stay happy! :)

Personally, I think he might have kept the crumbling to himself- as you said, he’s fine now, so why worry the cookies he loves? He does seem to default to not want to scare them, like in this moment where Madeleine informs his family he’d join the front forces in the war against Dark Enchantress.

It’s something he does a lot. He takes in the other’s reactions but then immediately goes to his usual cheery self to reassure them. Especially in the more recent updates it’s very noticeable how a lot of his lighthearted demanour is to reassure others, especially those he loves. Espresso’s words here kind of further confirm it. He makes jokes when others worry about him.

HOWEVER! I’m going to have to point out one variable that I think it’s very important to consider: Grand Madeleine.

I think Madeleine has not told a soul about the crumbling and the aunties may not know but I think Grand Madeleine might know something happened. I feel this is the case because in other occasions she’s shown to be able to read her son’s incredibly well.

This moment during the cookie odyssey (Cookie Odyssey, Chapter III, The Heroes of The Light, Day 2, Mansion Madeleine) is extremely poignant and telling of not only Grand Madeleine but also her relationship with Madeleine and of Madeleine Cookie as well.

It's a key moment for Madeleine’s growth and Grand Madeleine’s response showcases how well she understood that her son was on the right path, yet could see his fears and concerns with defying a status quo that his family benefits from, considering they’re all cookies of the upper city. Understandably, she encourages him to walk the path he believes that is right especially for him to finally go beyond and free from the Republic’s conditioning.

The aunties are concerned of defying the Elders’ orders because House Madeleine is not one of the Great Houses of the Créme Republic and therefore fully capable of falling in ruin like House Scone, where Light Cream, Clotted Cream’s mother, ails from.

This would explain why the aunties are always so concerned with apparences and status; House Scone was one of the Great Houses and fell in such ruin, which means it’s fully possible for House Madeleine to end up in the same situation if not even worse. This would explain why Madeleine was always so concerned with reputation- the aunties definitively had an hand in raising Madeleine.

Thankfully, this is where Grand Madeleine comes in.

Grand Madeleine feels almost off from the rest of the family since she’s very poised to a point of even seeming stern. Yet, when she speaks, she always does in an extremely level headed and poised way. Her talk with Light Cream is especially telling of his, even when the aunties had very poor words regarding her.

See the difference when Grand Madeleine instead invites Light Cream over for tea and speaks to her.

So, the moment Madeleine speaks openly his heart and assesses the need to do what is right, she listens and understands how he’s feeling.

Madeleine speaks boldly because as a knight commander, he has to. He has a position and reputation. It’s the same reputation that helped him shoo away with ease the house custard guards who were chasing Espresso, Gingerbrave, Wildberry, Crunchy Chip and Seaweed.

Yes, in this case it did help to have his reputation but also, said reputation was chaining Madeleine down, in a way.

“Do not ever be ashamed of believing in yourself”

This, THIS. Why would anyone tell this to someone like Madeleine? To someone who, at a first glace, seems to believe a little too much in himself? Why isn't she telling him to be humble, for example?

Because she knows it’s an act. She knows Madeleine acts in a lot of ways to keep up an image but that boisterous and pompous façade does not equal in him believing in himself. If anything, continiously being afraid of losing your reputation and how others see you is a sign of not being self-assured.

“That…is the path of a true Paladin of the Light”

And THIS is very telling of her.

From the way she's worded this, it really feels that Grand Madeleine is aware of the way the paladins, in the republic, benefit only the cookies of the upper city. It's clear how to her, a paladin should not worry about reputation, consensus or popularity but merely to do what is right and should not be a tool at the Elders' service but solely at the aid and service of all cookies in need, of those who cannot protect themselves. She does not deflect Madeleine's words or concerns in any form, she knows that he is right.

Grand Madeleine is also perfectly aware, in my opinion, of Madeleine’s more frail side. The one that worries about how he’s perceived, seeking consensus as if that will make him feel less alone. The side that is still the young lonely cookie who likely all he wants is just to have friends.

If Grand Madeleine can read him so well, it’s no wonder Madeleine jumped right away to the the search of First Oven at Pure Vanilla’s side. He can pretend in front of the aunties but if asked by Grand Madeleine, he wouldn’t be able to lie or hide to that extent, also considering the nature of that traumatic event in itself.

And if he’s not able to cover it up or doesn’t feel ready to talk of it in a way that doesn’t crumble the beliefs that maybe are still holding him together, fully unaware that opening up about it with a loved one who really sees him for who he is could ease the pain and hurt of the whole ordeal.

So, to answer properly: I think he’s not told a soul yet but Grand Madeleine probably knows something is wrong, which is why Madeleine jumped right away to another mission, to be away from one of the cookies that can see through his words. At core, I’m sure he doesn’t want to scare or worry his loved ones, because, well -He’s fine! Look at him! He walks and breathes! He’s fine! Just silly ol’ Madeleine! Nothing to worry of! The Divine watches over him! Of course he wouldn’t crumble! He’ll just make another joke and he’ll be able to forget it all!- he probably keeps repeating to himself.

Except he did crumble and keeping all this in his heart…he most surely is not alright. And it doesn’t help that he’s focusing so much on his ‘duty’ that feels like he’s using it like an escape of sorts.

But, thankfully, if I can find a silver lining in all this (and I don’t want to leave it on such a sad note), is that Madeleine may think he is keeping everything well hidden and feel alone in his fears and worries…but he’s not alone anymore. He has others who care for him, other cookies that maybe don’t see all that he shows but can definitively see his genuine heart because, regardless of him hiding away his softer side, his earnest wish to do the right thing shows through his actions and growth he’s working on since the events of the odyssey unfolded.

Thank you for your question and apologies for having written so much- if you feel I haven’t answered properly your question, please feel free to send another ask! :>

As one last funny bit...I find it both telling and endearing that the two cookies who can read Madeleine so well both have said the same kind of lines.

"You have the right to think what you want" - Espresso