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.”233b013a7e05909c

“I’ve been throwing up and couldn’t sleep a wink. I’m out of it.”345962a1f48d404d

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“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.”95deda4f1b69e6a9

Though it 29b73cf622 was late c40440311d advice, Manon 69fc5fe66f considered it 9620548918 for a 79b26b1a7d moment and d442c3dba9 took it. After eating a piece e5385a46fa of toast, she swallowed 9782da171a the medicine with the 3e56bb3dd5 water I handed her.c33216e0615bba8e

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A navy sedan with the Grand Palace’s emblem on the license plate was waiting for us below.71de36f9b980d402

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.62e0a18e6c603d72

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‘They want to intimidate the young girl.’ba437e580e10cdec

To me, it 3f2ab557ea seemed pointless. All Manon had to b310b2f726 do there was read b5095f3acc the contract and sign f60f4de54f her name in the d6748566b3 designated spot.45068d3961fbb580

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

Just before leaving, I c565fe1529 sent a message to 48e0c642c3 Diane, who I was 9e150b75a0 supposed to meet in edf73cf121 front of the Grand e131cf0382 Palace. But instead of 12b2593332 a reply, I 8903392280 got a call.184b71fc2490bba0

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― Maël, what db0acd4138 should I do?8a6a8abaef442d94

“Diane. Why? Is something wrong?”a5eebc26fbc8c9fe

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― Oh, well, I’m in the emergency room right now.27916a93f0275949

“What?”1bb2fac0e6d19c80

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― 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.4bc5a12f9efe875b

“That’s not the issue. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”443475c19846d974

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― 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…63aad33406b0d8c4

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.3d1f70190ef33f20

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“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.”8e6402d632180acd

― 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?3c9a8521da91758a

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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.c03658d6a1d39e31

‘Though the fact that he’s Charles’ father bothers me.’608a44a359611cf2

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For Manon’s sake, there was no time to worry about such things.f370b4f79ac8821c

“Understood. Diane, I’ll come see you after it’s over.”b889a407cba56825

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― 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?befe3d537264d162

The call bebad8ba5f ended abruptly. Even though she d0a0626cb7 said she was 86c89e0bdf okay, the thought 671a6fd03b of Diane not b0dde50535 being there made d8fa3931db the burden on 3ab6dd165e my chest feel 4d1f6cb88d heavier than before.465f19017266d436

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‘It’s just a contract.’1d8fbef97c0d4365

I steadied 993c0fe580 myself, looking c3f9e0f389 at my b7f50589e4 peacefully sleeping 1b5a61f0c8 sister. The car moved 93f677da64 slowly but smoothly 1854977a4d onto the road.cbe57b5c8de50eb7

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* * *383f5f3246314600

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.45d52bbdf1fe5d80

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From the guards c4d1b86616 in white uniforms aa0473d7c5 changing shifts at 4e2ea93110 the castle gate, a6ce435ef4 to the view 585b5f1b73 of the city ee0d0dd96a and sea at cf9fd56a07 a glance, the 643ffd79ae cannons and bullets 5b4ee93776 that might have 4521dd12a4 been used once, ee826c640f and the beautifully ac40dab186 decorated garden with e12e0d3a61 the wind blowing d9e7b2341f from the cliffs. It was a 1b11181e2c breathtaking scene, too a1c0cfbabb beautiful for just e4b12ba11c one family, worth bcd54cc20d paying to see.025066a8b0173711

“Oppa, who’s coming instead of Diane?”7edd9a0131af666f

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Manon asked, still 07c9ebb1f6 unable to open ddf0e60060 her eyes properly. Almost simultaneously, a 6d4ce1aa95 white-haired man standing c622a6daf6 next to the eaec8c3a17 guards, looking at a130006e58 a tablet, approached bac400caa1 with large strides.d84744bc56a21783

“Attorney Montmatier. And the princess consort is here too. I’m Antoine Duverger.”a40f8422f62bff93

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“Hello, Attorney Duverger.”44225982a6a336c2

I shook b26bbe256a the hand 221ee78872 he offered. His grip was cd331eaebb strong.c579a13992293049

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If you erased the e2bed20763 wrinkles and beard, dyed 72271e16d6 the white hair, and 1df23bb733 shrunk the build a 8cba06f620 bit, Antoine was the 46e659042d spitting image of my a0fbb29416 ex. Manon seemed to d21b2eb82b think the same, f9fac7a752 as she stared 5cd1543390 at the veteran be0266ea78 lawyer for a f1d8a00c18 while, and Antoine 970f87f9d5 waved his hand.3e845fca15796d5e

“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.”4a1625f5a596e797

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He smoothed over the awkward atmosphere with a few words, much like Charles. Manon awkwardly laughed and added, “I’m just grateful for everything.”88984028a87c69f2

“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.”ecda034b31a47bd1

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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.dae9e995399c611a

“Shall we go in now?”963c32ea0a36f201

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After confirming, I smiled fed2a6463f and led the way. One of the 81b9dc30ab staff came out 00d565fb61 and guided us e39118b927 inside the grand b01ed6d0ef palace.045fea3777f231f5

Still half-asleep, Manon leaned 565bd84602 on me as we 4224823428 walked. Supporting her, 8ec7db0a47 we passed 252309c494 the twelve 33c0ae1c2d labors of 75492d3f8f Hercules painted a1a89807c6 on the 7ce535b88e corridor ceiling, 058e990778 and Antoine f1bd2151c5 spoke up.f62f7a309ba7ff3f

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“I heard Attorney Montmatier is also close with Charles.”a38d219f7750257b

“Ah.”a2b0b425cac0039f

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“It’s good for people in the same profession to be friendly.”5920c8f131f1a204

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.5ba6e7d72fa2760b

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“We’ve both been busy. It’s been a while since we last met.”525d5dcaeef889b9

“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.”6974887b104b8a69

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“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.”5edd5376ad7f03b3

At that, Antoine nodded fe915ca512 as if he understood.3a6eb3cf513e71eb

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Following the staff, 96e76da8a0 we turned left. Walking through the lavish 23d016fe53 rooms that connected without cf470740b6 corridors, we eventually saw 524ece1139 an open corridor and af9bc67375 a closed door.dd35b4f40c02201c

The staff c8e0eafd75 standing in 58b8b80db7 front of ac00c47743 the door 23830af9f3 spoke, firmly f405450a7e as if 28b682698e it was 852d001d04 already decided.b3618355c0aa1cf8

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“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.”32004735b6839f01

It was 2c6434fca2 a ridiculous aa8e966978 demand to bd91589199 the end. With a frightened face, 0446d1103e Manon clutched my suit 6d22842bef jacket. As I d636efca43 was about d9018006d6 to step 4badc6d802 forward, Antoine 821583c483 spoke first.925206270f563024

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“Wouldn’t it be better if I went in? I’ve already familiarized myself with the contract.”a3cbce875f0e7583

“What? But I…”c988049b675a6dc2

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“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.”8013ac15fab5bf1c

“Oppa.”bc99536c3c7a22f3

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Instead of 8dc7271ad1 me, Manon 30509a81bc murmured softly. Antoine chuckled and 6f38907f3b patted my shoulder.46861474844b1672

“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.”2e2c6f9d13305f45

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“…Please take care of her.”7ef8ef856efe6828

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.5ea3e0197305f97f

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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?”3e90e126ff6a95b1

“I feel like I’m really going to throw up.”e429148718952a34

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“This is really nothing. Just sign what we saw yesterday, and it’s over. You silly, okay?”75b4b54900c5d52a

Usually, she’d get upset at being called silly, but Manon clutched her tweed skirt and nodded.5b2160566e8aeb33

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As Antoine escorted Manon, 4bbe1afd30 the large door opened. After watching them 7568d5f5dd go in, I 7ccdf49a22 sat on the 604711bac4 chair in front a563507511 of the door.2727cab100ba6725

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.e57d185379fca25a

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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.8795df7bd38e5250

‘He wants to be part of that.’ff1cb6e5113b52c5

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I thought of the man from the underground parking lot. In a dark, dusty place, with cold eyes, he had suggested we date ‘appropriately.’55c9a9a787fc6278

“Crazy bastard.”6d54de3396c4ee43

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“Who?”e96b54f6b367efb5

I hadn’t expected a response to my muttered words.58b3165d9f5d21e8

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