Chapter 526: 13.24

"Happy birthday, Jean!" Everyone congratulated Little Jean, who was wearing his best formal attire for his birthday. 

"Yay! Thank you, everyone!" Little Jean was so energetic, he jumped few times, almost released himself from Maximillien's arms. Maximillien warned Little Jean not to be too excited because he might fall.

The guests were singing happy birthday for Little Jean, though there were not many official guests. Because Maximillien was worried that they might use Little Jean for their advantage later. Because Little Jean was just too innocent for his own good. He wasn't trained to be noble like the rest of the noble kids.

Little Jean's fiancee, Raphael De Argent, Matthew Moulin, who was personally invited by Little Jean, and few magistrates in the Archduchy attended the party. 

The rest of the guests were just the servants and guards working in the Palace of Eau Saumont. 

"Big brother, can I blow the candle now?" Little Jean asked. 

Maximillien smiled and nodded, "Go on."

Little Jean blew the candle of a three-tier cake, and he clapped his hands happily, followed by the rest of the people. 

The maids brought a cake cutter to Archduke Maximillien, and the Duke cut a slice of the cake and put it on a plate for Little Jean. 

Ha handed the small plate to Little Jean and asked, "Jean, in birthday tradition, you should give your first slice to someone that matters to you the most."

Little Jean looked around. He saw that his Big brother, Matthew, and Raphael all had the same hopeful expression, which made Little Jean pondered for a moment.

[Pupa, what's Raphael and Maximillien's Fatemeter?]

[Pupa: Maximillien has 40% and Raphael has 35%. Also, if you want to ask about Matthew, he doesn't have one. He never has any use other than being a nuisance, to be honest.]

[So mean, he used to be my stalker in every world. As it should be, knowing my amazing quality as a host.]

[Pupa: Too bad he can't act like a proper stalker and kill you instead.]

[Peh! You're not fun, Pupa. Alright, I'll give this to Maximillien. I need to secure his Fatemeter first.]

Little Jean stared at his Big brother, and he smiled wide, "This is for Big brother! Because Big brother is Jean's Big brother! Jean loves big brother sooooooo much!"

Little Jean grabbed the cake with his hands and shoved it on Maximillien's mouth. 

The guests gasped because Maximillien always upheld the value of mannerism and dignity. How could he forgive an orphan kid who grabbed the cake with his dirty hands and shoved it on Maximillien's mouth?

However, Maximillien said nothing for a moment, as if he was also dazed, then he smiled full of mirth before opening his mouth. He took a big bite of the cake, eating sloppily so that Little Jean would be happy.

And it turned out right, Little Jean looked very happy and hugged his Big brother, "Jean loves Big brother!"

[Pupa: Ding! Maximillien Eau Saumont's Fatemeter increases to 45%.]

"I love you too, Jean," Maximillien smiled while patting Little Jean's head. The guests were stunned by how affectionate this pair of brothers was. 

The coldhearted and cruel Archduke Maximillien looked so loving as if he was an entirely different person towards this kid. And the orphan kid who was supposed to be thrown away from the Archduchy was now sitting on his big brother's arm.

The guests clapped for them, and Maximillien said, "Go and give the second slice to someone else."

Maximillien put down Little Jean and then gave him another plate. Little Jean walked to Raphael without thinking twice, he wanted to feed Raphael for the second slice, but Raphael grew up so fast. He was only eight years old right now and was already tall for his age, just like Maximillien. 

"Wu… Angel is tall. Little Jean wants Angel to eat cake! Bow down, bow down!"

Everyone also gasped at how Little Jean commanded the next Holy Saint, he might be a kid, but he must've known that Raphael would be the Holy Saint. How could a mere orphan order the saint to bow down? Even though Raphael and Little Jean were engaged, it was mostly just to tie the relationship between the Archduchy and the Empire!

Raphael grinned, and he crouched in front of Jean instead. He looked up to Little Jean and opened his mouth. 

Little Jean happily grabbed the cake and shoved it on Raphael's mouth. Like Maximillien, Raphael took a big bite and then ate it even though it was deemed unmannered or not noble-like for him.

"Thank you so much, my fairy," Raphael said. 

He wiped his lips from the cream and then kissed Little Jean's cheek. 

Little Jean giggled innocently, not knowing how much of a big blessing Little Jean had received just now. To be kissed by Raphael was something that a normal human could only dream of, and Little Jean got it so casually. 

[Heh, I guess he doesn't want to give me extra Fatemeter because he got the second slice instead of the first.] 

Little Jean returned to his Big brother's side, but then he noticed Matthew at the edge of his eyes, staring at Little Jean with his hopeful gaze as if he also wanted a share of the cake. 

Little Jean paused for a second…

[Wait, how about Matthew? That pleading eye is like making a hole in my back, you know.]

[Pupa: Well, that's up to you whether you want to give him a slice or not.]

[Hm… honestly, I'm afraid, Pupa. I feel like I shouldn't give him any attention. I keep him close by my side to watch over his action. As long as he doesn't do crazy stuff, then we can befriend.]

[If I give him a slice of cake, then he will think that I also like him…]

[Pupa: You said that you will sacrifice a world for him, was that a lie?]

[It's not a lie, but... I just have a bad feeling about this version of Aaron Xu. He looks too tame and kind.]