Maximilian Kasin Ashet is the male protagonist of Father, I Don’t Want To Get Married!. He is the crown prince of the Ashet Empire and the original villain of Jubel’s novel, the first born son of the Emperor Darius Zeferon Ashet and the late Empress Latisha Ashet from his father’s first marriage, the older half-brother of the novel’s heroine Beatrice Evelyn Ashet, the apprentice of the Empire’s greatest swordsman Regis Adri Floyen and the lover of his master’s daughter Jubelian Eloy Floyen.
History
Original novel
Not much is known about Maximilian in the original novel other than being Ashet Empire's crown prince and the main antagonist of the novel. He was in charge of interrogating Jubelian Eloy Floyen after she had been accused of poisoning his sister Beatrice Evelyn Ashet in revenge for marrying Jubel’s former fiancé, Mikhail Albert Hessen. Upon seeing the crown prince, Jubelian immediately stabbed herself to save herself from any torture. Maximilian attempted to stop her, but was too late to prevent her suicide and could only watch as his master Regis Adri Floyen grieved over her death.
Past
Despite being born the crown prince of the empire, Max did not have a happy childhood as his father Darius Zeferon Ashet was often cold and neglecting towards him while Isabelle (Darius’ concubine at the time) would frame Max as an unstable child. Max’s mother Latisha Ashet was the only person who believed Max was a kind hearted person and did her best to protect her son. Seeing her as a thorn in her side, Isabelle poisoned Max’s mother to take her place as Empress in the hopes that her daughter Beatrice Evelyn Ashet would become the next ruler. On his mothers deathbed, he was entrusted in the care of Regis Adri Floyen, the greatest knight in the Ashet Empire, by the first Empress so that her son could defend himself. Max was taught the art of swordsmanship by Regis and quickly became one of the strongest knights in the Empire, this combine with the rumors created by Isabelle, giving a reputation as a cold and bloodthirsty warrior.
Synopsis
First Encounter with Jubelian
Maximilian first encountered Jubelian Eloy Floyen while purchasing armor polish. Their encounter was rather hostile when Max caught Jubel starring at him, telling her to get lost. Offended by Max’s rude behavior, Jubel proceeds to purchase all the armor polish in the store to keep Max from buying his items. Having no time to waste, Max left after purchasing his can but was stopped by Jubel as he overpaid for his can. While Jubel was distracted by the store clerk, Max took his leave where he met his attendant. His attendant informed Max that his master Regis requested his presence at his estate.
Later that night, Max visited Regis Adri Floyen who he asked to aid in his plan to overthrow his father the Emperor. Regis declined as he could not jeopardize the safety of his daughter Jubelian. Max could only scowl at his master’s sentimentality towards his daughter and proclaimed that she was a weakness that the Emperor is exploiting. Noticing Jubel was eavesdropping on their conversation, Max proclaimed there was a rat nearby and would deal with it. Regis, having caught on to what Max was about to do, threatened Max to ignore it. Jubel, believing there to be a literal rat, ran away. Regis reminded Max that the way of the sword was to protect, not to kill and when Max found someone he truly wished to protect, he would grow stronger. Tired of their conversation, Max left for the night swearing that he would not have the same weakness as his master.
Second meeting
Some time later, Max faked an assassination attempt on his father the Emperor, causing the Emperor to call for Regis to guard Emperor Darius. Max also had his attendant gather intel on Jubelian to understand why Regis wanted to protect her, only finding her as a liability due to her abhorrent behavior and obsession over Marquis Mikhail Albert Hessen.
While Regis was away guarding the Emperor, Maximilian snuck into Regis’ mansion in the middle of the night, breaking into Jubelian’s room as she slept. Seeing just how vulnerable she was, Max approached Jubel but was startled when she suddenly woke up. Jubel lit her lamp to see Max and breathed a sigh of relief knowing it was just her father’s disciple. Caught off guard by her calm and fearless attitude towards him, Max realized Jubel was the same woman he encountered while purchasing armor polish.
Hearing guards outside Jubel’s room, Max took his sword to her neck to keep her from revealing his presence. Jubel only responded with indifference and turned the guards away. When Jubelian started yawning, Max acted irritated but Jubel believed she had more right to be irritated as Max was the one who broke into her room. Jubel asked Max to go back to his own home so she could return to her sleep, but Max coldly revealed he had no home.
Believing that Max was homeless and was hoping to sleep at her father’s manor for the night, Jubel gave Max permission to stay at the manor for the night and gave him an extra blanket for him to use. Jubel fell right back to sleep, leaving Max dumbfounded. Max attempted to carry out his original plan but was overcome by Jubel’s fearlessness towards him. Feeling at ease around her, Max felt drowsy from his lack of sleep that he fell asleep right next to Jubel.
After waking up from her nightmare, Jubel noticed that Max had spent the night in her bed. Not wanting to make the situation worse, Jubel attempted to wake Max only for Max to reflexively wake up and pin Jubel down. Max is further confused when Jubel suddenly laughs at Max which caught the attention of the maid outside Jubel’s room.
Not wanting Max to get into any misunderstanding, Jubel hides Max in her closet so no one would get the wrong idea of the two spending the night together. Max is embarrassed by Jubel’s accusation and almost lashed out at her before she covers his mouth. Jubel tells Max that he’ll have to listen to her if he wants to stay which Max reluctantly complies to. Jubel then playfully patted Max’s head, aggravating the prince further but is pushed into the closet before he could say anything else.
While hiding in the closet, Max could hear Jubel’s conversation with the maid and peaked to see the maid applying ointment to Jubel’s body, realizing that he bruised her when he pinned her. After her maid left Jubel to herself, Jubel let Max out of the closet and offered to eat breakfast together. Max is overwhelmed by Jubel’s kind gesture until he sees that they were served cucumber sandwiches, a vegetable Max despises.
Not wanting to disappoint Jubel’s hospitality, Max eats the sandwich without complaint. While eating together, Max continued to question why he is being courteous with Jubel but continued to eat as he surprisingly enjoyed spending time with her.
While spending the rest of the day together, Jubel asked Max if he thought cufflinks were a suitable gift. At first believing they are a gift for her former fiancé Mikhail, Max insults Jubel’s gesture as he believes it’s wasted on a man like Mikhail until Jubel stands up to Max and explains they are for her father. Realizing he misunderstood the situation, Max assures Jubel that her father would be happy with whatever she gave him, a fact that Max quickly realizes Jubel does not believe.
Jubel recalled that Max spends more time with her father than she does and asked for his opinion on what her father enjoys. Max recalls that all Regis ever speaks of is Jubel but Max does not admit this out loud. With an apology letter, her father’s pendant, and the cufflinks in hand, Jubel left Max by himself while she delivered the items to her father’s study, leaving Max to wonder what his teacher’s reaction will be to Jubel’s gift.
While waiting in Jubel’s room, Max noticed a cloaked man entering from the window of the room and immediately grabbed them by the throat, demanding to know their reason for coming. The cloaked man, panicking, stated his superior madam Freya was the one who sent him to inform that Max is to be return to the palace. Max left Jubel a letter telling her not to look for him and that he would return in the future.
Rose's birthday party
Finding Partner
While attending a masquerade hosted by Freya, Max overheard a few guests gossiping about Jubelian and the rumor surrounding the cufflinks she had gifted to her father, saying she was giving them to a new lover. Infuriated by their gossip, Max threw his glass of wine on the floor to silence the ladies, shaming them for their disrespect towards Jubel on baseless rumors. Max took his leave, surprised by his own actions.
Max later met with Freya expressing his distaste in the gossip surrounding Jubel. Max asked Freya the real truth surrounding Jubel. Freya revealed that the source of the rumors came from Radian Droil, cousin of Jubelian’s former fiancé Mikhail. Infuriated by their actions against Jubel, Max requested information regarding both men.
Max returned to the Floyen estate while Regis was away where Max snuck in to Jubel’s room, again through the window. While Jubel was surprised to see Max again, Max noticed that Jubel seemed troubled by something and inquired her, promising not to tell her father. Jubel confides in Max about the rumors surrounding her regarding whether she has a secret lover, which she believes is causing all the men who are applying to be Jubel’s partner to reject her.
Max, infuriated by the actions of the nobles, thinks over what he would do if he was Jubel’s partner, once again surprising himself. Jubel further revealed that her father is planning to marry her off and already has a select candidate, and that she needs a partner to attend Lady Arlo’s banquette in order to keep her father from marrying the candidate. Seeing an opportunity, Max remarked that she might already have a suitable partner closer than she thinks. Inspired by Max’s words, Jubel decides to take her cousin Geraldine Juan Ronelle. Embarrassed that his plan had backfired, Max attempted to leave but Jubel gifted Max a bag of money as thanks for his help. Jubel tells Max that he is always welcome to come over if he should need a place to stay.
While brooding over his encounter with Jubel, Max was informed that his body double, Victor, was being suspected by the other nobles.
First Dance
Concerned for Jubel’s safety at the banquette, Max ordered Freya to attend the banquet to protect Jubel in case anyone approached her. On the day of lady Arlo’s banquet, Max snuck in to observe the scene should but was surprised to see Jubel attended with her father. While watching her from a tree, Max notices Jubel crying by herself and approached her out of concern, expressing his desire to help her should anyone bother her. While appreciative for his intentions, Jubel is concerned for Max due to nobles mistreating commoners over minor actions. Jubel asked Max to speak formally to her when they are seen together in public. Though Max was slightly annoyed by the request, he complied when Jubel assured him that he could speak however he liked when they were alone.
Noticing no one had asked her to dance, Max offered Jubel to be her first dance partner, surprising Jubel with his dancing. When Jubel accidentally trips over Max’s feet he quickly catches her, and unintentionally brings her closer to him. Before either could say or do anything else, they are interrupted by the surprise appearance of Jubel’s father Regis, who demanded Max stay away from Jubel crushing his glass of wine with his bare hand. Concerned for her father’s wellbeing, Jubel immediately approached her father. Noticing that her ankle was hurt, Max attempted to help Jubel but was stopped by Regis, who insisted on taking his daughter home. Max could only watch as Regis carried his daughter away, warning Max not to come to his home again.
Unable to stop thinking about Jubel or their intimate moment together, Max went to Lady Freya’s Salon asking Freya to host a banquet and invite Jubel, but Freya finds this difficult as Jubel was being bombarded with countless invitations to party’s.
Contracted Lovers
Jubelian's offered contract
Unable to wait for Jubel to respond, Max once again snuck into the Floyen manor to meet Jubel, who was annoyed that Max kept appearing at her window, but quickly changed her attitude when she saw an opportunity. Jubel then immediately asked Max to be her lover. Max at first is caught off guard by her proposal but then quickly fantasized about a future together with Jubel. Realizing Max was misunderstanding her proposal, Jubel reassured it would be a contractual relationship until Jubel can live independently from her father and avoid marrying the crown prince, surprising Max as he realizes that Jubel does not know who he really is.
Jubel further emphasized her dislike for the crown prince by saying he was cold hearted and heartless man, and would never willingly marry him. Upset by Jubelian’s words, Max leaves her without giving her an answer. Max returned to Freya’s salon sulking over Jubel’s words. Freya informs Max about the Emperor wanting him to return to the palace again and that his stepmother Isabelle Rusty Ashet had sent another assassin after him. When asked what to do with the assassin, Max thought back to Jubel’s words and decided to spare the assassin, surprising Freya.
After learning that Jubel would be attending Veronica Joanna Terrence’s tea party, Max went to find Jubel when he learned that her ex-fiancé would also be attending. While out in town, Max was being admired by the women around him causing a nearby nobleman Baron Golden jealousy. Wanting to humiliate Max for being better looking than himself, Baron Golden talked down to Max while boasting his status to Max. Max was unfazed by Golden’s taunting and pushed him away, knocking the Baron over.
Before either man could punish the other, Jubelian stepped in to defend Max, still believing he was a commoner. Jubel passes off Max as her bodyguard, though Max was upset that she referred to him as her servant than her lover. When the Baron refused to apologize to Max, Jubel humbly asks the Baron for forgiveness regarding Max, claiming he was from the countryside and lacked proper manners, agitating Max. Jubel then offered to receive Max’s punishment instead if the Baron still insisted on punishing Max.
Realizing what would happen if he laid his hands on Duke Floyen’s daughter, Baron Golden reluctantly apologized to Max who frightened the Baron off with his piercing glare. Realizing Jubel was concerned for his safety, Max thanked Jubel and accepted her offer to date. Not wanting people to know of their relationship, Jubel quickly covered Max’s mouth and escorted him back to her carriage.
While riding back to the Floyen estate, Jubel questioned Max on why he suddenly changed his mind and what he was doing in Arcade street. Not wanting Jubel to know the real reason, he claimed to like wandering without purpose, annoying Jubel. Max continued to think to himself over the matter, realizing he could not continue to show up out of no where and needed to stay close to Jubel to keep Mikhail from approaching her. Jubel continued their conversation by wanting to discuss the terms of their contract. Before he continued the conversation, Max asked why Jubel wanted one with him to begin with. Jubel reasoned that it was because he was her father’s student, upsetting Max as he was taking the relationship seriously, but Jubel also expressed her trust towards Max that she does not feel around any other man, making Max blush.
When asked how much he wanted in return for being Jubel’s lover, Max promised to do it for free as compensation for injuring her. Jubel was surprised by Max’s kindness and immediately grabbed his hands, promising to give Max a place to stay whenever he wanted. Max, flustered and caught off guard by Jubel holding his hands, asked her to let go but Jubel stands firm that their relationship must look as convincing as possible. Jubel insisted they write out their contract but Max finds it unnecessary as he trusts Jubel would not take advantage of him. While appreciative of his thoughtfulness, Jubel insists on writing out their terms.
Jubel then leaned closer to Max stating they must do one more action. Max, believing it to be a kiss, is flustered but leans in closer, until Jubel reveals that she meant they needed to get their stories straight in case anyone asked how their relationship started, embarrassing Max.
Official Introduced to the Floyen
Arriving at the Floyen Mansion, Jubel introduced Max to her guards as her lover, shocking everyone as they had never seen Jubel with him. Despite Geraldine’s protest and suspicion, Max allowed Jubel to recount their fake love story and even smiled at her when she promised to protect him.
Jubel introduced Max to her father Regis, claiming him to be her lover, much to the anger of her father. Taking their conversation to the reception room, Regis inquired on how the two met, as he had been trying to prevent them from interacting. Jubel revealed how they met the first night and how they slept in the same room, further enraging the Duke as he glared at Max, intimidating the usually composed prince. The Duke demands they not see each other, but Max does not waver, consoling Jubel.
Max reminded Regis what he taught him, that the sword was meant to protect someone, and insists that he has found that precious weakness in Jubel, and would not allow even his master to take her from him. Regis, unconvinced of Max’s sincerity, renounces Max as his disciple. Seeing that the two will not come to a compromise, Jubel insists on talking with Max in private, which Regis allows albeit reluctantly.
While thankful for standing up for her, Jubel is displeased by Max’s disrespect towards her father and does not want him to never speak to Regis again. Jubel asks that Max reconcile with her father by apologizing to him, which Max reluctantly complied. While Max apologized for his outburst, Regis does not accept it. Seeing that neither person is willing to reconcile, Jubel gets on her knees and apologizes to her father. So not to upset his daughter, Regis immediately forgives Max but is still reluctant in allowing the two to date.
The convention contract
Later in Jubel’s room, Jubel and Max go over the contents of their contract. Max’s only conditions being he may call Jubel by her name and Jubel cannot date other men. While Jubel complies with Max’s conditions she is put off by his horrible grammar and rewrites the contract with both her and Max’s conditions. Max however is displeased with Jubel’s conditions and instead rips up the contract. Unable to put up with Max’s behavior any longer, Jubel suggests they end their contract already, shocking Max.
Max insisted that she needed him in order to avoid marrying the crown prince. While Jubel agrees, she cannot put up with someone as abrasive as Max, if his first reaction to everything is to put other peoples feelings second to his. Not wanting to separate from Jubel, Max apologized for his actions and rewrote the contract with Jubel, signing it without hesitance.
Count's Therense tea party
To officially announce their relationship, Jubel suggested they attend Lady Veronica’s tea party together. Max, remembering that Mikhail would attend, agrees to go with Jubel to confront Mikhail himself.
While arriving at the tea party with Jubel, Max is met face to face with Mikhail and showed great animosity for each other by glaring into each other’s eyes. Because Max was not given a formal invitation he was forced to wait for Jubel in another room, on the insistence of Mikhail and Veronica. While waiting in the guest room, Max grew increasingly anxious and decided to watch over Jubelian from afar should Mikhail attempt anything to harm her.
Max watched the tea party from a tree just outside the room where Jubel spotted him from the window, flustered by the sight of him watching them. When Mikhail notices Jubelian looking out the window, he looks outside to see her Max watching them from a tree. Noticing Mikhail, Max taunts him into confronting him outside. Refusing to accept anymore humiliation, Mikhail steps outside with his sword in hand, and confronts Max.
Mikhail attempted to draw his sword, but Max had already subdued Mikhail by kneeing him in his gut before his blade was unsheathed. While Mikhail fell to his knees, Max continued to taunt Mikhail, claiming Mikhail was more fitting kneeling to him. Mikhail demanded to know who Max was and why he was with Jubelian but Max refused to answer him. Exploding with rage, Mikhail stands back on his feet with his sword to Max’s neck and demands Max tell him why he was with Jubelian, proclaiming that Jubelian would never love a man like Max. Max only smiled at Mikhail’s weak threats and reminded Mikhail that he is Jubelian’s lover.
Before either man could do anything else, Jubelian, along with the other tea party attendants, arrived outside and confronted Mikhail over his actions, demanding he drop his sword. Surprised to see Jubelian, Mikhail calls out to her by her first name but Jubelian reminds Mikhail that they are not close and that he is to address her as Princess Floyen. When Mikhail tries to explain what happened, Jubelian runs past him to check on Max.
Tired of being ignored over and over again, Mikhail grabbed Jubelian by her wrist and demanded she talk to him. Max demanded Mikhail to remove his hand but Jubelian stopped him and assured him that she would take care of Mikhail. Believing she has finally become obedient, Mikhail attempts to take her away but Jubelian stops him and demands he remove her hand from him. Taken aback by her new authoritative attitude, Mikhail removes his hand from Jubelian who scolds Mikhail for his violent and abhorred behavior and warns him never to repeat such behavior again.
As Jubelian and Max walk away, Mikhail, now realizing that Jubelian has truly left him, calls out to her and demands to know why she would rather be with Max than him, believing that Max was unworthy of her. Jubelian only coldly responds that she no longer loves Mikhail and that she no longer wants anything to do with him, leaving Mikhail behind heartbroken and humiliated.
While on their way back to the Floyen Mansion, Jubel expressed her concern over Max’s actions and asked that he not let his emotions get the better of him. Max however is unfazed by Mikhail and expressed that not even 10 nobles could stand up to him, but complies not to argue or provoke nobles from now on so not to upset or worry Jubel.
Realizing his feelings
A meal with the Floyen
The next day, Jubel invited Max over for lunch which Max happily accepted until he realized that his master Regis would be joining them. While Jubel is happy to help Max with proper etiquette, despite being taught etiquette since he was 5, Jubel takes it a step further by offering to cut Maxims steak for him, an action that Regis finds infuriating as he still believed Max was deceiving Jubel. Regis instead offered to cut the steak himself, surprising Max. While cutting Max’s steak Regis tries to warn Jubel through his subtle actions regarding regarding Max. While Jubel remained oblivious to Regis’s words, Max easily picked up on what Regis was implying.
While cutting Jubel’s food for her, Regis offers to have tea once they were done, exciting Jubel as she had made tea herself and was hoping to try it with Max. Excited by the chance of drinking tea his daughter made, Regis declined to go to the imperial palace before he drank Jubel’s tea, an action that Max agreed with. Despite enjoying the tea together, Regis asks to talk to Max in private, which Jubel obliged.
Once Jubel took her leave Regis demanded to know what Max was scheming with his daughter, as he did not believe Max’s feelings for Jubel were genuine. Max himself questioned why he was going through such lengths only to admit that he has fallen for Jubelian, and has no intention of breaking up with her leaving Regis to think over Max’s words.
Max appeared once again at Jubel’s window while she waited for him shocking her once again for not using the door. When Jubel noticed Max’s face was red, concerned he may have a cold, Max only smiles while he blushed at Jubel. Max revealed that he thinks Regis is suspicious of their relationship and believes they should get to know each other more if they want the relationship to seem real.
While learning about each other, Max inquired about why Jubel hated the crown prince, only for her to reiterate how much she loathes him, pointing out how just a few days ago the crown prince seemingly killed his own aid, which Max only did because his aide attempted to poison him. Max points out that she shouldn’t be wary of someone based off rumors but Jubel compares the crown prince to a predator you don’t need to know before it attacks you. Max asked whether Jubel would reconsider if the crown prince promised not to kill her, which Jubel agreed, giving Max hope.
Returns to the palace
Max returned to the palace interrupting the conversation between the Emperor and Duke Floyen, surprising his father Darius as he did not return when asked. Seeing the Emperor intimidated by his son, Regis intervened between the father and son, demanding Max to leave the room while he and the Emperor discussed private affairs.
Later, after their hostile reunion, Max met with Duke Floyen in private to discuss the Emperor’s plans, though they keep their conversation vague so as to not reveal anything should someone be spying on them. During their conversation, Duke Floyen make’s himself very apparent that Max is acting too reckless and needs more power and influence if he wants to oppose his father, as well as reinforces his statement that he wants Max to stay away from Jubelian.
Realizing that he will be unable to send Jubel any letters under his title as the crown prince, due to Duke Floyen’s interference, Max has his double Victor pose as him again while he meets with Lady Freya. Victor offers to help Max should he need him for anything other than posing as him, which Max does not hesitate to ask for as Victor was notorious for his many sordid affairs.
Sending letter
With Victor’s advice on communication, Max tied a note to the foot of a pigeon to have it delivered to Jubel, though he threatened the pigeon should it not deliver the message. With the pigeon carrying his letter, Max smiled in relief as he waited for Jubel’s response, only to be angered when the pigeon returned without delivering the letter. While scolding the pigeon for its failure, Max is interrupted by the arrival of his attendant who warned Max that his actions would backfire on him since Jubel does not know Max’s identity yet and that his poor communication would only scare her off.
Max’s attendant further reported that Empress Isabelle was continuing her smear campaign against Max and that Count Lennox was amassing an army to fend off against the neighboring country Lagon, which the Emperor caught word of. After learning from his intelligence network in Lagon that they are preparing for an upcoming drought, Max deduces that Lagon was about preparing provisions for war.
Realizing that his master has presented him with an opportunity, Max has his attendant write to Count Lennox that he would aid him in his defense against Lagon to gain favor from the people of Ashet Empire to secure his position as crown prince.
War with Lagon
Jubelian's tea party
The next day, Max arrived at Jubel’s tea party as the ladies were discussing the topic of the crown prince, and how none of them would want the position given Max’s reputation and rumored that the crown prince has the face of a demon. While Max is disheartened by everyone’s derogative remarks toward him but then he is pleased when Jubel starts to defend him.
After the party had settled down, and Max and Jubel were left alone together, Jubel expressed her concern of whether she can be a part of the social society given her reputation. Remembering that he did not have a good reputation himself, Max comforted Jubel by assuring her that he believed in her and she should believe in herself, the same way Max’s mother believed in him.
Max also revealed that he would be leaving for a while to help fend off the south. While Jubel is disappointed that Max will have to leave, Max assured Jubel that he would come back for her and that she cannot find a new lover while he was away as they are still bound by the contract they established. Max then took his leave with Jubel’s handkerchief in hand as a token.
For the next two months, Max worked with Count Lennox to fortify the south before Lagon declared war, with Max even charging head first into battle as soon as Lagon attacked. During the war, Max tends to the wounds of the mercenaries and those who participate in the battle, and the people who were cared for by him consider this gesture of the Crown Prince as the most decent memory they ever have in that harsh time. For his valiant efforts and his victory in defending the Empire, a celebratory banquet was to be held to honor Max.
Reunion with Jubelian
Max quickly returned to the capital while on horseback to see Jubel, despite it being the middle of the night and against the advice of his attendants. Max once again stood outside Jubel’s window where he sees Jubel struggling to fall asleep with an in sense burner. Max entered Jubel’s room and approached her. Seeing Max again for the first time in months, Jubel believed it was not really him, even pinching his cheeks to test if it was really him.
Realizing that Max was truly standing before herself, Jubel broke down in tears, yelling at Max for never writing to her and worrying her sick. Max embarrassed Jubel and apologized for leaving her, promising never to leave without writing to her. Max continued to comfort Jubel all throughout the night until she fell asleep. Believing she needed to rest, Max attempted to leave her be but Jubel kept him from leaving her, begging him to stay in her sleep. Not wanting to part from her again, Max stayed by Jubel’s side, sleeping together embracing.
Personality
On the outside, Maximilian comes off as a serious and guarded, but really has a soft side. To the masses, he is known as a man who is cruel an bloodthirsty and wont hesitate to cut down even those who are close to him if they go against his will. He also has strong convictions including the belief that caring for someone will make you weak. Eventually he starts to go against this belief and starts to have a soft spot for Jubelian Eloy Floyen without even realizing it.
He was commented to be rather rude by Jubellian and Beatrice noted him being an insolent son as ignoring his father's orders or subtly humiliating his step-mother Isabelle Rusty Ashet during the banquet and refers to both of them by their names. However, he is shown to be a loving and kind person to Jubelian and to those who close and for her (e.g Regis Adri Floyen, Freya,...).
When he was young, he was an emotionally kind and loving boy to his mother Latisha Ashet and as well a cry-baby as both he and his mother was suppressed by both his father and Isabelle. However, he changed into a dangerous and violent person after his mother's death and when Isabelle usurp the Empress position, she accused him of being a sadistic tyrant and spread rumors about him.
Although everyone called him a tyrant, a madman, he was the only one who didn't abandon a normal mercenary like me, and treated my wound.
Oto, Father, I don't want to get married chapter 107
Despite being called a tyrant, Maximilian is in fact is a honorable man with a strong sense of morality, demonstrated when he is frustrated and furious with the aristocrats' selfishness along with Darius' sins towards the innocents and for the latter have accepting bribery during war time. The mercenaries who participate in the war with Rhagon have commented that even though the people refers to him in a nasty way, Max is the only one who care for them in an extremely harsh place.
Physical appearance
Maximilian is a man of tall stature with straight midnight-black hair (which he inherited from his biological mother Latisha Ashet), narrow eyes with red irises that seem to glow when angry or furious or even when he felt relief. Max have a sturdy built and his body has become muscular in time after going through much harsh training while his body received a lot of scars since he has gone through wars and battles. Maximilian was commented by several characters to be extremely handsome and Jubelian Eloy Floyen commented on him as being more attractive than Mikhail Albert Hessen.
His clothes are typically black without much embellishment unless he is with other nobles. Even his armor is black, but it has gold embellishments and a long plume. Whenever he makes his appearance as the crown prince, he always covers his face by using his helmet or by using masks to avoid his enemies from learning his identity and catching his weakness.
Abilities
Maximilian is pretty powerful as a swordman and he is a skilled knight directly under the guidance of Regis Adri Floyen. In chapter 118, after he manages to injure Regis and during the final battle with Pafnil, Maximilian awakens his power as a sword master, with his sword shining with a golden aura.
Relationships
Love Interest
Jubelian Eloy Floyen
Jubelian is the daughter of Max’s master Regis Adri Floyen, as well as the person Max treasures most in his life. While initially indifferent towards Jubelian, he found himself attracted to her for her fearlessness of him as well as her sincerity. While being taught swordsmanship from Regis, his master would endlessly brag about his daughter to the point where Max was sick of listening about Jubel. Max at first saw her as an incompetent woman who was a liability to his master Regis, and believed she needed to be eliminated. Upon their meeting Jubel’s fearlessness of Max caught him off guard as he was used to people being afraid of him. When spending time together, they are very causal towards each other. Jubel seems to feel comfortable enough around Max as he seems to remind her of a kitten she use to own when she was a child. Jubel is unaware of Max’s true identity When Jubel learned she might be engaged to the crown prince she hired Max to be her lover so she can avoid the engagement. While their relationship is only based on a business transaction, Max has genuinely fallen for Jubel and has tried to change his image so that she will accept him as a possible suitor. Jubel also cares for Max as she constantly interferes with his disputes with nobles.
It shows that after genuinely falling for Jubellian, Max once fantasized about their life after marriage. After the event with Mikhail and the Hessen Marquis family, Max canceled their relationship as being contracted lovers and confessed his love and desire to become Jubellian's lover, not as a contracted lover.
However, after Jubellian secretly reveals to him that she knows he is the crown prince in Beatrice's coming of age ceremony (since other than her father and Max, no one knows about her blowing whistle signal), Max falls into despair, fearing that Jubellian might leave him and burst into tears, begging her to reconsider her decision after she rejects his confession of love to her. However, after seeing Max's tears streaming down his eyes, Jubellian tried to stop his tears and when she takes off his mask, she sees the sincerity in his eyes, and then both have their first kiss and officially became lovers.
Family
Darius Zeferon Ashet
Emperor Darius is Maximilian’s father as well as his sworn enemy. Their relationship is one of mutual hatred for each other due to Darius’s abusive treatment towards his son and Max’s many attempts at murdering his father. Max has stated that Emperor Darius is a man who does not love his family and only sees them as tools to further his goals or entertainment. Growing up in the imperial palace, Max was ignored by his father as he saw his son as weak and disposable. When his concubine at the time Isabelle began framing Max as a violent and unstable child Carlos did nothing to help his son and left him to fend for himself. Over the years after Max grew stronger in reputation and swordsmanship, Max soon became an enemy to his father who he began to fear would retaliate against him for all the years of Darius abusive treatment. While they are not close, Darius still allows Max to retain his title as the heir to the Ashet Empire though it’s more likely for political means and fear of his son than any respect for Max. In the original novel, Max eventually killed his father to take the throne. In the present time, Max is plotting to overthrow his father.
Latisha Ashet (she was physically seen in Chapter 49.5 and Chapter 111)
Latisha Ashet was Max’s mother and Darius’s first wife. Despite the harsh treatment from his father, the Empress was the only person Max loved in his family, and the only person who cared for Max. Latisha did all that she could to protect Max from Isabelle and Darius, even reluctantly having to push Max away in fear that they would use her to harm her son. After the Empress was poisoned by Isabelle, Latisha left Max in the care of her trusted friend Regis Adri Floyen so that Max could protect himself. The death of Max’s mother greatly affected him as it made him cold and apathetic towards the people around him.
Isabelle Rusty Ashet
Isabelle is the second Empress of the Ashet Empire as well as Maximilian’s step-mother through his father’s second marriage. Isabelle is Max’s arch-enemy as she is the root of all of Max’s misery. Isabelle has been trying to revoke Max’s title as the crown prince ever since he was a child, spreading false rumors and framing Max as a violent and sociopathic child. Isabelle was also responsible for poisoning Max’s mother so that she could become the next Empress. When Max learned of Isabelle’s crime, he vowed revenge against her. Over the years, Isabelle has continued her attempts to remove Max from his title while Max has never forgotten what Isabelle has done to him, and has thwarted her attempts at ruining his image with his military accomplishments, swaying the publics opinion to his side. She has also sent numerous assassins to kill him though none have succeeded.
Beatrice Evelyn Ashet
The princess is Max’s younger half-sister from Isabelle. The two are not close due to her mother’s actions as he is never seen interacting with her. The princess also seems to resent Max for the pressure and abuse her own mother puts her through to make her the crown princess, and has assisted her mother in her attempt to remove Max to make her the next heir.
In the current timeline, both have a rather bad relationship although not to the point of being toxic as their relationship with their parents. According to Max, despite their bad relationship, they don't want anything from one another. Both are usually get into a occasional dispute whenever they are with each other an their relationship is somewhat like cat and dog and it is shown when both Maximilian and Beatrice silently quarrel with one another during Beatrice's coming of age ceremony banquet. Maximilian enjoys teasing her around whenever there is no one else around and seems to care about Beatrice to some degree as shown when he deliberately creates an accident in the banquet to get Beatrice back to her senses when Mikhail asks her for a dance or when he interferes with Mikhail's attempt to force Beatrice to go with him (though he only did this since Jubellian use the whistle to call for help). Beatrice seems to be thankful for Maximilian (albeit reluctantly) after the events of her birthday as she is the one who bandaged him after he protects both her and Jubel.
Nevertheless, Maximilian and Beatrice seem to hold animosity and low opinion toward Mikhail for not only being Jubellian's ex-lover but also for his attitude of being arrogant and obsessive towards Beatrice and Jubellian and since both are currently fighting for Jubellian's affection, their relationship can be seen and understood as some sort of siblings rivalry.
Friends
Regis Adri Floyen
Regis is the strongest knight in the Ashet Empire as well as Max’s master who trained under Regis since he was a child. Max was entrusted to Regis to look after him by his mother, who Regis greatly respected. While Regis was successful in teaching Max swordsmanship, he was unable to teach Max the importance of humility and mercy, traits that Max rejected as he was bitter and resentful of losing his mother. Max greatly respects his master as a swordsman though he looks down on his master’s love for his daughter, believing her to be a weakness that the Emperor could exploit. Max has tried to convince Regis to join him in his rebellion, though Regis always rejects as he wanted to ensure that his daughter would be safe. It was not until Max met Jubelian that he began to understand what Regis had been trying to teach him. While he respects Max as his student, Regis is aware of how manipulative Max can be and has done everything he can to keep him and from meeting his daughter Jubelian. When Jubelian presented Max to her father as her lover, Regis absolutely forbid her from dating Max and even went as far as to renounce Max as his student. Despite Max’s insistence that his feelings for Jubelian are genuine, Regis does not trust Max will not hurt Jubel or put her in harms way should he continue with his plan of overthrowing the Emperor, and continues to tell them to break up.
Freya
Freya is Maximilian’s informant who aids him in gathering intel from the capital. Freya does not fear Max like others do and is always ready to aid Max in his endeavors. Freya can be dumbfounded by Max’s lack of common sense as well as his ridiculous requests such as when he is trying to court Jubelian.
Victor
Victor is Maximilian’s most trusted subordinate as well as his closest friend. Victor acts as Max’s body double to pose as him at the imperial palace while Max carry’s out his missions. Victor is always willing to aid Max in other affairs as he gave Max love advice when trying to court Jubelian.
Enemies
Mikhail Albert Hessen
Despite not knowing he was the crown prince at the time, Mikhail has a deep seeded hatred for Max for his seemingly commoner status and for being Jubelian’s new lover. Max in return is disgusted with Mikhail for his manipulative and cold treatment of Jubelian. Max takes joy and satisfaction in reminding Mikhail that Jubel is his woman now and enjoys seeing the jealousy and anguish in Mikhail that he tries to suppress. As a proud nobleman, Mikhail refuses to let Max look down on Mikhail and believes Max is undeserving of Jubelian, going as far as to draw his sword at Max to threaten him. Max is unfazed by the hotheaded noble and finds Mikhail’s childish outbursts amusing.
Max not only hates Mikhail because of his treatment of Jubellian but also because he attempts to use Beatrice and he hates him to the point of refusing to let Beatrice be with Mikhail (especially when he knows that his sister also detests Mikhail as well).
Etymology
- The name Maximilian means "greatest/the greatest" in Latin.
- Max's middle name Kasin means "pure" in Greek.
- It also means "Pure", "Shining" and "Appearing Like a Conqueror" in Hindi.
- Max's last name in Korean is Hachette (아셰트). The French translation is pronounced 'Ashet', which means "to cut or strike".
Trivia
- Jubelian Eloy Floyen linked Maximilian with a cat.
- Sometimes, Max appear with cat ear and tail.
- Maximilian's animal represented is a black cat.
- However, whenever he is angry or in Jubelian's punctuality about the crown prince, Maximilian became a black panther.
- Max's MBTI is ENTP and he is very optimistic.
- In Chapter 50, Regis Adri Floyen wears a wig that is similar to Max's hair in color.
- Max dreamed of having a son and a daughter with Jubellian after their marriage.
- Maximilian is left handed and has quite messy handwriting, unlike that of most princes.
- Until the hunting festival, aside from these people, no one knows that Maximilian is the crown prince:
- Regis knows him for 10 years as they are master and apprentice.
- Jubelian came to be aware of the crown prince's identity after Beatrice Evelyn Ashet's birthday in Chapter 74.
- Davis van Tess is aware that he is Regis' disciple as he learns from Regis himself.
- His loyal subordinates (e.g Freya, Victor,...)
- His younger half-sister Beatrice
- Despite being rivals in many ways, there isn't hostility between the two, and since Isabelle Rusty Ashet did not know what Maximilian's face looks like thus it can be assumed that there is some degree of trust between the two.
- Out of any other food, Maximilian's least favorite is cucumbers as they are repulsing for him to eat and even their smell is gross to him.
- Among the main cast, Max is the only character with the most stable mentality. As shown in Chapter 81, Max has 3 rules to keep a good state of mind:
- Uses the truth as a response to criticism.
- Always be full of pride no matter what.
- Don't shy away from apologizing to the person you love.
- The author noted that even though his mental health is great, his relationship with Regis can crumble into pieces.
- According to Max, prior to his meeting and falling in love with Jubelian, he never wanted to get married as he believed that marrying someone means forcing oneself to be with the one they don't love for political reasons, which is his childhood perception about marriages due to what happens to his mother.
- Max has the tendency to unbutton his collar and sometimes, leave his chest exposed, which is a habit he inherited from Regis.