[Pupa, how come I feel like someone is staring at me from afar?]

[Pupa: Because Matthew has been staring at you since the moment you entered the main hall.]

Jean darted his eyes at the man standing at the corner. He wore a regular suit that wasn't glamorous like the rest of the guests. Because he was just a peasant, he didn't have enough money to buy such expensive luxuries as gold thread or jewels.

But all that humbleness didn't hide his handsomeness at all. He had medium-length dark blue hair that he tied behind. He also had raven eyes that glinted when he stared at Jean.

[Okay, Matthew is really handsome, but his appearance reminds me of Xu Jiansheng.]

[In fact, everything about him is Xu Jiansheng with a bit of modification, since Jiansheng is Asian by ethnicity, and Matthew is European.]

Matthew Moulin was just a peasant, but he was genuinely handsome and tall, even later than Duke Maximillien and Jean, sporting around 185 centimeters of height. He was eighteen years old and was considered a talented young artist.

Because he inherited his father's art skill, he had been commissioned to do many paintings across the Archduchy area, and it was only time until he reached worldwide fame.

But for now, he was still Jean's humble best friend.

Jean smiled at Mattew and then told the noble ladies, "Excuse me, beautiful ladies, but I need to talk with someone else. I will return to you girls later, okay?"

"Awww, is it His Holiness Saint Raphael? I thought he wouldn't come today because he is still busy in the church…" one lady said, thinking that her only competition was from Jean's official fiancee, Raphael De Argent.

"Yeah, I thought I can spend more time with Jean today. At least, we won't be disturbed by His Highness Archduke Maximillien," one lady added.

"Ah, I'm sorry for your disappointment, how about a tea party with me next week? I will invite you guys to have a private tea party in my garden here, in the Palace of Eau Saumont," Jean suggested.

"Oh, yes, sure! Jean is really the kindest!"

**

After he excused himself from the girls, he approached Matthew, who was standing in silence. His eyes didn't leave Jean at all, but his gaze darkened for every step Jean took to draw near him.

Jean stopped right in front of Matthew. He gave his usual cheery smile and then greeted his best friend, "Matthew! I didn't know that you will come today! I thought you're busy painting an order from a viscount?"

"I will give all my time for you, of course, Jean…." Matthew replied with a thin smile.

"Aww, my Matthew is as cute as usual!" Jean hugged Matthew and circled his arms around Matthew's shoulder, but Matthew suddenly responded by hugging Jean's waist.

He hugged him tightly and showed a mysterious grin before replying, "My Jean is the cutest and the most gorgeous."

There was an awkwardness in Jean's heart because Matthew's behavior was questionable sometimes. He could be overly aggressive towards Jean and everyone around Jean, but when it didn't involve the Young master of Eau Saumont, Matthew was very passive towards life.

As if he didn't have any drive in life except when it was about Jean.

After a while, Little Jean released the hug, and Matthew reluctantly released his, "So, did you come here with someone?"

"I'm alone," Matthew replied curtly.

"Ahh, you should've brought Uncle or Aunt here. Don't you see that we have put a lot of food for the guests? A little help wouldn't hurt, you know," Jean said.

Matthew chuckled and patted Jean's shoulder, "They said that they will be giving us time for ourselves first because we're still young while they are already oldies. I gave them money to go on a date together."

"Date? Oh, nice! I want to go on a date too!" Jean said.

Matthew smiled mysteriously and then snippet with, "I can always set up a date for us if you want."

"Eh? For us?"

"Yes…"

"Hnnn… Matthew is weird. Of course, I can't go on a date, my Big brother will kill me, and Wolf wouldn't let me go. Let alone Raphael, he is my fiancee, you know. And he can't go on a regular date."

"Besides, I didn't know that you have a girlfriend already. Why don't you tell me?" Jean pouted cutely. "You should at least tell me, so I can check on her to see if she is worthy for you."

…

Matthew zipped his mouth after. He only showed a bitter smile.

[Seriously though, even after so many years of friend-zoning, this kid is still so persistent about dating me. It's all shown in his face.]

[Pupa: Maybe you should just reject him.]

[How am I supposed to reject if he never said anything?]

They were stuck in this weird romantic-friend relationship. Jean was oblivious about his surroundings, including Matthew's feelings, while Matthew's love for Jean kept growing every day, like a tree that couldn't be chopped down.

They were in this awkward silence for a while until Jean got bored and shifted the topic, "So, I heard that you will be taking the magic aptitude test for the academy, right?" Jean asked.

"Yes…" Matthew replied.

"Hmmm…. Honestly, up until now, I still don't understand your magic aptitude, Matthew. You've never shown me. Show me once, please," Jean begged, because he was curious.

Matthew always said that he had a magic aptitude, just like Jean and the rest of the nobles, but he wouldn't show it due to personal reasons, whatever that is.

"I will show in when the aptitude test was being held later, don't worry," Matthew said.

[I just hope he didn't release his dark magic in front of everyone in the La Fleur Academy, he will be arrested for practicing forbidden magic!]

[Pupa, I don't think he is that stupid. He must've created some plan to fool everyone. He is a smart guy, unlike you, of course.]

[Hey, what does that mean!?]