Chapter 545: 13.43

A man with a golden butterfly flying around his head controlled the giant water dragon behind them. With a grin, he said, "You little kid, dares to kidnap my little brother."

"Big brother!" Little Jean cheered as he saw his Big brother. Flowers grew on Little Jean's hair to signify his happiness, and Little Jean grabbed Wolf's hand. 

"Wolf, Wolf, that's my Big brother! Isn't he handsome?" Little Jean said excitedly. "He is very strong and rich and smart! He is the best Big brother!" 

"Jean," Maximillien stared at his little brother with dark, brooding eyes. "Come here."

"Okay!" Little Jean said. He was about to come to Maximillien's side, but Wolf grabbed his arm. 

"Wu?" Little Jean turned his head towards Wolf. "What's wrong, Wolf? Do you want to come with me? Let's go! My Big brother is very kind!" Little Jean said. 

Wolf glanced at Archduke Maximillien, and he saw the giant water dragon that was ready to kill anything in his path. His survival instinct doubted that Young Master Jean's Big brother was a kind person. 

"Young… Master… stay…" Wolf urged. He experienced the hostility from Raphael before, and he refused to let Young Master Jean experience the same thing, especially when he fainted.

Wolf thought that his heart would also stop beating once Young Master Jean also stopped breathing with him. 

Little Jean didn't understand Wolf's worry. They were obviously safe now since his Big brother was here to protect him. But Wolf's pleading gaze made him hesitate. 

"Un… Wolf, what's the matter? It's fine, you know. My Big brother is very kind…." Little Jean said. 

"No… not allowed…." Wolf replied. 

Maximillien heard this, and his emotion surged alongside the water dragon whose teeth and claws solidified, turning into ice claws and teeth that were ready to kill anything on his way. 

Little Jean gulped when he saw this, "Wolf, it's okay! Big brother is a good brother!"

Wolf remembered how cruel his Big brother could be when he taught Wolf how to be a good hunter. Although he loved his big brother, Wolf still had some reluctance. He was afraid that Young Master Jean would be abused by his big brother, just like him.

Maximillien got impatient. He hadn't slept for two days, worrying for Little Jean. And now that Little Jean was right in front of him, there was a kid who still wanted to make some trouble with him.

Maximillien chuckled and said, "Release my little brother now, or you will suffer death."

"Wu!?" Little Jean was shocked by his big brother's words. He didn't expect his Big brother to threaten Wolf. 

"B—Big brother, Wolf is kind! He is very kind. Please don't hurt Wolf!" Little Jean begged. 

But Maximillien got even angrier than before. He thought that kid named Wolf must've influenced Little Jean. Since Jean was very naive and kind-hearted, it was easy to take advantage of his naivety. 

"You're not allowed to leave the Palace after this, Jean," Maximillien said. 

"Wha?!" Little Jean started to get scared of Maximillien's hostility. He somehow understood that his Big brother just wanted to protect him, but at the same time, he was also angry that his Big brother didn't want to listen. 

"Big brother, please don't fight! Jean doesn't like fighting!" Little Jean begged. Wolf was ready to take Little Jean and ran away again. He also understood that his skill wasn't enough to defeat someone like Maximillien. He also didn't want Young Master Jean to get hurt for the second time.

Maximillien gritted his teeth. He raised his index, ready to command the water dragon to attack Wolf. 

"You're a bad influence to my little brother," Maximillien said. He flicked his finger, and the water dragon attacked Wolf.

Little Jean got annoyed by so many fights today, he never liked a fight, but they refused to listen. 

When he saw the water dragon coming in Wolf's direction, Little Jean yelled, "BIG BROTHER IS A MEANIE!!"

Little Jean closed his eyes, waiting for that big dragon to hit his body. But to his surprise, he felt nothing, and he heard a big explosion in the sky, and a downpour wetted everything on the ground. 

Little Jean opened his eyes, he saw his Big brother was breathing heavily as if he had extorted a lot of strength. 

"Big brother?" Little Jean called his Big brother, "Big brother, are you okay?" 

Maximillien dropped on his knee. He had extorted a lot of strength to stop that water dragon from attacking. The moment Little Jean called him a meanie, Maximillien's heart dropped, and he stopped his water dragon right away. 

It was so painful for some reason. It was even more painful than getting stabbed in his heart with a real knife. 

Little Jean found that something was wrong, "Big brother!!"

Wolf caught Little Jean's hand again, but Little Jean struggled to break free from Wolf this time.

"Young… Master?"

"I need to help my Big brother! Release me!" Jean continued struggling.

…

Wolf released Young Master Jean's hand, and Jean ran towards his Big brother. 

"Big brother!" Little Jean hugged his Big brother, who had slumped on the ground while breathing heavily. The magic took a toll on his body. "No, Big brother, Jean is sorry. Jean should've listened to you!"

"No, no… it's my fault," Maximillien said, trying to pacify Jean. He stared at Little Jean and gently ruffled his hair, "As long as you're doing good, then I'm okay, Jean. Please don't call me a meanie anymore, okay?"

"Wuwu… I'm sorry, Big brother…."

Maximillien felt that he couldn't maintain his consciousness anymore. He was about to faint until Little Jean suddenly absorbed some of the water from the downpour and transferred his magic back to his Big brother by kissing Maximillien's forehead. 

"Jean? What are you doing?" Maximillien asked. He was still too weak to move his body. 

Little Jean didn't answer. He kept pouring energy reserves into Maximillien's body until his skin turned ashen. 

"Jean! Stop!" Maximillien realized that Little Jean tried to restore his energy, but he didn't like this. Because this was definitely hurting Little Jean.

"Big brother… don't fight… don't hurt Wolf. Wolf is… Jean's knight, okay?"

After Little Jean had given up almost all of his magical reserves, Little Jean fainted on his Big brother's embrace, just like what he did with Wolf before.

But this time, his skin turned ashen and fragile, as if he was barely clinging on his small life.

[Pupa: Ding! Maximillien Eau Saumont's Fatemeter increases to 50%.]

"NO! JEAN!" Maximillien, who had recovered his strength, grabbed Little Jean and carried him on his arm. He glared at Wolf, who was still stunned by what just happened. 

Yet, under that threatening gaze of Maximillien, Wolf didn't seem to look scared at all. His eyes were darted on Little Jean only. He courageously walked towards Maximillien, who was carrying Little Jean and kneeled in front fob him. 

"Wolf Dietrich… Young Master Jean's… Knight."

…

Maximillien looked down at this kid. He hated him. He hated everyone who hurt his little brother, including himself. 

Little Jean fainted because he was trying to help Maximillien. It was also his fault for losing control. 

"I will spare you because Little Jean said so. Whatever happens to you, that will be Jean's right to decide," Maximillien said to Wolf.