"Your Highness, Young Master Jean seems to be fond of my son. Would you mind allowing them to be friends?"

Maximillien frowned. This was the first time for Little Jean to leave the Palace of Eau Saumont, so he was still very naive about what was happening around him.

​​

Maximillien didn't want Jean to get used by some people who wanted benefits. So he asked Jean first, "Is it true? Do you want to befriend someone?"

[Honestly, big bro, I'm not really interested. I feel like befriending Matthew/Jiansheng/Aaron or whatever he is will only bring doom to my mission.]

[But without befriending him and keep in around, Matthew will inevitably create some chaos. I can smell the jinx from him. The smell of doom is just too strong.]

[Pupa: Matthew looks pretty tame to me.]

[So does Aaron Xu and Xu Jiansheng, and then BOOM, red chain. I think I've adapted Xuphobia right now. Scared that he will start some shit.]

Little Jean stared at Matthew, who had a hopeful expression on his face. Matthew opened his mouth, but he zipped it immediately, afraid that he would offend the Archduke.

But his eyes were glued to Little Jean as if not wanting to let go.

"Yes! Big brother, his name is Matthew! He helped Jean to buy paint and brush!" Little Jean said.

"Hmm…"

Honestly, Maximillien had this dislike in his heart when he was faced with the imagination of Little Jean getting away from him. He wanted Little Jean to stay with him for a while, at least until he was mature enough and ready to leave the Palace of Eau Saumont to study in the academy.

He thought having the Second Prince of the Empire, Raphael De Argent, was already irritating enough for him. But now that there was someone else, it made him even more irritated.

But Maximillien knew that Little Jean would cry out of heartbreak if he forbid Jean to befriend this kid.

Maximillien sighed, and he nodded, "Alright, you can befriend him. But you're not allowed to be more than that."

"Wha—So Jean can't be good friends with Matthew?"

"Y—You can be a good friend with him, of course. But no more than that," Maximillien warned again.

"Wu… so Jean can't be best friend with Matthew?"

"…"

"You can be a best friend as well, just—no more than a friend, okay?"

Little Jean knew that his Big brother wouldn't accept no as an answer, but there was no saying of what would happen in the future. So he had to take a roundabout way.

"Jean loves Big brother, yay!" Little Jean said. He hugged his Big brother's neck and snuggled comfortably.

Maximillien sighed and nodded to the clerk, "Your son can be my little brother's friend. You can also bring him to my little brother's birthday. Since I've told your wife to decorate the event."

"T—Thank you so much, Your Highness!" The clerk, Matthew's dad, bowed his head as a sign of gratitude, and then Maximillien paid for the art supplies with a bonus for helping his little brother.

They left soon after, and when the Duke and his entourage left their store, Matthew's mom entered the store and looked at her son immediately, "Matthew, did you really befriended the Young Master?"

Matthew nodded.

His parents looked at each other. Matthew's mom was concerned. Meanwhile, his dad looked delighted instead, "Matthew, do you like Young Master Jean?"

Matthew lowered his head. He touched his chest with his small palm, feeling the accelerating heartbeat in his chest. He nodded shyly, "I like Young Master Jean…."

Matthew didn't know what happened with his heart. He was a simple boy before, helping his dad in the store, playing with his friends, and doing his hobby, painting.

He was only six years old now, and he had no idea about love. He was never interested in any girl, let alone a boy.

But when his eyes met Young Master Jean, he felt a strange connection between them.

As if they were made to be for each other. And he had known Young Master Jean for a long time. He just couldn't remember it.

But one thing for sure, he always wanted to stay with Young Master Jean, no matter how.

Maximillien and Little Jean were sitting inside the carriage. They bought plenty of things from the art supplies store, and Little Jean looked very happy with it.

He put the watercolor paint box on his lap and then opened it.

"Uwaaa, it's so beautiful, big brothers! There are a lot of colors!" Little Jean marveled over the paint.

Maximillien smiled and patted Little Jean's head, "I can always hire a painter to teach you how to paint."

Little Jean shook his head, "I don't need a teacher, Big brother. I just want a painting friend!"

"Painting friend?"

"Yes! Like Matthew, he can paint!"

[Wait, he can paint, right?]

[Pupa: Yes, he is talented as a young artist.]

"Hmm… I will see that later," Maximillien felt iffy in his heart because he felt that Little Jean was overly affectionate with someone that he just knew. It was dangerous for him once he got older, though. Because it would leave him vulnerable to many schemes in the empire.

"You shouldn't befriend anyone you just met, okay?" Maximillien warned.

"Eh? Why? Jean likes having friends…."

"It's not that…." Maximillien patted Little Jean's head. "There are people who want to use you for their benefit. You shouldn't befriend everyone you just met because they might have an ulterior motive."

'Including that Raphael, he definitely has an ulterior motive,' Maximillien thought.

"Hn… okay, Big brother…."

Maximillien knew that Little Jean didn't understand what he meant, but that's okay because he was still five years old. It was better to plant that cautiousness inside Little Jean earlier rather than too late.

'Even if he fails to protect himself, I will always protect him instead. But that's just because I want him to grow up healthy and safe, so I don't have any grievance later on. There's nothing personal about us….'