Is it just me, or do Renato and Maximo look similar to each other? Are they related in som...

I believe early on it's mentioned they're cousins. I don't remember if it was first, secon , or like, third though.

Yes they're cousins.. it was mentioned in th early chapters... He's his cousin who's gonna be adopted and pointed as a successor later on since in the past life the little prince(Trudi) died and even the emperor...