"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.
"Yes'¦" Wolf nodded obediently. Wolf already decided to follow Young Master Jean if he allowed Wolf to be his knight. Even if his big brother Prince Alric were against it, nothing would come between Wolf and his determination.Â
"Are you part of that bandit group?" Maximillien asked.Â
"Yes'¦ Wolf's brother'¦ leader'¦." Wolf replied truthfully. He wanted to gain the trust of Young Master Jean's big brother, so he would let Wolf be Young Master Jean's knight.Â
'¦
Maximillien already knew that this kid was related to that bandit leader he captured just now. Before he reached Little Jean, he already swept everyone inside that camp with his water magic, including the crimson-haired bandit leader.Â
"Follow me," Maximillien said.Â
They returned to the bandit camp where everyone had been captured by the guards, thanks to Archduke Maximillien's amazing magic power. There were few casualties, but most of them were the ones who tried to fight or were just too ruthless.Â
The crimson-haired leader, Prince Alric, was bound by Archduke Maximillien himself. Since Alric had fire magic, he could melt rope and steel. Maximillien put his body in a water bubble, with his head stuck out, so he could breathe.Â
Prince Alric looked at Archduke Maximillien, who was carrying the unconscious Young Master Jean. His skin had turned ashen, and he looked so fragile. It was a pitiful look compared to the lively boy who would stare at people with his doe eyes.Â
But Alric was nonchalant at anything right now. He didn't expect Archduke Maximillien to discover his hiding and swept everything with his supreme water magic.Â
It was so powerful that Alric was caught off guard.Â
He stared at Maximillien nonchalantly and said, "Kill me now, Your Highness. I don't care."
"You don't care, huh?" Maximillien grinned maliciously. "Would you maintain that nonchalant attitude after you see this kid with me?"
Maximillien stepped to the side and exposed Wolf, who was standing behind Maximillien the whole time.Â
Alric's eyes widened as he saw his little brother, "You idiot, RUN!"Â
'¦
Wolf didn't budge at all. He just bowed his head in front of his big brother politely and said, "Brother'¦ Wolf is'¦ Young Master Jean's'¦ knight'¦."
"WHAT?!" Alric was shocked when he heard what Wolf stated just now. "You're a knight? Wolf, we're princes! We deserve to be a ruler, not just a mere knight!"
"Wolf'¦ wants'¦" Wolf resolutely said.Â
'¦Â
This was the first time for Wolf to actually defy his order. Which made Alric both stunned and proud at the same time. He really thought that his little brother was a kid that didn't have any ambition of his own.
"Wolf, are you serious about this? You want to be that kid's knight?" Alric asked.
"Yes'¦"
'¦
Alric never expected such strong determination from the passive Wolf. He closed his eyes for a moment and then nodded, "If Archduke and that little kid allow you to be a knight, then so be it. I have nothing against that."
"I can't help you either since the Archduke will execute the rest of the group here and me. Wolf, since you've made your decision, then you should not look back. You're no longer part of the Dietrich royal family. You're just a mere knight right now, understand?"
"Understand'¦"
"Do you regret anything?" Alric asked.Â
"No'¦" Wolf replied.Â
Alric chuckled, "That's good. Now I don't need to be burdened by you anymore. You have your own family now."
Alric darted his eyes at Maximillien, and he said, "Your Highness, Archduke of Eau Saumont. If I can request, please take my brother away from there, so he wouldn't see my execution."
Maximillien was silent for a while. He was weighing the pros and cons of these bandits' punishment. He glanced at Little Jean, who was still unconscious. He sighed and then snapped his fingers. The water prison that trapped Alric exploded, and Prince Alrich dropped to the ground, breathing heavily due to the extreme pressure he experienced just now.Â
Alric looked at Maximillien in disbelief, "Y'Your Highness'¦."
"I forgive you not because of kindness or pity, you filthy bandits," Maximillien snipped before Alric, and the bandits think of him as a savior.Â
"I will forgive you and your group as long as you leave my duchy and the empire area. I know that you're the discarded royal prince from the Dieter Kingdom, right?" Maximillien asked.
"H'How did you know'¦."
"I've been studying about your kingdom and your family crimson-hair traits. It's not hard to connect the dots," Maximillien replied. "I will give you enough money to leave the empire and probably take over the kingdom. But I want you to cooperate with my Archduchy after you're able to reclaim the throne."
"Whether it's through trade or other things, you need to be ready. Deal?"
"DEAL!" Alric agreed without hesitation. He didn't expect his expected death turned into a blessing instead.Â
"Thank you, Your Highness'"
"Don't thank me," Maximillien denied, and he stared at the unconscious Jean. "My little brother is a gentle soul. He would be upset if he heard that I killed his little knight's brother. Treat this as his blessing, not mine."
Alric stared at Little Jean, who was still unconscious. He felt guilty because he kidnapped Little Jean, but he also felt relieved because if he accidentally hurt Jean, then his death was inevitable.Â
Seeing how protective Archduke Maximillien was to his little brother.Â
Alric walked towards Wolf and then ruffled Wolf's hair, "Wolf, I will return and take what's ours in the first place, Dieter Kingdom. But since you've decided to stay here and become Young Master Jean's knight, I hope to visit you'¦ someday."
"Your group can stay here, but you have to settle everything with me in my Palace," Maximillien said.Â
"Your Highness'¦ Young Master'¦ how'¦" Wolf asked Maximillien. He was worried since Young Master Jean's skin had turned ashen.
Maximillien tightened his grip on Little Jean. "He will be alright. He just needs rest and mana transfer from Raphael'¦."
Still, it hurt Maximillien, seeing that his little brother fainted because of him.
Maximillien glared at Wolf, who stiffened immediately.
"You've been trusted by my little brother as his knight. Keep that trust and protect Little Jean with all your life."
Wolf nodded, he stared at Young Master Jean, who was still unconscious, and he vowed, "Young Master's life'¦ Wolf's precious'¦."
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