Chapter 705 - World 13 Alternate Ending: Maximillien Eau Saumont (2)
Forbidden Love of the Archduke (2)
"Big brother, about the marriage proposal tomorrow. I've told Angel Raphael that I cannot marry him. Because I don't want to live in a lie…."
"What?!" Maximillien was astonished. "You—You're joking, right? You annulled the proposal with him? Why?!"
"Because I can't live in a lie, Big brother. I don't like him, and I can't marry him. I'd rather stay true to my heart and leave everything behind," Jean's beautiful eyes started pooling with tears as he continued, "Big brother, I will leave the duchy now, just like what you want. Please be well without me."
Maximillien gripped Jean's hand tightly, "What do you mean by that? Jean Eau Saumont, tell me what really happens between you and Saint Raphael!"
"We broke up! I've never loved him in the first place, big brother! Do you really think that I will keep my childhood crush on him forever? I'm an adult now, and I have someone else I love."
"You love someone else?!" Maximillien's eyes widened. He got up from the bench and stood in front of Jean. His whole aura looked intimidating as he glared at Jean, "Tell me about this boy you have feelings for."
Jean looked nervous, but in front of his big brother, he couldn't lie much about it, "He is… cold, stoic, can be ruthless, but he is also caring, and he loved me wholeheartedly since we were young. I know my feeling is forbidden, but… I can't suppress it inside my heart."
"Then who is this guy? Tell me!" Maximillien implored. He couldn't help but get possessive when he heard Jean had someone else in his heart.
Jean wanted to say that he had realized he had been in love with his big brother for so long. But he was afraid that his Big brother would be disgusted with him because this was a forbidden love, they might not be blood-related, but they were still adopted brothers, right?
Jean shook his head weakly, "I cannot tell you, big brother."
"Why?!"
"Because you will be disgusted by me…." Jean said. His tears started dropping as he realized that he wouldn't be able to marry his big brother, the only one he loved.
"Jean..." Maximillien was stunned by Jean's tears. He sighed and released Jean's hand. He fished the handkerchief from his pocket and started wiping Jean's tears gently.
"You don't need to force yourself if you don't want to talk about it. I'm sorry," Maximillien said. "But what happened between you and Saint Raphael?"
"How many times do I have to tell you I do not like him! And he is always busy traveling around the globe," Jean sighed. "Big brother, please don't ask about Saint Raphael anymore. We broke up in a fair manner. He also said that he'd bless me with whoever I want as a husband."
"And you will use that blessing to marry this new crush of yours?"
"He is not new, big brother! We've been together for a very long time!"
Maximillien was thinking hard, trying to remember whether Jean was close with anyone in the past.
Of course, that kid named Matthew, but Matthew and Jean hadn't been in contact for years. Maximillien doubted that Jean would marry Matthew.
Jean saw that his big brother was still too dense to realize that he was the one all along. Jean was in love with his big brother, the forbidden feeling he shouldn't have.
Jean planned to leave right after this, so he braced himself and snapped his fingers to create small magic between them.
Maximillien was stunned when Jean suddenly turned into hundreds of shining butterflies. The butterflies circled around Maximillien's body and put him into a deep sleep.
"No, Jean…" Maximillien experienced extreme drowsiness and fell asleep instantly.
Jean entered his big brother's dream so he could confess and leave immediately.
Maximillien looked around in the empty space around him. He knew that Jean was capable of much unknown magic, but he didn't understand why would Jean put him to sleep.
"Jean, are you here?" Maximillien asked.
A butterfly flew from the darkness towards Maximillien and transformed into Jean, standing in front of him.
"Big brother, I'm sorry, I have to put you to sleep because what I'm about to say—you will not like it," Jean said with a bitter smile on his face. "Please bear with it because this is my last words."
Jena focused his gaze at his big brother and said, "Big brother—No, Maximillien Eau Saumont, you may see me as your little brother since we were young, but… I have something else in my heart."
"I know you will be disgusted, but… I love you."
"I love you not as a family or brother, but I love you as a man. I want to marry you instead because you're the one who's always looking out for me, taking care of me, and also pampered me. I cannot help but fall in love…."
Jean finally uttered everything that he had wanted to say for so long. He turned around immediately, afraid to see the disgust in his big brother's face, "I will leave now, big brother. I will have to put you on sleep for a while so I can leave quietly. I'm sorry for being a bad and unfilial brother to you, but I can't lie about my own heart."
Just right before Jean could leave the dream inside Maximillien's heart, the owner of the dream hugged him from behind.
Jean jolted when he felt the big and warm body engulf him. He could also feel Maximillien's breath tickling his nape, "B—Big brother—"
"Don't call me big brother now. Call me by my name," Maximillien said. He buried his face on Jean's shoulder, feeling ashamed of himself. "Jean, I'm sorry for making you feel like that for so long. I should've told you a long time ago."
"I, Maximillien Eau Saumont, has been in love with you, Jean Eau Saumont, for so long. And my love for you is not just a familial love. I love you as a man. I want to marry you, Jean…."
Jean turned his body around to face Maximillien. He was surprised that both of them had the same feelings. As they stared at each other, Jean's eyes pooled with tears again.
Maximillien kissed Jean's cheek that was wet with tears and then kissed the lips of his beloved, something that he wished he could do since long time ago.
They shared their first kiss full of longing in the dream. Jean's natural magic engulfed them with thousands of light butterflies, and the dream was shattered.
Maximillien woke up and saw that Jean was standing in front of him. He looked shy and a bit reluctant, "B—Big brother, are you sure about what you said?"
Maximillien got up from the bench and hugged Jean tightly. He whispered, "I am sure that I love you, Jean. I've loved you for so long, and I will continue doing so. I want to marry you and wake up with you on the other side of the bed."
"Then kiss me, Maximillien. Kiss me as a lover," Jean asked.
Maximillien stared at Jean's clear eyes, and his heart was racing. He didn't want to take his eyes off him, and they shared their first kiss in real life together.
[Pupa: Ding! Maximillien Eau Saumont's Fatemeter increases to 100%! I'm wishing you a happy life with him for a long time. Congratulation, host!]
[Hehe, you still have that automated message, Pupa?]
[Pupa: It is a default setting for me, I cannot change it.]
[Pupa: Anyway, with this, that means you have failed this world. Because you have three male leads and one hidden male lead to conquer. Yet, you only romanced Maximillien.]
[Pupa: Raphael thought that you're not ready for such a long and arduous trip across the globe with him. Wolf left the Archduchy with his Big brother, and you still haven't unlocked the fourth hidden male lead in this world.]
[I mean, this world is difficult, Pupa! Besides, Maximillien is the one who has been on my side for so long. He is literally the best I could get!]
[Pupa: Your mission is to make a harem in this world. But—if this is your choice, we can always spend a lifetime with Maximillien until your death and then restart.]
[Hehe, let's do that! I wonder what would happen if I romanced every male lead to 100%. I bet we can have an orgy!]