MGN | Chapter 10

‘Ahahaha.’

Maël’s sudden burst of laughter still echoed in Charles’s ears. Just yesterday, because of that laugh, Charles couldn’t press further about what exactly was going on between Maël and Yves.

After laughing long and hard, Maël had simply stared at Charles. Despite everything, Maël, who had been his partner for a year, gave a curt warning.

‘Stop it now. I’m not joking.’

His partner wasn’t particularly amusing. Charles was someone who could easily turn deep reflection and affection into “repetitive harassment intended to harm the other’s mental health.”

So yesterday, he could only watch Maël’s retreating back.

Perhaps that’s why he felt turmoil all day. Heading to the Riviera Hotel Casino at the crown prince’s call, Charles dialed his father, Antoine, the head lawyer of Law Firm 377.

― Diane really values him. Says he’s indispensable in the family law department.

His father’s response was disappointing.

“Father, I’m not saying to actually fire him. Just apply some pressure.”

― I talked to Diane because you were making such a fuss. What more do you want? What if he decides to start his own firm?

“No way, he’s just…”

― Montmatier has a high win rate and a good reputation as a lawyer who cares for his clients. With his sister marrying Philippe, his interest is high. If he leaves to go independent now, it’s our loss.

It was amusing that someone dealing with mere family law was busier than him, who handled corporate advisory. Charles gripped the steering wheel and found a flaw.

“The prenuptial agreement was taken because of Maël. What if it strains our firm’s relationship with the grand duke’s family?”

― Nonsense. It’s not like they’re businessmen playing with money. For the grand duke’s family, a prenuptial agreement is just words. Everything’s already settled at the top.

He knew it wasn’t just talk.

His father was a longtime friend of the current grand duke, Lucien, and had been part of the grand duke’s legal team. He worked there for ten years before taking over the firm established by his grandfather.

― Just keep them happy. Your brother will inherit the firm, so you should aim to be the grand duke’s dedicated lawyer in the next generation.

The path his father had walked, albeit in a different order, was the path Charles would take. It was thanks to being around the same age as the grand duke’s sons that he was assigned to them. Charles let his father’s advice go in one ear and out the other and hung up.

‘If I can’t keep nagging about this…’

Am I really breaking up with Maël like this? Really?

I’m not even gay, and I’ve endured the physiological disgust to date him for a year, and now just because I fooled around with a woman?

“Damn it.”

In a fit of anger, he honked the horn. After venting on a few cars, his destination came into view.

Riviera Hotel. Originally, it was a hotel heavily invested in by the Monaco grand duke’s family, along with the Monte Carlo Hotel.

Unlike the luxurious and classic Monte Carlo Hotel, it had a modern and sophisticated atmosphere, built on the edge of a cliff with the sea below its balconies. Unlike Monte Carlo, where the hotel and casino were separate, the Riviera had its casino deep in the basement.

“Useless idiots.”

With the Côte d’Azur coast right in front, the hotel was bound to do well even if left alone. Felix, driven by some whim, led the project to turn it into a chain.

It was a doomed venture from the start with that blockhead’s brain. Sure enough, the Riviera Hotel chain project, spread worldwide, failed, bringing the grand duke’s family to the brink of bankruptcy.

‘It was a real mess.’

The grand duke sold off shares in all businesses except the Monte Carlo Casino, the symbol of Monaco and the grand duke’s family.

Was it when they considered collecting income tax for the first time in nearly 150 years? It was said that a secret meeting was held at the grand palace on that topic.

The reason Monaco could remain the world’s top tax haven through all that chaos was one thing.

A bastard like Hades risen from the underworld.

“Damn bastard.”

The one who bought up the Riviera’s shares and became the executive director overnight, the crown prince Felix’s invaluable benefactor.

Charles cursed as he thought of that pale, unsettling face.

“Maël definitely has something with that bastard.”

Those hazy eyes were on Maël.

The gaze itself wasn’t surprising. Maël was a captivating beauty. Enough to stir reactions below the belt despite being a guy.

But it wasn’t just surprise or interest; the new friend of the crown prince had said some unusual things to his sulking lover.

“Sigh, I guess I have no choice.”

He didn’t want to lose Maël. Even if he couldn’t progress due to the disgust of what was below, and only received oral affection, it didn’t matter. Enduring that much was true love, wasn’t it?

As long as he was careful not to get caught, he could continue having sex with other women.

“Should I tell those rude bastards today?”

That I’m seeing Maël.

With his stunning looks, decent job, not-bad brains, and above all, that unbelievable gambling luck, even the lack of family connections was filled by Manon. Thanks to his bartender sister, Maël would now become part of the grand duke’s family.

Enduring the humiliation of being labeled gay in front of others was worth it.

‘With the times changing, I can even complain about discrimination against homosexuality.’

In terms of gains and losses, the gains were significant.

Charles tossed his keys to the valet, thinking that this was why he put up with cleaning up after those rude grand duke’s sons.

* * *

Riviera Hotel Casino, in the innermost private suite, the Cabinet Particulier, where only those introduced could enter.

It was filled with bodyguards. For some reason, today it was just Philippe and Yves, not the usual crowd, making Charles’s confession easier.

“Actually, Maël and I are seeing each other. Seriously. It’s been a while. Sorry for not telling you sooner.”

Maël disliked drawing attention, so he didn’t mind the secret relationship.

By telling the crown prince this, Maël wouldn’t correct the situation until at least the wedding. That was more than enough time to win Maël back.

“What? You’re seeing each other? Really? You and Maël? Manon’s brother?”

Felix, using a half-filled martini glass as an ashtray while checking his cards, looked up. His mouth hung open.

“So during that tennis match, everyone but me was on the gay team? Ugh, disgusting! What a sight.”

“I find any man other than Maël disgusting too.”

“I know. You’re crazy about women.”

Charles looked at Yves, who was calmly checking his cards next to the excited Felix. The hotel executive picked up a few brown chips and placed a bet without any disturbance.

“But honestly, if it’s Maël, I get it. Charles is really into looks.”

Philippe chuckled lowly at the crown prince’s words. He wasn’t even looking at his cards, tossing chips in chunks, clearly high on some new drug.

Felix, hearing his brother’s laugh, perked up. He had the look of someone about to spout nonsense.

“Manon turned her life around with just her face, and Maël is even more beautiful than her.”

Philippe, who had been listening quietly, blinked and reached out. Charles thought it was for his collar, but the martini glass full of cigarette butts flew. It landed softly on the plush carpet without breaking. Instead, the dry martini mixed with ash soaked Felix’s pants and shoes.

“Damn it.”

“Watch… your mouth. Are you saying I chose someone ugly, you…?”

“Everything’s wet. Can’t even joke? No fun. Go, brother.”

The meaning of the nod was obvious. A freshly filled martini glass was served, and Charles stood up. As he offered his shoulder to the similarly built Philippe, the prince mumbled.

“Manon, I want to go to Manon. Where… is she? Ask her, quickly.”

Ugh, damn it. How long do I have to clean up after these rude bastards?

Charles took Philippe’s phone and entered the password. He sent a casual message asking where she was, and within a minute, the grand duke’s eldest son was pestering him.

“What did Manon say? What’s she doing now? Ask her. Call… no, tell her to reply quickly.”

“Yes, just a moment.”

“And the prenuptial… contract, tell her to sign it soon, why hasn’t she done it?”

“She will soon. Before the wedding. What else can she do?”

“To make sure we don’t break up, I’ve prepared so well this time.”

Half-listening to the mumbling, Charles sent a couple more messages. By the time he left the casino, Manon’s reply came, but Philippe wasn’t in a state to comprehend it.

Sorry, Manon, but Father called, so I can’t talk today, Charles replied roughly, then called two bodyguards.

“Let’s go to any available suite.”

He had to follow them to the hotel room just in case. Most importantly, he had to secure the phone.

If Felix was openly crazy, Philippe was rotten inside.

He loved taking pictures of everything, and it was terrifying to think what photos or videos might be on Philippe’s phone, which he casually entrusted to Charles.

He had advised countless times that losing it would be the end, that such things couldn’t even be defended legally, so don’t take or save them, but it never sank in.

‘Manon really stepped in it.’

Charles felt a brief pang of sympathy. After all, he was in the same boat.