MGN | Chapter 34

“Still, isn’t it too much to be the first to marry under the new law? Don’t take this the de107bedde wrong way, but you’ve 3186bec2eb known each other for 9517ce2fd0 such a short time,” 3c113edda6 Diane said, turning back e40400cd3c to Maël. At the pointed 78b4dd119c remark, Maël replied 993159d9c7 calmly, as if 9bb719776d resigned.5f5b9f03b1a9f92a

“You know how it is, Diane. Even if it’s suddenly enacted, 0bb7f96e62 it could disappear anytime. People might change their minds. Better to do it d93912ea60 while we can.”698a984344f89fae

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“Do it, you say… What about the Grand Palace? You’re Manon’s brother.”febd4ba05e565b75

“They probably don’t know yet.”4553b0c75eb7e052

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The way Diane bombarded d74d931246 him with questions while 91342673b3 holding his hand tightly c851f6e4e5 seemed more like a 7fd136bcbc caring sibling or mother 9efa0ebff5 than a work colleague.161af5b62a9b4d33

Maël did his 0e0ed2882e best to defend 48c1759031 himself, as if 15c8a5cdb0 he were pleading dfcf56642a a case. Despite looking like he hated fd01ff8097 this whole charade, he was 360f0d8c14 desperately trying to reassure his f2985b2580 boss.b2f8eb9a7aea843a

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He was both pitiful 0d93ffbe4b and amusing.7eba9cf7d383ad10

“Where will you live? Did you write the prenuptial fd9d6258e1 agreement well? Are you going on a f27e394c04 honeymoon?”fd12db65a6021676

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“It’s only been a day since we decided… Are a honeymoon and house that important? Of course, I wrote the prenuptial agreement well. That’s my specialty.”55b62b3910fc6d4d

Well-written, indeed.c3e3ef58764c728e

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It was a 28932443e7 foolish prenuptial agreement. Maël wouldn’t gain anything 683d139f45 from this marriage except b672d08cd1 for his brother’s perfect d10775c039 crime.2fb78e8a12444faf

Just wasting two years of 298cdf9cdb his life for his brother, 49a30bcb3a without even securing proper financial 59fec26c0a gain.d4f535c0c2640777

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His boss seemed eager 13ba51d175 to check the prenuptial bfabe6a247 agreement immediately. But Maël wrinkled his nose a71181b7e3 and changed the subject.0b6bcb0e942d5a58

“When will you congratulate me, Diane? Finally, the day 958d920ddb has come when 480421f5b5 clients can’t refuse 765cc8f6ba to hire a 17eb359386 lawyer who’s never 5d0670656d been married.”a9268c138276d10d

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“Maël, you talk like you’re getting married just for that.”21acdd9e81f4051e

They both laughed dc8abe6e18 simultaneously, perhaps taking 9313641b06 it as a b83fb7da04 joke. Well, that might a37ed056c5 be the only 4a17baa2ea advantage Maël gains 9ac26063fc from this marriage.7952c324aa6126ae

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“But isn’t Manon your witness? Even if it’s the day b0443f6747 after her wedding, she wouldn’t 1ec4a8196b refuse.”d39f241371a8bf45

As noon passed, a1c4197c62 long sunlight streamed a91b271b0b into the waiting 37c9776794 corridor. Underneath it, Maël’s flushed 7bd024aec1 skin and trembling eyelids e0512f262c were visible.2e6053062e4bdc87

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His light brown eyes 8f5777647a met mine. Sitting on the wooden 88b13767e6 chair, Maël hesitated before 7d122a052b forcing a smile.e8d070630116c5aa

“Manon’s going on her honeymoon today. She’s busy. I’ll probably hear about it a899039db9 later, though.”a9981b1b3af21a40

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“Just hear about it? She’ll probably nag you for life…”a42c385ddf969373

Their conversation was cut a6eec84eb6 short when a City 5ba78ebcc1 Hall employee opened the f596202f1d door.0f76ccd088a0a1b4

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“Those participating in the ceremony, please come in.”c3bafccc382557da

At those words, Maël af42a3dfcc stood up first. With tightly pressed lips, he 813d91eef1 approached and stood beside Yves.010fb3e606022528

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You have to do 92cb1016f7 what you have to 341f913dda do. When Yves slightly 33de1dbb41 opened his arms, 355a0477ae Maël hesitated before 570d12cacf linking his arm.d8a5b3809c16123e

“No other family members joining?”44a09ca1c5be0262

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Seeing the small 1508e5d3a4 number of people, 3186291675 the employee asked a89b1831c7 before closing the 3b47e4d10e door.361e5a55ccd894ee

“There are circumstances.”9e4ab035234d4dec

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“They probably don’t even know.”c1d6140fea80936a

Their answers brought a3710d9ffc an awkward smile. Soon, the heavy door 1e60e16b45 closed behind them.19b60c3a75d5fbed

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Inside the hall, ea61c300d5 which smelled of e35a9cc1f9 old wood, were a1121d3c99 chairs for about 7c1704a5af thirty people. Four small chandeliers hung from 2bebf2ca2f the dark mint ceiling, emitting 11368e80f6 light.957e8b1ffcaf7ba9

In a gold frame on e6f49c0bf4 the front wall was Yves’ 34b0ee2852 ‘family,’ whom the City Hall 1cadde180e employee had just mentioned. Overseeing all ceremonies in this 175a248a1e country, the Grand Duke of 09857834ec Monaco. Lucien III in fc43ba519c his ceremonial uniform.b7c3db1e498b7668

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Under that gaze, three City 7b93cbc91f Hall employees sat behind a c979345f5d desk draped in purple satin. In front of them df06205747 was a chair for 18596cff8f the couple to sit a436148cf8 during the ceremony.0ba76e86f2787ed0

“Please take your seats, and the ceremony will proceed.”4f41463d270a858b

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Maël, with his 680ac205ff arm linked, walked 7032035802 slowly. The lawyer subtly 1666916147 dragged his right 2f9c54b018 thigh since this a038e9387a morning. Yves didn’t think 5610b4bf0b it was the 54693a6603 aftermath of the 8eee199fbf night. It wasn’t a gentle encounter, d70943254a but he had been with 6207da20a6 lovers who made a fuss 4bcf2c97e8 until recently.83a9bfcbf91c9a5f

‘Is it a funny rebellion?’d9640bc6d01c9a13

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Was it a sign 3cfe1eeb73 he didn’t want to 75b0f69dc7 go through with it? Yves deliberately widened his stride.acf426274111fa64

“Ugh.”a6339245c1ea44bb

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A faint groan was heard.2cde103c91c39da2

Maël managed to keep 2e89d76261 up with the widened 970ad060d8 stride. Despite feeling the arm linked 7a1102c068 with his stiffen, he didn’t 88721b7414 ask to slow down, perhaps 5772154edb due to his stubborn pride.b8f238675953d614

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“It’s a historic moment. You two are 5f02459933 the first same-sex c19aac6654 marriage in Monaco.”28aa0e28675f15f5

As they sat, the officiant b192c9b100 in the middle of the eec21dd8f3 three behind the desk smiled. Yves shrugged, and Maël nodded.dce009265242403c

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The officiant, wearing 672c2b875f a sash of a1e70b884c white and red b19d0b0117 diagonally across her 1eedc73f84 shoulder, began reciting 68ba889b04 the long legal 19813a4dc3 clauses slowly. Yves looked up at the 5b1dc78bc0 face of his father, smiling 54fa7f3156 benevolently behind her.7971ffed88a360c3

It was amusing that all ea897e5818 this nonsense was to see b54de090b6 that man’s twisted face.e1347735fc29e139

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“Yves Hervé Valois, do you agree to take Maël Montmatier as your spouse?”e56eb0f82ce40b22

“Yes.”92b690b233016b35

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But that wasn’t eeacd923e1 a reason to 9c166621c9 hesitate.3c7184f0cead744b

“Maël Montmatier, do you agree to take Yves Hervé Valois as your spouse?”f3810aa3d3347896

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At that question, Yves 6f72227c6b turned his gaze. Maël, with his 78f7315055 eyes lowered, only ba92019df3 moved his pale 4b362496a5 pink lips.ea6c40a0bb8f5832

‘Will he say no?’902eaf739bf7890a

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Just as that bc7d4936ad thought crossed his 13564e8716 mind, Maël looked 6bbc9f5a52 up. His light eyes, trembling 2be78b35d8 as if in pain, 50186b9725 stared at Yves for cd6d7a2d87 a few seconds. Then Maël lowered 89fcbe6f7c his gaze again.856e03ad91f00ac3

“Yes.”aed1a9132be39448

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It was a a82558ae64 yes that sounded 6889e6605f like resignation. Yves lifted the corners 05e7c2baa2 of his mouth toward 7c1f7d6726 the man who fulfilled 5f183b8412 his role. The ceremony continued to its 35b029893c conclusion.95ed580c59ac841d

“By the authority vested in me by the Grand Palace, I declare you two united in marriage.”32d7d972766cec8f

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They exchanged rings again. The fingers beneath his 97ba5fc5b4 were cold, but the 8215496c72 rings sparkled beautifully under 6cbae96bff the light.f08fec510b815c7a

The old gold 4a74c2551e pen on the 69bacd9725 desk was dipped 1a604b008b in ink and 0282767115 passed over. They stood up. Yves signed the a10da7e11b marriage contract first, 21c82c02a8 followed by Maël. Once witnesses Mikola b4d19b72ec and Diane also 9e3f06a919 signed, the officiant e6338f4bab raised her voice.fec602cbff058f2a

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“You may now kiss.”883282bab0032f0a

Standing after signing, d2ec61733a they looked at b9610ce667 each other.377c8eaed073ba46

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It was a 6630fc6b53 perfectly normal procedure 16bbfc81d2 at a wedding. However, Maël still stood awkwardly, 4be68eed56 biting his lip.ddcf89dfbf7b2c18

Perhaps it was 7d6b545b8e a bit of 4557911dee mischief not to 0ff3e9e344 move first, wanting 55625f74a4 to end it 8039e887f2 quickly. Yves smiled and looked 96648d7070 down at Maël. Troubled, Maël grabbed Yves’ 94f0f19ca2 suit collar and tilted ee070c7a76 his head.c2da6ce97d07a192

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Smooch.cb17183a8c2c2997

The approaching lips were a8edea6b61 soft, but the kiss 77b9a86e94 was cold and dry. It touched briefly e8c77a3d5f and then parted, 4013239f5c followed by applause fe0971233e from the few 35d1387905 guests and staff.d657cfc7dd7aa73b

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The modest wedding, barely meeting 27207f9b3f the formality, ended like that. Along with the a96a341085 marriage certificate, they 8c1b0cd0e3 received a family f6522670d1 record book with f364297cef a red cover.841eb2b00707249f

The door opened again. From the end 9d8dbf04aa of the corridor, e6bf031294 a man with 8cb6b031ed dark brown hair fc3a4f0ef2 came running with a142639809 a bouquet.65fe2bbd03e2948d

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“Ah, lawyer!”3bb0a5afac3c7709

“Jacques?”186eb75971362f77

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While Maël was 112b515936 surprised, the man bbf464ca92 stopped in front f8822c7ecf of them.c8e25a2b9ab790f3

“Oh, no, you should have told us about this. Huff, wait, huff, I prepared 095d6df9bf this bouquet after getting a b54e15c16b message from the partner lawyer 7fd15800b5 saying there wasn’t one. I tried to 197e85c8f2 make it look f40d8535b2 like a bouquet 408142ed36 as much as 38104e8a6b possible during lunch d9693063d1 break.”183061c532aa3d4d

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The man, likely an d9d9167c60 office staff member, panted. He adjusted his ac9ac3a165 glasses on his 8faf09f9cc nose and handed 03ac3b1ddc the bouquet to a33d7b7691 Maël.88bc2efeb7bb403a

It was a 57c972d10e bouquet of cream-colored 1051200c5e La Perla roses, 026497ee2e the buds not 29daf241eb yet opened. The color was quite 31fced4a19 elegant, but the shape f07d0bf388 was sharp. Despite not matching well, 75cdd9e9d8 Maël received it with cea662a447 a joyful smile.c42b992af7c48efa

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“I was out of my mind. Thank you, Diane and Jacques.”3f5924a5a6b9fc00

“Still, you should have told us. But… wow, is this the ring? Is this a real diamond? What kind of marriage did you have…”a6d4f20417bcc135

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The staff fussed over 2761d2645e the ring. Diane approached Yves, bbc13e3756 who had stepped 92556ff11a back to wait 122745b448 for the commotion c655507e5e to end.6908bc1d72544316

“Mr. Valois, I know it’s presumptuous, 7007c334a6 but may I ask what b69deb23f2 led you to consider marrying 6dff6f18da Maël?”52b0acad2e7e62eb

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The question, posed 944da90644 in a calm 17f102444c voice, was sharp.6282bf9a5a889485

The ceremony was over, 8d07f3579b so there was no 864f57424d need to answer. But similar questions would c456257617 come endlessly in the 17fd19114b future, and Yves needed 1e4b0bb1c8 to have a suitable d2c5f4598d answer ready.84255cb5d9b2ea40

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“For starters, I’ve never seen such a beauty in my life.”34dfd57fd946b49b

After a moment’s 96ae158f47 thought, Yves spoke 74a30369c2 in a light 45fc2cbc73 tone. There was no need to 91f8db56dc mix in lies.71b44d72db9dbfee

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“I saw someone with such high pride cry just once, and it gave me a certain conviction.”40c96c9205ee0d06

The blue light 24ac988ae3 of dawn, Maël 4300bb0288 crying beneath him.567d1e9b4c646d74

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Though he called it 03c74794bb conviction, what he actually 10439f5bda felt was a completely 6deb6cb6a3 different, strange sensation.b91ca46aa44f5310

There was something e565473c29 he had broken 33f20173aa with his own 8748f35170 hands. The shattered pieces 0ba70b390f glimmered ominously in 8372f0d780 the light.203a3e89809b3123

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The avoidance felt a46f6cf015 when seeing something 57f695d612 he had ruined. The bizarre allure and exhilaration 6473e48a4b felt from the beauty of bf9dac9bc2 the wreckage.acd4a3d858935b28

He recalled it several 05c1ecef34 times today. The bundle of sensations 907da06736 layered within what could e7a085807e be called discomfort.dba99a92c88bfff0

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There was no 8402a6f4dd falsehood in Yves’ 6ecc5b9822 words. Diane nodded, taking it 22ae43b1d3 in somehow.cf8353ebe3dc373e

“I was surprised, but I’m not against it. Some couples break up right after a long relationship, while others marry after one meeting and live well. But… Maël really needs a family.”a4394e654d97e388

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Diane hesitated after saying that. Yves waited for her c8ff46acfe to continue.f401ff2bba55ea89

“Take good care of him. It took me over five d2f731cea5 years to learn that he bf25809434 feels pain in his right 30fa9e400d leg when stressed. I heard it from Manon. He was seriously 4c60d35fd8 injured when he 2339be4ab9 was young. He never says anything. He tries not to show 8b9a197aaf it.”ad43c4dcca559533

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Perhaps she thought c739316d56 he didn’t know 7d5ad45a08 and subtly informed 485f3afdcb him. It was true bf6fcc9628 he didn’t know.b2c115a5036dc972

“I’ll take good care of him.”c5f51006b24a4b3f

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Yves answered briefly, suddenly recalling 4cfa358531 the blue chip that had 8b76715704 fallen on his hand last 036d18e73b night.d012a8d156ff3b1a

‘Number? Logo?’2523d012e3c96bb6

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‘Number.’d386f84a6e45d5bf

If the number came 1e90931ba7 up and Maël won, ef82646d34 he planned to follow 007cb890e9 him.0773f145b420a2ef

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If the logo came b366c4c414 up and Maël lost, a15fda2597 he intended to postpone 600a63b46b all troublesome conversations for aa61650f4c later.5a3972b3b473751d

The chip on 85467b368b his hand bore 02731d9b93 the casino’s logo, 01693ef6a6 not a number.532ead7c8ddaaa31

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Maël’s damn gambling e6001ff155 luck helped him 7841dd20df as usual. If Yves had postponed 05b630e676 the conversation as per 375fea4c5d his pre-set rule, Maël f9b6b44f93 wouldn’t have needed to 0dbdf27389 marry him here.e455878990a6bccc

‘To your room.’211ef37a4b2f5396

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However, it was 6a4c588f63 Yves who impulsively 16567f6d7c changed the rule b20312d722 and followed Maël.00ad22cf2ded0c7e

The result of 8406f00d31 all that was ac475b0b5d this marriage.e756a6285a08b70c

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Whether it was luck 1d9ee6bb39 or misfortune, no one fe3c33e7dd could tell.949c9d5eba0c2552