A month had passed since the engagement, and the life in Eau Saumont Palace was as peaceful as ever.

Little Jean was busy skipping through the maze garden alone when he saw his Big brother was busy reading a book on the bench.

​​

Honestly, he was also annoyed at his nonchalant Big brother. Maximillien was always busy with hid documents in the office. When he finally had free time like this, he spent it by doing the exact same thing, but in a different place.

Little Jean pouted and hugged his Big brother's leg, "Big brother! What are you doing?"

Maximillien wasn't surprised. He just smiled at Little Jean and lifted him up to sit on his lap, "I'm reading a novel. What do you want?" Maximillien asked.

"Big brother… un…." Little Jean wanted to persuade his Big brother to spend time together outside or play. His Big brother had a terrible dark circle nowadays because he often worked so late at night.

Thus, Little Jean tried to look cute in front of his Big brother. With his moist eyes, he looked up at Maximillien and said, "Big brother, why don't we go to the city?"

"City?" Maximillien sighed. He knew that Little Jean would ask for this sooner or later. He didn't intend to bring Little Jean to the city because it would taint his eyes.

Besides, it was so obvious that Little Jean's pink hair would attract the attention of many people, and it might be troublesome.

"Jean, do you want me to buy something instead? Just name what kind of toy you want, and I will buy it," Maximillien suggested. But Little Jean shook his head. He pulled his Big brother's collar and begged with his tender gaze.

"Big brother… please…."

"I—" Maximillien wanted to refuse again, but after seeing that tender gaze, he sighed and yielded. "Fine, let's just go now. But I don't want you to go anywhere. We'll just go to a restaurant for lunch and leave."

"Can I go and buy supplies as well?"

"You mean, art supply? I already bought you a new pack of colored pencils."

"No, no, Jean wants a real canvas and paint!" Little Jean said. "Jean will have his birthday soon! Jean wants a gift!"

"Birthday?" Maximillien didn't realize that Jean would be five years old soon. Because he never bothered checking on Jean's birth certification inside his late parent's bedroom.

"Yes! Jean's birthday will be on um… um…." Jean started counting with his small fingers, then he just lost count."Wu… Jean forgot birthday, but on Jean's last birthday, I got crayon from orphanage grandpa!"

"I see…" Maximillien pondered for a moment, thinking that he was such a bad brother for Little Jean. But he wasn't trained to take care of a little kid since he was just a fourteen years old teen. "Do you want a birthday party?"

"What is a birthday party?" Little Jean asked.

"Hm…" Maximillien's eyes looked up as he imagined his birthday party before. Honestly, his birthday party wasn't all that glamorous. His parents wanted him to build relationships while having a birthday party, so his party was mostly about talking to other noble kids and older nobles to strengthen future relationships.

It wasn't an ideal birthday for Little Jean.

"Birthday party is about cake, balloons, gifts, and so on," Maximillien explained.

Little Jean got excited right after Maximillien mentioned cake and gift. His eyes glimmered full of hope.

"Jean can get cake and gift for a birthday?!" Little Jean asked.

"Yes, you can," Maximillien replied. Little Jean became jumpy and hugged his big brother's chest excitedly.

"Big brother is the best! Jean loves Big brother the most! Yaaayyy!"

Maximillien got flustered with the surge of excitement from Little Jean. But he was also considering whether he should invite the nobles to celebrate Jean's birthday.

Because he didn't want any other men, especially young boys around Jean's age, to suddenly come and propose. It would be troublesome.

Little Jean's presence was still largely unknown for everyone other than those in the Palace of Eau Saumont, so it would be dangerous for Jean as well.

Because Maximillien already expected that people would try to persuade the innocent Little Jean to do their bidding, especially the lesser nobles who wanted to be promoted by the Archduke.

"Big brother, can we go now? I want to go to the city!" Jean requested. "I also want to buy a cake for my birthday, and gifts!"

Maximillien chuckled and pinched Little Jean's cheek, "Gifts are meant to be secretive, so I won't allow you to see what kind of gift I have. And cake can only be eaten at the birthday celebration."

"Wu… but Jean wants to eat cake…." Little Jean pouted cutely. He sulked after realizing there would be no cake today.

Maximillien couldn't help but to cater to Little Jean's request. He had to admit that Little Jean's cuteness made him weak. He sighed and yielded to the request, "Fine, we will go to the city and buy a cake there instead. Remember, only to the restaurant to eat lunch and cake, and to your art supplies. Nothing more."

[Wehehe, Cute Pout no Justu works as well~]

[Pupa: Okay, seriously, you have to stop doing that pout. It's too disgusting for me.]

[Heh, but my Big brother is happy with it~]

[Pupa: Your Big brother is stupid and blind.]

"Yes!" Jean nodded excitedly.

"Still, I have to ask the butler to check on mom and dad's room to check your birth certificate. You said it's near, right?"

"Yes, usually when it's Jean's birthday, the sun will be very hot!"

"I see, so it's around early summer then…." Maximillien calculated. After some consideration, he smiled at Jean. He got up while carrying his little brother, "Let's just prepare ourselves for the trip to the city."

"Okay, Big brother!"

Little Jean snuggled on his Big brother's arm while he was getting carried back to the Palace.

Maximillien ordered the butler to check on Little Jean's birth certificate and ordered few servants to prepare for Little Jean's boots for the trip and the carriage for them.

It took half an hour for everything to get ready. Little Jean and Duke Maximillien entered the lavish blue carriage. The coachman spurred the horse, and the carriage went out from the Palace, heading to the capital city of Eau Saumont.

It should take about an hour for them to get there since the Place was disconnected from the capital city of Eau Saumont.

"Big brother, what Capital City looks like?" Jean asked.

"Hm… it's has a lot of buildings, and there is La Fleur Academy as well. It's a major port for trade and also a very good place if you want to work in the big city," Maximillien explained. "Archduchy earns a lot of money from tax, especially for the port tax. But it's tough to manage the economy and security. Once you're older, you'll understand this."

"Un… okay…"

[Okay, Pupa, you said that Madeline, the main character of the tome game, is in the city, right?]

[Pupa: Yes, she is a city girl—well, for now, she is a city child. Her mom is a florist while her dad helps by selling art supplies.]

[Perfect, let me see my love rival first before facing her in the academy later!]