How is he acting proud? Ijekiel is clearly jealous of Lucas for knowing magic and being close to the princess. He even looks sad and said sorry to Jennette. It must have hurt Jennette but I dont think Ijekiel rejected her romantically coz first: Jennette is still a child, she doesnt know anything about love yet that's why Ijekiel told her that they both have different kind of love with Athy. Ijekiel is just being honest to Jennette because he knows that his father is planning to make him Jennette's fiancee
I feel their conversation wasn't just a matter of making a distinction between their feeling regarding athy clear though as he came off kind of whats the word.. off put or bemused? when she called them the "same" it wasn't just about athy, but also their unrequited love lives. it appeared he felt insecure because of the topic of "not having magic" having been brought up (which probably reminded him of lucas and the princesses closeness) and thats what provoked this strangely cold terse response towards jennette all of a sudden to distinguish himself apart from her and distance himself and thats what came off "proud" to me. I mean he is a noble it doesnt surprise me, but he doesnt like to feel like he's in the same position as someone like jennette who is always chasing after the affections of someone but not having them be returned.. kind of deeper then just a matter of who likes athy more
idk its just my own interpretation, the scene can be read in more ways then one. only the author know why the characters act the way they do.
He could have said that in a less douchey way (I love athy but I still care about you) and I wouldn't go around acting so proud in front of jennette kiel, your both in the same boat of having one sided affections for someone and not having them be returned lmao ╮(￣▽￣)╭