MGN | Chapter 16

The day was clear. My younger sister, dressed in the beige tweed skirt suit Philippe had gifted her, looked pale. She didn’t look like she’d slept at all. They say even pregnant women can have a cup of coffee, but Manon stubbornly refused even a sip. As I spread butter and strawberry jam on her toast, I said, “Are you nervous? A lot of people feel that way. Don’t worry.”

“I’ve been throwing up and couldn’t sleep a wink. I’m out of it.”

“Take some morning sickness medicine now. You can sleep in the car on the way to the Grand Palace and while waiting. In that state, you won’t even be able to focus on the contract.”

Though it was late advice, Manon considered it for a moment and took it. After eating a piece of toast, she swallowed the medicine with the water I handed her.

A navy sedan with the Grand Palace’s emblem on the license plate was waiting for us below.

Manon fell asleep leaning against the car window, and I checked the time while sitting next to her. The place Philippe’s legal team designated for security reasons was one of the reception rooms inside the Grand Palace.

‘They want to intimidate the young girl.’

To me, it seemed pointless. All Manon had to do there was read the contract and sign her name in the designated spot.

[I’m about to head to the Grand Palace. It’ll take about forty minutes.]

Just before leaving, I sent a message to Diane, who I was supposed to meet in front of the Grand Palace. But instead of a reply, I got a call.

― Maël, what should I do?

“Diane. Why? Is something wrong?”

― Oh, well, I’m in the emergency room right now.

“What?”

― It was a hit-and-run, on my way to work this morning. I should’ve contacted you first, but after the airbag went off, I came to my senses in the hospital.

“That’s not the issue. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

― They told me not to move, but my limbs are all intact. But today is the day Manon signs the prenuptial contract. I feel bad for this…

Diane was the one who brought me back to Monaco from the law firm in Paris where I was interning. We had been together throughout my career, so she was also close to Manon. Her voice was full of guilt, and I shook my head even though she couldn’t see it.

“It’s okay if I go alone. * It’s not a case where I need to delegate authority, and I was just going to sign after the agreement was finalized anyway.”

― Still, I’m worried about this and that. I happened to get a call earlier, and when I told Antoine, he said he’d go instead of me. It’s a big deal anyway, and since he’s the firm’s representative lawyer, it won’t be bad for Manon. I sent the contract to Antoine by email. Will that be okay?

Even if just for appearances, having the representative lawyer of a big firm there was better. Especially when the other party was the Grand Duke’s eldest son.

‘Though the fact that he’s Charles’ father bothers me.’

For Manon’s sake, there was no time to worry about such things.

“Understood. Diane, I’ll come see you after it’s over.”

― Oh no, no. I’m busy today too. If you’re coming, bring all your leftover work and come the day after tomorrow. Let’s take a break since I’m hurt. And today, don’t go to the office and just go home when you’re done. Oh, doctor, no. I was really just on the phone for a moment. I’m hanging up now, okay?

The call ended abruptly. Even though she said she was okay, the thought of Diane not being there made the burden on my chest feel heavier than before.

‘It’s just a contract.’

I steadied myself, looking at my peacefully sleeping sister. The car moved slowly but smoothly onto the road.

* * *

Supporting Manon, who was still groggy with sleep, I walked. There were fewer people than usual near the Monaco Grand Palace, where the Grand Duke’s family actually lived. During the summer, when they usually vacated the palace for vacation, it was a place packed with tourists.

From the guards in white uniforms changing shifts at the castle gate, to the view of the city and sea at a glance, the cannons and bullets that might have been used once, and the beautifully decorated garden with the wind blowing from the cliffs. It was a breathtaking scene, too beautiful for just one family, worth paying to see.

“Oppa, who’s coming instead of Diane?”

Manon asked, still unable to open her eyes properly. Almost simultaneously, a white-haired man standing next to the guards, looking at a tablet, approached with large strides.

“Attorney Montmatier. And the princess consort is here too. I’m Antoine Duverger.”

“Hello, Attorney Duverger.”

I shook the hand he offered. His grip was strong.

If you erased the wrinkles and beard, dyed the white hair, and shrunk the build a bit, Antoine was the spitting image of my ex. Manon seemed to think the same, as she stared at the veteran lawyer for a while, and Antoine waved his hand.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I just read through the contract again. Wow, we really put some effort into this. The princess consort has a good brother. Or should I say, we have a good lawyer, and the princess consort chose the right firm.”

He smoothed over the awkward atmosphere with a few words, much like Charles. Manon awkwardly laughed and added, “I’m just grateful for everything.”

“No, really, because the casino shares Philippe received before marriage are his personal property. Including that jointly is unusual. Philippe must really like the princess consort to offer so much.”

His words piled up. It seemed he wasn’t lying about knowing the contents of the nearly 50-page contract. Antoine handed over the tablet he was looking at. It showed the final agreement of the prenuptial contract.

“Shall we go in now?”

After confirming, I smiled and led the way. One of the staff came out and guided us inside the grand palace.

Still half-asleep, Manon leaned on me as we walked. Supporting her, we passed the twelve labors of Hercules painted on the corridor ceiling, and Antoine spoke up.

“I heard Attorney Montmatier is also close with Charles.”

“Ah.”

“It’s good for people in the same profession to be friendly.”

It was an obvious question. His glance at me was filled with curiosity. The rumor that we dated and broke up seemed to have reached Charles’ father’s ears.

“We’ve both been busy. It’s been a while since we last met.”

“Oh dear, should I reduce his workload? As a father, I don’t want to tell him to cut down on time with such a close friend, but as the head of 377, that’s not the case.”

“It’s almost summer. I don’t know about the corporate advisory team, but for us, divorce filings increase in the summer, so we get busy. We have to work.”

At that, Antoine nodded as if he understood.

Following the staff, we turned left. Walking through the lavish rooms that connected without corridors, we eventually saw an open corridor and a closed door.

The staff standing in front of the door spoke, firmly as if it was already decided.

“Only one person can accompany Ms. Manon Montmatier inside. The others must wait here. It’s due to security issues within the Grand Palace, so we ask for your understanding.”

It was a ridiculous demand to the end. With a frightened face, Manon clutched my suit jacket. As I was about to step forward, Antoine spoke first.

“Wouldn’t it be better if I went in? I’ve already familiarized myself with the contract.”

“What? But I…”

“I know the other side, so it’ll be easier for me to block them. Even though he’s a prince, I’ve known Philippe since he was in diapers.”

“Oppa.”

Instead of me, Manon murmured softly. Antoine chuckled and patted my shoulder.

“If they talk nonsense, I’ll block them firmly. Security aside, if anything strange comes up, I’ll call Attorney Montmatier right away. Still, having the firm’s representative lawyer go in will make them nervous and give the princess consort confidence.”

“…Please take care of her.”

I conceded to accompany her because Antoine’s logic wasn’t entirely wrong. An associate lawyer was like an assistant to a partner lawyer. The ranks were different, and even though I did the practical work, Manon contracted with Diane, not me. In this situation, someone similar in rank to Diane was Antoine.

I held Manon, who was trembling slightly, and said, “Read the contract carefully inside. If they try to change anything, make sure to say no. The lawyer will help you. I’ll be outside. Got it?”

“I feel like I’m really going to throw up.”

“This is really nothing. Just sign what we saw yesterday, and it’s over. You silly, okay?”

Usually, she’d get upset at being called silly, but Manon clutched her tweed skirt and nodded.

As Antoine escorted Manon, the large door opened. After watching them go in, I sat on the chair in front of the door.

The palace had a square courtyard inside. The gentle scent of spring-blooming plants filled the central garden. As I paced, tapping the floor with my shoes, I noticed a portrait of the Grand Duke’s family about two meters away.

On the left, the Grand Duchess with a gentle expression, the Grand Duke standing in a suit, and in the middle, two boys with the Grand Duke’s red hair.

‘He wants to be part of that.’

I thought of the man from the underground parking lot. In a dark, dusty place, with cold eyes, he had suggested we date ‘appropriately.’

“Crazy bastard.”

“Who?”

I hadn’t expected a response to my muttered words.