"But if you need anything, just send me a letter or send Wolf as your envoy. I will help you, as always."

…

Jean sat on his bed, confused and burdened with this feeling in his heart. He didn't know why his Big brother acted so strangely. He came to the Academy, yelling at him, forbidding him to come close to anyone, and then just left, adding even more questions in Jean's head. 

[Man, Maximillien's lovesickness is troublesome. He doesn't seem to be the kind of person that wants to share…]

[Pupa: I don't think any of them want to share, maybe Wolf, but that's because he loves you wholeheartedly and selflessly. The rest of them are very possessive.]

[Pupa: Maximillien is just the most possessive one. Well… maybe there is one more person…]

Matthew opened the door after a while. He saw Young Master Jean slumped on his bed, lost in his thought. 

He heard everything that Archduke Maximillien and Young Master Jean talked about inside the room. It wasn't hard for him to eavesdrop with his power anyway. 

But he didn't expect that things would develop to this point. He walked towards Young Master Jean to comfort him. 

"Young Master…"

…

"Ah, Matthew…" it took a while for Jean to realize that Matthew was sitting beside him. Jean smiled bitterly and cast his eyes down again. "I'm sorry that my Big brother is being harsh on you. He's usually not that mean, I swear…."

'I don't care, Young Master. I still don't like him… or anyone who got close to you….' Matthew thought.

But he didn't want Jean to hear his thought, so he just patted Jean's shoulder and said, "It's okay. We've been close to each other for twelve years. I don't think he hates me as well. I was just surprised."

Jean nodded. He was relieved that Matthew wasn't angry at his Big brother.

But he was the one who got burdened instead. 

He remembered that Matthew was insulted by his Fiancee, Raphael, and now his Big brother, Maximillien. Matthew was a good kid. He didn't deserve this. 

"Um… Matthew, I'm really sorry for what happened before as well… you know, about my Fiancee…."

Matthew paused. He was angry whenever he remembered how both of them, Maximillien and Raphael, tried to kick him away from Young Master Jean's life as if he was some kind of dirty bug. 

"It's okay, Young Master. I'm here to study, after all. I don't have any other meaning…." Matthew smiled. 

"Matthew… you're so kind and innocent. I don't know why nobody likes you… I like you a lot…." Jean said. He was impressed by Matthew's kindness and gentleness. 

And it was true throughout twelve years of their close friendship. 

Matthew was always attentive to whatever Young Master Jean wants, and followed him everywhere whenever they were around. He never showed any sign of mischievousness as well. Matthew was very meek and quiet, and he was a great painter as well! 

Although Matthew never liked socializing, he would cheer up and talk a bit more than usual whenever he was around Jean.

Matthew wanted to laugh when Young Master Jean praised him for being so kind and innocent. Maybe Young Master Jean didn't realize that he was the naive and pure one here. 

Matthew also had the same desire as the other. It was the same desire that Maximillien, Raphael, and Wolf had.

He wanted to have Young Master Jean all for himself, even by any means necessary. He was just finding a way to seal the deal first before he started executing his plan.

Besides, he was just a peasant. He had no power against the others. 

"Young Master, do you trust me?" Matthew asked.

"Un… I trust you so much. Matthew is my best friend…."

Matthew held Young Master Jean's hands and then kneeled in front of him, "Young Master, I may not be the most powerful Archduke, or the Holy Saint, or the strong Knight. But I will never hurt you," Matthew vowed to Jean.

"Un… I know that" Jean nodded.

"Then, if you know what I want, let me give this to you, Young Master," Matthew took something out of his pocket and put it on Jean's palm. "I made this with all my heart…."

"Wu… what is this?" Jean opened his palm. "A pendant?"

Matthew gave him a heart-shaped pendant made out of obsidian crystal. It had been polished to an incredible level, giving it a refined feeling and smooth to hold.

"I call this truth pendant. Just like the Butterfly hairpin that you got from His Holiness Saint Raphael, the truth pendant will protect you from harm, Young Master…." 

"Wu… protect me from harm?" Jean accepted the pendant without too much question. He had gotten many gifts from many people in his life, so he thought this was just another special gift.

And this one was for Matthew. It would be rude for him to suspect Matthew.

"Yes, whenever you feel threatened, just kiss the pendant, and it will create a magical barrier. Nobody will be able to get close with you if you have this," Matthew explained. "Can I have the honor to put this on your neck?"

"Un…" 

Jean stretched his neck, so it would be easier for Matthew to put it. Matthew smirked while putting on the pendant because this was the first step he took to have Young Master Jean all for himself. 

Only he knew the real nature and effect of the truth pendant that he created with his dark magic. 

After one click, the truth pendant was finally hanging on Jean's neck, "It looks so good on you, Young Master," Matthew praised. 

Jean blushed and caressed the heart-shaped pendant, "I—It's a gift from Matthew, of course, it looks good! Thank you so much, Matthew!"

"No, no, I should be the one who does that—" Matthew smiled. "Thank you so much, Young Master Jean."

[Hmmm…]

[Pupa:…]

[Hmmmmmm…]

[Pupa: What?]

[Sus! This whole truth pendant thing is suspicious! But I can't reject it because of Jean's naive character setting, aish…]

[Pupa: I detect nothing wrong with it. For some reason, I can't even detect the dark magic inside the pendant, unlike the butterfly hairpin.]

[That's even more sus! He is suspicious! I bet this pendant will make me go crazy or something.]

[Pupa: Then don't wear it.]

[Ehh, I don't know about that one… I like the color though, so edgy, hehe~]

Pupa rolled its eyes. It knew that Yunyu just wanted to complain because he didn't trust Matthew that much. 

Though, if Pupa was in Yunyu's shoes, even though Pupa didn't have feet. It would also get suspicious of Matthew. 

"Young Master, do you like it?" Matthew asked.

"Un! I like it so much! I think the hairpin and the pendant fit each other!" Jean said happily. 

"Then kiss it," Matthew suggested. "Kissing the pendant often will help to polish the pendant even more."

"Really?" Jean was excited. He kissed the pendant lightly, and the pendant shone with black and purple color from the inside. 

"Uwaaa… so cool!" Jean praised. 

"That's just one of its functions. It's mostly to make you look good and to protect you, Young Master. Just like what I want to do, I want to protect you from harm."

'And from anybody else….' Matthew said in his heart.