@Julos Awe! Thank you, Julos! <3 Glad to be of service! :3 I'm glad that someone appreciated my analysis and breakdown! :3
@MaliciousBurial Most likely. It appears that he
does appear to hold
some feelings for Jeannette, though to what degree that constitutes an
actual capacity for "love" is presently
unknown.
From what we can rightly tell---both brother suffered extreme trauma at some point and the older brother appeared to
historically resent his younger brother because Claude had more magical powers than him, making him
weaker. Claude is resentful and broken due to his brother's betrayal. It would seem like there's a possibility for more going on underneath the surface in this family---both Dad's have major trauma issues. Instead of learning to view their mutual weaknesses as a positive reason for bonding and companionship with one another, instead, the two have developed discord.
It seems reasonable that the brother, based upon his own behavior, is jealous/irritated that his own biological progeny is attracted to his brother (despite that being the plan) because of his own, inherent mental defects. He's unable to be the center of attention or have his daughter love someone else without feeling jealous. His hatred for his brother and desire to see his plan through, particularly the seemingly antisocial traits make it appear that the brother is capable of exhibiting
some degree of self-control in order to get back at his sibling, particularly for the long, vengeful plot. But, it
does seem to bother him as if his daughter had no value for him beyond that of a weapon, he wouldn't extend his hand and have her come off with him, but would merely steal Claude's magic, laugh maniacally, and then stomp off to reclaim
his crown. However, he doesn't do that. This
may be another way to further ass-stomp Claude (let Claude execute his own daughter and then have Claude's brother's daughter be the replacement, steal his power, give it to the brother, and then abandon him after her presence causes Claude to murder his own true daughter). Though, we simply don't know for sure since he doesn't explain things. Both seem like viable possibilities, but I don't think enough evidence has surfaced yet in the story to determine whether the brother is merely using the girl by taking her as a further way to hurt Claude in revealing that she was
always his pawn, and thus Claude was nothing to her (he may have used mind-controlling powers on her/pre-programmed behaviors as a sort of sentient golem, as she
does leave Claude weirdly, in an almost trance like state that doesn't necessarily fit with her personality---unless she breaks from the trauma and goes all blank slate as a result) besides a target for manipulation and extraction. He may also view her as an object and possession that even if Jeannette is a weapon, she's
his weapon, and thus he'll
never permit Jeannette to remain by Claude's side no matter what. Again, that's presuming that he didn't have any capacity for love for either her/her mother, and again, there's too many unknowns at this point to determine that. It's a whole sea of unknowns. =P