his Big brother.

Little Jean was hesitant because his Big brother suddenly went silent and watched Jean walking in his direction. Until he stopped in front of Big brother's chair.

Little Jean was afraid that his Big brother would kick him again like yesterday. But he didn't want his Big brother to get lonely, so he braced himself and stretched his small arms.

Little Jean hugged Maximillien's leg and rubbed his cheek on Maximillien's trousers, "Big brother, don't be lonely… don't be lonely, okay? Jean will always be by your side!"

[Pupa: Ding! Maximillien Eau Saumont's Fatemeter increases to 10%.]

Maximillien clenched his fist to endure the building nausea up from his stomach to his throat.

Whenever Little Jean hugged him, showing him how much he loved and adored his Big brother, it made the Young Archduke wanting to instinctively kick his adopted little brother.

It was because of the fortune-telling that told him about the curse in Little Jean. His logic told him that he should've killed this kid right after his parents' death, but his heart told him otherwise.

Thus, he was trapped in a dilemma, unable to decide whether to kill this kid or showered him with love.

Meanwhile, Little Jean happily clung to his Big brother's leg like a koala.

They stayed in this position until the door was knocked, and the palace doctor entered the Duke's office.

"Excuse me, Your Highness, I'm here to check on Young Master Jean's wound," the palace doctor bowed his head politely.

Maximillien nodded and continued reading his document.

"So…" the palace doctor looked around, searching for that little troublemaker, but couldn't find him. "Where is Young Master Jean?"

"Here."

Maximillien pointed under his desk, "You can check him here."

The palace doctor frowned. He walked to Duke Maximillien's desk and looked in the direction where the Duke's finger was pointing.

"He has been clinging to me like this for a while," Maximillien said.

"Ehe, Big brother…." Little Jean said, giggling while resting his head on his Big brother's leg.

"Uh… Young Master, I'm here to take care of your wound," the palace doctor said, but Little Jean ignored him and continued hugging his big brother.

The palace doctor stared at Duke Maximillien, urging him to persuade Little Jean.

"You, release me now. The doctor wants to take off your bandage," Maximillien said.

Little Jean shook his head, "Don't wanna…."

"It'll be quick, now release me," Maximillien tried to persuade with his limited vocabulary of kindness. "Release me before I have to fling you again."

…

Little Jean pouted, but he finally released his hug and walked with the palace doctor.

Little Jean was sulking when the palace doctor took off the bandage.

The Palace Doctor felt it was ridiculous to see a four-year-old getting close to Archduke, but this kid really seemed to have an attachment for the young Archduke.

He knew well that Young Archduke Maximillien had a fierce reputation for being so ruthless for anyone who dared to oppose his rule as the Archduke, even though he was still fourteen years old.

In fact, it scared people how powerful Duke Maximillien could be when he had fully grown up. Because he could intimidate grown adults as fourteen years old right now.

The Palace Doctor examined the healed wound. He washed it with water and then dried it gently before applying a cream that'd help it heal faster.

After he was done, he observed the sulking Young Master and commented, "Your Highness, this kid seems to be attached to you. Good job."

"Wha—" Maximillien jolted when the Palace Doctor informed him. "That kid is attached to me? How? We barely know each other!"

"You should ask him then," the Palace Doctor smiled sweetly at Little Jean and asked, "Young Master, do you like your Big brother?"

Little Jean nodded vigorously, "Like, like! Jean likes Big brother so much! Big brother is my favorite!"

Little Jean jumped out and rushed to hug his Big brother's leg again, clinging like a koala on a tree.

"H—Hey!!" Maximillien was ready to fling this kid, but he held back in the last second and took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Whatever, I don't care about you anyway," Maximillien grumbled. He looked at the Palace Doctor and asked, "How's his wound? Is he okay now?"

"Yes, Young Master is physically healthy, but you still need to take care of his Mental health. Someone can be healthy outside, but completely broken inside, and kids need to grow up healthy both physically and mentally."

"Your Highness, Young Master Jean seems to be very sticky with you. Why don't you take him on a trip or something? He is a little boy. He would love it if you bring him to the capital or at least buy him toys, play with him."

"DO YOU THINK I HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THAT?!" Maximillien roared, thinking that he had to take care of this orphan kid while he was so busy with many things, especially since he was still establishing his status as Archduke right now.

He had no time to play.

And he didn't even have time to play when he was just a kid. He spent his days studying and practicing everything that his parents obliged him to do.

The Palace Doctor sighed and packed his things before heading out, "Your Highness, that kid is pretty much attached to you. If you don't like him, you should kick him away as soon as possible. It will be painful for him to be separated from you when he has grown too attached."

The Palace Doctor closed the door, and Maximillien darted his eyes at the koala on his leg.

"You, get off from me!" Maximillien yelled. But Little Jean didn't seem to care.

In fact, after a while, he was dozing off, still clinging to Maximillien's leg.

…

Maximillien sighed and grabbed Little Jean's back collar. He carried Little Jean as if he was carrying a tote bag and then dropped him gently on the sofa.

He put a small pillow under Little Jean's head.

Maximillien gazed at the beautiful boy sleeping on his office sofa. He was thin, although not as malnourished as before.

He had a long leash for a kid, and his pink hair made him looked so soft. Somehow, Maximillien could even imagine that doe eyes gazing at him full of worship.

Maximillien's lips twitched as he caressed Little Jean's soft hair.

'How cute, my little brother….'

After realizing what he just thought, Maximillien shook his head fiercely and yelled at sleeping Little Jean, "Listen, I will never ever accept you as my family! You're just an adopted cursed child!"