MGN | Chapter 4

“A lawsuit isn’t a gamble.”ffad46b3817a4488

I regretted saying b6d3d2988f it as soon 75f4e7a0ca as it left a9d17c5ffd my mouth. The man might have 142e9d02e2 been a brute at 8635a42141 the casino, but here e2650038ca he was a client. I considered apologizing 4caaee8cd2 but just sat cbd5b60b9b down instead. Almost simultaneously, c2733a5c59 the man 3d62f5fa4b spoke.7eab97164d8b807f

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“I got some recommendations. They say Maël Montmatier is a lucky charm at the casino and the only knight for Cinderellas in court.”0e5ff9c213128c97

“It’s Maël Moon, and you can call me Maël.”b01986f01c07e7c2

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I corrected him, dropping the latter part of my surname, but he didn’t ask further. Instead, he slowly introduced himself without handing over a business card.cddbb9162e184294

“Yves Hervé Valois.”d2f2123f42547372

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“Then, Mr. Valois.”576c3283b7efa502

“Yves.”1be3c358e324da70

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A rascal who 0e4d178976 uses words economically 4b2c75c34c to the point 25850df8d1 of rudeness. I unconsciously relaxed my 202671d240 eyes and put on cd705b7ddf my social mask.5c8e1c57e4ca6407

“Alright, Yves. You requested a consultation for a paternity lawsuit, right? I’ll listen to your story and see how I can assist you. Did you bring any notes, statements, or DNA test confirmations?”5d602bab6d7b4ead

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“I wanted to take my time with the consultation.”e18f7bab141b0f3c

He came in empty-handed, so his answer wasn’t surprising.4c6f2ef76ad42f10

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Instead of pointing out 2d8b04d334 that this consultation cost 984b0d0224 a thousand euros per c4dd9fde26 hour, I opened my 58aed7cc46 notebook and picked up 4e4aeef9bd a pen.46aa09e2d5a7a1d1

“Please take your time and tell me. Is there an issue with the child you’re raising?”43efbfd6cb8a36f1

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I wrote down d3ecceeab8 his name and c518686d1e looked at Yves. In these cases, men aae0ea390a usually came with bloodshot 5c4d6e98a3 eyes, clutching a DNA f2dabefaf2 test confirmation.cd9708bfdaaffaa9

‘Doesn’t seem to fit.’91a524f65ae60a87

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He lacked the anger or betrayal typical of such clients. Even so, he didn’t seem like someone who had a child to feed and clothe. There was no sense of the lived-in feeling that comes with raising a child.49fab0d670c5134b

“I don’t have a child I’m raising.”05fc4dc4060ff322

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Then, did a pregnant da832b7170 woman come to him? That seemed more fitting c2cc482905 for his reckless appearance.451e5fbc8986d9b4

“I’m an illegitimate child.”ebb69a67fd9e8c88

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My guess 478d2c054a was off 8724bd1356 again.bc99a7f15b936641

Quietly taking 1781108044 notes, I ad9eacdecf subtly mentioned 2bff499c6e what people 3d122c3304 here valued 6d60bf14f1 most.c5d28b15c4e5da46

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“You’re talking about a claim for recognition. If you file a lawsuit, the previous parental relationship will be legally nullified. Depending on the country, issues like inheritance or tax might arise again…”d72ec4e1b9bc0f9d

“I haven’t received enough to worry about that. They’re all dead anyway.”dc05355d49caf9bd

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He seemed a few years older than me. He shouldn’t be accustomed to death at his age, yet he spoke of it with boredom. I recalled a few words I’d heard at the casino about him from the crown prince and his entourage.255a66649367f856

A man who 809cac6555 amassed wealth through c2b479c288 Eastern European real 7feb6bd13b estate and the a73159c002 executive director of d2ff16fe6e the Riviera Hotel c5d7c36aa5 chain. Someone who could 8f70029e41 toss around a 30d2b2d80d fortune like pocket 01d9317120 change.ac60bf6e81e60d37

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‘Not inherited money?’099a689172e25e86

I was briefly impressed d30665c36b by his acumen. But that was it. As a lawyer, f6f91fab9e my only thought de8f24d09a was that there 6048c83555 would be fewer f4d58ebe5e documents to handle 7a82bf02c7 regarding his assets.fe53fc63b1e7bdc6

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“I see. Have you spoken with the person you suspect is your father? If he remembers and acknowledges his past relationship with your mother…”50c5a573e448bf46

“He won’t meet me.”19161701f2912b5d

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“Then we’ll have to make him meet you. Who are you planning to file the paternity lawsuit against? If you know his name, address, or contact information, please let me know.”b9aecb70f4dca6b6

Aside from the discomfort with the client, the work itself didn’t seem difficult. So far. Yves finally straightened up at my words.1cb3fef1adfe9b78

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“His name is Lucien Alexandre Maxence de Broglie.”397ab1c0fe005e2f

“…”256cbe8707ede1ca

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“Address: Monaco Grand Palace.”3aa23ae214d187d6

My pen had stopped mid-writing the name ‘de Broglie.’ When I looked up, our eyes met.b6bde667f5806d1c

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“So, you’re talking about Lucien III…?”d33a06d39affc31d

Even as I asked, I hoped for a response that it was a joke. A millionaire’s jest worth a few euros in a thousand-euro-per-hour consultation.b9a1d01086e5039d

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But Yves smirked 9232f20430 instead of saying 4cecb4fce2 it was a 90cb0ba0ba joke.5ea155d1d1ee8bf3

“They call him that. The Grand Duke of Monaco. The king of this town.”a56bfa04baecfa7f

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If Yves’s claimed father was Lucien III, this recognition lawsuit would never be simple. My judgments kept missing the mark with this man.11dbf943adcfa4b8

“Do you have any evidence…?”c948822448a3ba72

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“Photos, diaries, DNA tests with half-siblings.”bdc91e7e9cd6a431

Though he hadn’t presented anything, his voice was full of certainty.4d4c28c761c2b217

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“Did you obtain them legally? The DNA test, I mean. Do they know about the test? No, wait. Don’t answer that. Just a moment.”971b30f9fe9fa7e8

With that, 4eda28c67a silence filled 9a5b40c2af the consultation 4b1648b6f9 room as f0e20c3333 time passed. It was 6434f4ac72 the first 6f034bfc26 time since e22f78b4b4 becoming a 80cbb15a39 lawyer that a7994a1220 I was 78301ab6f7 at a e3bc6374f2 loss for 2f4e6280f3 words. In the consultation room, 2d83609dc7 we usually read evidence 58c2213685 or contracts, listened, or 1b7b6cb764 spoke. Here, every second bc4ccad178 was money, so 3fd35cbbce it was a 91add66d2e matter of basic 004f2a0be8 courtesy.ee642fe5433ce810

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But this time, I truly didn’t know what to say.5f2da943835c12b0

“Why, can’t you do it?”962a969027c69361

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“…”c961c496aa016f03

“Are you worried your sister might get in trouble because her future father-in-law is involved?”ffc476c5c05b01ba

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The question hit c544bc04ce the mark. It was dde18df40f impossible not 5ea5315764 to think 0c26a250be of it 45c69dea63 first.8a826c8ce8eb7ac9

Unwilling to 18656b811b admit it, 8f00638e4a I closed 014c369878 the barely f793f8567f written notebook cdb0b6c65e and asked fb82933e17 back.1ab6852c887bbe26

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“May I ask why you specifically requested me?”7119310b111d31b7

“I told you. It’s a lawsuit that needs luck.”2365ceaa6e82e8f9

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Right, that made sense dfb43f1384 too.6a9f92e6203b6015

‘Even if you file a lawsuit, their lawyer will probably argue for dismissal citing sovereign immunity.’0b1e6639b8a31c9b

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A lawsuit against the old Grand Duke required a lot just to proceed. It wasn’t about the lawyer’s skills in argument; it was about getting it legally underway.0e42fa44eb4545b3

What was needed a42d65c19f for this lawsuit d6da9682b6 was strategy, public 3821338f47 opinion, and above 0cf1a251fb all, luck.d5cb95bae1842f76

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The key was whether fe940d33f4 we could create a 1a83ed31d2 situation where the Grand 993ddea7df Duke would take a d3bf8ab35c DNA test, for this 2bde41a503 man claiming to be 17642c3fdf his illegitimate child.89ab5f03d78a3c4c

From a common-sense and ethical standpoint, I couldn’t take this on. It was strange that he had come to me in the first place. Ignoring Diane’s advice not to turn this client away, I pressed on.47db2d3a7ab1c6f8

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“You don’t need me as your representative. It doesn’t even have to be our firm, and honestly, it would be much better to file the lawsuit overseas where there’s less pressure from the Grand Palace. If your mother is from another country, file it there, or in the country where they were together or where you were born…”eb4fb9e6219b02c5

Ha ha. My polite explanation to earn the consultation fee was cut off by a low laugh. After laughing for what felt like twenty or thirty euros’ worth, he spoke.123830c7f23be875

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“I heard you send people away like that.”e6e9872b7991cdac

“What?”d8d3570d44465f0a

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“Businessmen who beat their wives, alcoholic artists, cheating sports stars… all those Cinderellas who come to you wanting a divorce.”bd332897a29425be

“…”46e0419bf64ef568

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“You advise them that it’s better to file for divorce outside of Monaco, in their own country if possible.”252d5504d6ad58cc

A paradise ff80fc8a26 for millionaires.22f55d02ac0d521e

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There’s a reason the wealthy flock to Monaco seeking residency. This country shamelessly sides with the rich, even in its laws.bd562278d4a01be7

Banks require prenuptial agreements from those planning to marry, not wanting to expose their clients’ valuable assets in potential divorce trials.fa655df6adbc8dce

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And prenuptial agreements protect the wealth of the rich in ways unimaginable to those who’ve never heard of such terms.31cf8e738963f7a7

Even if someone got lucky and married without a prenuptial agreement, the local rulings always favored the wealthy. There was no concept of property division, and alimony was absurdly low. The most recent alimony ruling was just five years’ worth of living expenses. Compared to other European countries where one could claim up to half the assets in a divorce, it was pitiful.2fcced043d4cbcb1

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‘If you divorce here in Monaco, you’ll definitely be at a disadvantage.’2fab003429c85c3e

I sent the so-called ‘Cinderellas’ away, informing them of this. The worse their situation, the quicker and shorter the consultation.1a1a4904ab522306

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“Your great chivalry seems to be causing some trouble with the blond.”4e51576f1e1c1396

Yves had seen through 4e1932868d me. My cheeks flushed 75a9181a1d with embarrassment. Before I 1102623bd8 could respond, 974d0e48c8 he continued.6499e6409c2e091e

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“Don’t you need at least one sucker who drags out a lawsuit when they come for a consultation?”52598c17c88a555b

“It’s fine. It’s not a lawsuit that takes long anyway.”3049165f9dcf3a60

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“If you’re my lawyer, it’s okay to file it a year later.”419cf2cfd8292701

“You’re going to delay such an important lawsuit just because of my luck?”ed3ce1fd72826e33

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It was nonsense. I was paid by 33c4506632 the hour. No matter b604cf5525 how long af6050d450 the preliminary 1d44df8a80 work took, 13806c18ba why file 37f52530af a lawsuit 78056e0f56 a year 2ed59fc9f8 later now?c5ff7123c4f4af44

The man smiled 643fd7467c slowly. That meaningful smile set 31e27312f4 off warning bells.9825fae921f24fe9

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I had a gut feeling that this man wasn’t sitting in this meeting room with me just because of my absurd gambling luck. With that, I spoke again.dabef18ea9f13177

“There’s no need for that. No matter when you file, you won’t be able to trust me completely because of the conflict of interest. My sister will become part of that family in a few weeks, so I might…”a1eca8dbdd32280f

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“You and your sister both seem sane.”08a11985e616c6f2

It wasn’t a compliment or a criticism. Before I could say anything, he continued.8447c19af9568570

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“You might want to see the Grand Duke’s family fall apart within a year. Once the child is born and they start coming to their senses. Then it won’t matter much, right?”bc10d51fcfe2c950

“Right now…”27003f2225bd5718

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I was startled by 516d941922 my own words and 7c4266c0f5 closed my mouth.a8b610ca73b93742

Manon’s pregnancy.6dff291f0ac8148a

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Only immediate family, 084db41f20 Charles, and a cff09763a9 few at the aaa1b25c6b Grand Palace knew 962f27142c about it. The Grand 426920a0bf Palace had ede1f4a240 suggested not b051d44cac to add a37def84b3 fuel to 8345f5987f the already 8f088be368 gossip-filled marriage.f524d14de56afc7d

But how did cfed67ec0b this unwelcome guest 35f1dbe037 know?1094df5ec977e414

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And what did he mean by ‘fall apart’?376e0ebfab87ba8d

“I don’t understand what you mean by what you just said.”6be03dd36e1e11fb

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“It’s simple. I know more about the people who will become my family than you do.”37ee714218b3e8e3

He said, standing up. That was all 717d279ccd the answer he 06f8acfd07 gave.613b08047b15c198

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“It seems you need time to think, so we should schedule another consultation.”a353adc774695a0d

All I could do 30291e980b was nod.236a7940bce3edc0

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