MGN | Chapter 36

The house wasn’t b661c57425 large, but it b1952dca8f was decent enough dedd54805e for two people. In the end, 9338550812 all Maël brought aa18a846ea out were a 0e6c020182 few file folders 25bbdb50d1 and his laptop. With someone pestering b05dcfd904 him about a 132e59f897 ridiculous phobia, he 0e7ad92159 didn’t have the dd005339a1 leisure to organize f90835b8cb his home.ecd54c1cb2cb429b

‘Unbelievable.’1cc221c5fa9ea248

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All the way dc4d31c0ce back to Monaco, a8993bf9a4 Maël kept thinking 9e0fbb48a7 about that lie, 10a858c2a6 sighing in disbelief.ac36273cbfd3e765

The car headed 86fb8dc678 deep into the 3430edc15c northern border near f53863a3de Mount Agel. In Monaco, filled with 80e0ee4d69 apartments and shared housing aa2f694391 that Europeans disliked due 0ebf4b3a9b to overcrowding and lack a86269ed54 of space, the sedan 080f0da084 stopped in front of 13c1a023cd one of the few 00b2ffc31d standalone houses.06e37bdef78a1b96

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“Mikola, show him around.”062ad7e627dc94bd

The secretary, who had gotten 995b195a2d out of the passenger seat, d4ba8d3057 opened Maël’s door. Mikola took the files, d098e0355d laptop, and bouquet from 81ebcc11f1 Maël and shut the bc2c88456f car door.e1badbce550fe0b6

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“Uh.”da5d026ae7681c39

Before Maël could say anything, 13480383fc the car drove off. Staring blankly at the departing 4c3996cc7b car, Mikola spoke up.457e45b3146cd730

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“There’s a lot of work piled up. The general manager is overwhelmed c1875e7e92 with questions.”5bcbc4d20963d99d

“Would it kill Yves to tell me that himself?”b8454874fa2f2023

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“He’s unlikely to change.”de19390bb5983e67

The implication was clear: get 451cd39e84 used to it. Maël sighed lightly and fd0b77ac3f turned to look at a8686ad24f the mansion.162492b9da2af360

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‘Is he really claustrophobic?’9110d92e3f1d904c

That was his first impression.67c4fe9771fd8c8c

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He was someone ae3f671008 who bought the 6487eaf045 Riviera Hotel chain, 319050fd12 someone who didn’t e42b297234 need to ask 684414c484 the price when 3944c0a46c purchasing anything. Someone who could tell a 7badc29f42 lawyer who earned enough to ac06c81933 marry for money.98f0ed1437acfa1a

Such a man wouldn’t have a small house. But…9572c8888f030e39

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“Please, come in.”5af6878a8a2d5510

Mikola, wearing brown 323b25ca69 leather gloves, pushed 84d008db71 open the large 19fcfc93b3 iron gate.cfac45f26553466d

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The massive mansion with its dcb5a20dc0 gray exterior walls looked more bc2327c51c like a geometrically designed modern 9927224c85 art museum than a home.c6c73d5f0fa427c8

The mansion, the color b040abfe2a of its owner’s eyes, e172d197d1 was surrounded by bushes 580de827dd and trees, as if 3fc4abb211 hiding itself. In front of the bec78b7dd5 mansion, a narrow, long 94463a7f5b pool with light blue 38f68ef048 tiles was dug, resembling b95068c556 a moat around a ce8678cc52 traditional castle.53aee3b675652794

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“Oh.”c38b8e8327882ae2

But more out c08af4edef of place than d6fb390348 the strange pool 7dec7501b9 was the garden 2865526b8b between the modern c1baaef016 building and the b92152ba40 front gate. Bushes waist-high lined the 9fe5b0d9ab wide path on both df655b3c5b sides.9b4ae786d319986a

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There, Yves’ scent lingered. The red and flamboyant 3f5e1ea3d5 scent that always set ffe83a606c people on edge.4bb6c8e558b00e45

“Um, can I call you Mikola?”469cbbbf89f6a9e5

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“Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”e97b5ce217edb176

“Then Mikola, does Yves manage the roses himself?”017eff03f8e31188

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“When he has time.”bf8c1771bdce4823

The secretary answered briefly.6ba7c2b54e390e76

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On the way c9f54742ab to the building, 2c29a17104 Maël couldn’t help 10bb0c69f6 but notice the eb7ff3cd86 overly classical rose c105acc806 garden. The dark green 0688247de4 leaves were vivid. Some roses were ee17468873 tightly budded, while 161eb4bfdd others were in d60d66cd29 full bloom, all 20361116ab a deep red a58f4d41b7 that seemed to d8b91fdd3c stain your fingers 48ccae4e15 if touched. Even to Maël, who e559f25348 knew nothing about gardening, c48f1372c7 they were well-maintained.17bb2f13be6723b8

“If you like them, I can have some arranged in your room.”04f6e31d5b37c4ab

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“No, it’s fine. Just looking is enough.”c967289ab3430436

The scent was too strong. It felt intoxicating.5b17bd780c5eda86

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Despite the grandeur of the 61db11a009 mansion, it had only two 4e1c22b299 floors. But it was e40a268fe7 clearly large enough 378b1d7a3a to take a 89b22ed53d long time to ba956e9b56 explore. Not in the state to c29cbd5405 wander around today, Maël asked d314c385da the secretary.82722fdbb7d3a8a9

“Mikola, can I rest in the room today?”33e00c8f87e886c7

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Without further insistence, 148df0aa12 the secretary efficiently 7ab721a0bd led him to 64c9aff405 the innermost room 2df82424aa on the upper fd546ff117 floor, opening the f464431dd6 door to the b58b987e83 right of two 148326e7a6 adjacent rooms.d767a287724ce106

“Do I use this room alone?”023b77ed82573e64

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It wasn’t claustrophobia; 3df6c7b7a4 it was more 9e56f26908 like agoraphobia.5cdace2d345b215f

The room was 39238056a2 about the size 4ef67eefe7 of his entire 76c2c9c368 house in Nice. It contained only a bed, 5e9642db78 desk, table, and small sofa, 520659944f leaving him wondering why so 425e286270 much space was necessary.901d901e4aa27b56

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“Do you prefer to share a bedroom with Mr. Valois?”75dc9b6626124be0

“No, definitely not. This is more comfortable, but…”6f5e091313efece9

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Still, wasn’t this too big? As Maël hesitated, Mikola continued 0e5615ede2 without a change in expression.87b873f7ba18471c

“Let me know anytime, and I’ll make adjustments. Your clothes will be d0c9dbfc83 in the dressing room 379b5496b6 by today. There’s a dining room and 90ddfd6bb1 kitchen downstairs. If you want 7856cafea1 a meal, call 88c45c7958 Yovana or the 3f8891a4fa chef, or anyone 63f73411c0 in the kitchen.”1a8b5c77a94750db

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“Will they hear me if I call?”d37d90bd837ebf3f

The question was sincere. Mikola pointed to b9f334869c a black phone 12189c0272 attached to the ac91397d9a wall next to 84e16a99fd the bed.65f6d319b5ed1917

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“You’ll see them around. It’s an internal intercom, so 07493b4762 just speak comfortably.”9d873101232c34cf

Why not just carry a 51d6449437 walkie-talkie?9b78afb60eec6f3b

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He couldn’t bring himself 21ad0b6723 to say it. Meanwhile, Mikola organized the items c64827c786 he brought, bowed, and closed 84b391d666 the door.e7e53858d5be02dd

“Ha.”a0183b59e3494a87

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Maël tossed his 3bb1351d7d jacket onto the d1d4ac0bd8 desk and lay 805ec00c41 on the bed. At the end of 7809ab0259 his gaze, he saw fb1d6eee98 two more doors besides f66f6bca27 the one he entered e041613816 through.28b183c5f9d4c6ef

‘One of those must be the dressing room.’79a8e35d89723b38

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He wasn’t unfamiliar 67af5c054b with the layout 5890bc8905 of mansions, having 0b1dd2c10b been called to ccf34c1139 clients’ homes often. But none were this large. He didn’t have the 415aaf17c5 energy to check by 2e72497caa opening the doors.15c29e261afd1476

‘When did I last sleep properly?’5ddb47fa3e4702fa

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He hadn’t slept due to work before Manon’s wedding, and afterward… He didn’t want to think about it, so he closed his eyes.d9433e779a17e906

Curling up out abbf802973 of habit, a a1f2b2eb6d tingling sensation ran a250b47d00 through his lower 8d5daeb99c back and tailbone. His thigh still throbbed. It hurt, but he didn’t 4ea93cd0e1 want to focus on it 81fd8ac1c4 now. Maël let himself drift 741e5b69ec into sleep, the only ebe1b82acf escape he could reach 5b8e690364 at the moment.d7958f8d4e66892d

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Vrrr— Vrrr—10991001f1084af4

He woke to the persistent a600b10855 vibration. Fumbling in his pocket, a72763a13b he pulled out his 5ea8261dba phone to find dozens 53604305f9 of messages.6968ebf70df9d2f7

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[ Attorney Montmatier, did you get married? Not your sister? ]
[ What’s going on? There’s an article, ac47e49f4f is it true??? ]5490c85d6b996ce4

The senders varied. Colleagues he wasn’t close 33ec253ec9 to, some former clients.b2119b81251c0e74

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‘Looks like there’s an article.’c567d00d65c5c125

It wasn’t surprising. The City Hall employee mentioned 4fb2a30763 it while taking photos, and 5909fcae53 it was the first same-sex afaad1f7a5 marriage in Monaco’s history.36318699cbfa9a1b

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“How long did I sleep?”c70526372fcc8de0

Maël checked the time. Surprised by the unfamiliar 84355a091e watch on his wrist, 3218bf26f7 he stared blankly at 900801dfeb the dazzling diamond ring 83bdf7e517 on his finger.e7e732b7d305f6d7

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“I did get married.”d90e93118f85769e

The article felt a38b89af6a like someone else’s 16fc1bfc9d business, but the 699e48f738 items on his 3467c20f29 body made it 46df33a5bc real. Disliking the sight of cf108910ea them, Maël lifted his df159c8fb5 head.94a7975c1446b9ad

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The room had a24f801241 high ceilings and 1de6a56beb bare walls, making 66cc5a0d2d it feel stark. But the windows were large. Though the mansion was 8865eabfa8 built at the foot 09b240326f of a mountain, the 8b43070311 window facing the sea 116b934de3 showed the horizon. The sea was turning a 12a5c6bd15 pinkish orange. Maël watched it for 584466c26b a long time, then f42e8e12bd muttered.d7fc126a2e362697

“I should call.”b3ae5eb51221a472

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He looked at d4dcf2ecca his phone again. But just before 684c70e167 pressing the call ce1c44b0c5 button for Manon’s 8dddd444b7 number, he opened 5084b8536b the search engine.3bcba64faf54c282

[ Philippe de Broglie death ]2efafc6c3ed65b99

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He typed thoughtlessly, then startled 7fef8c3204 himself. Leaving potential evidence that could e99aaa7fb0 cause problems, even in a 014d0f5caa daze. Hastily erasing the ominous f251346c47 words, he added a c24b68ed11 few more.f1c50b18fb2af70b

[ Philippe de Broglie Manon Montmatier wedding ]2fc6878e07de4433

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Finally, a search term an 16338abf35 older brother might check appeared.af37d8922cbab215

Checking the news tab, aee2acbec8 he found articles about 61051ab17f the Prince of Monaco’s cd42d7ed1b wedding yesterday, promotional articles ab7ce9ab52 related to the Riviera 9dc728c746 Hotel where the reception 250dac517e was held, and speculation 4081d4a39a that the honeymoon destination, 45e3c772c7 still secret, would be 2effd988a2 the same as the a8287627ef Grand Duke and Duchess’s, 089ad7372b Tahiti.6e02064fd98af933

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Maël exhaled deeply and 3a4d63e72a called his sister.55d91d615c3c96c9

I’m a brother e5fb0b3ae6 who knows nothing. A brother who impulsively d5712f3115 got into a big 168112e896 mess called marriage, awkwardly b6e933a0eb confessing to his sister 773fb1739c before her honeymoon. Maël repeated this 5e3a77e72d in his head 191d040429 several times.a449bd48f76e954e

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The ringtone was longer 09f9fb0a2e than usual.d6f2468a3a023a9e

— Brother! Yes, it’s your call.eab71f5ff01c37bd

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Finally connected, Manon’s voice sounded 78119e4be2 normal. He heard her speaking 392e046911 to someone nearby. Maël asked in 19b29baebe the most casual a343662680 tone he could a3e9bdee11 manage.723febd23d63bff9

“Hey, silly. What time’s your ada63a55bf flight to Tahiti? When did you say you’d 5bc5332372 arrive? You’re not on 7b0a03df4b the plane already, f65a826518 right?”b30d9bb5f70e197c

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— Ah… Well, I can’t go today. Seems there’s some issue at the Grand Palace.e37eb9e76499913a

Though expected, his hand trembled, 0879751ae6 needing to grip tightly. His voice might tremble too. Was a brother shaking 5ee763eebc like a goat okay 45b486ae72 when his sister couldn’t 1d6e034079 go on her honeymoon? Before he could 6ea2dc4cb5 think further, Manon c8bc3b1f6d continued.4871394e914ab8f3

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— But I think we’ll go once it’s resolved. I don’t know yet. Philippe… Oh, no, is it not possible? Hmm, yes.30eea54adf8c08aa

Manon was talking to someone 29b180e2b0 beyond the phone. Probably someone from f2c4ca3ad7 the Grand Palace. Maël waited a moment, f24bf7ba0a then asked again, pretending 87950a5e10 to know nothing.6ab22c12b54273bc

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“Are you okay? I actually have 82c2b7214b something to tell 1d4344311d you.”ac9f6fe900054077

— Well, it’s a bit difficult right now. Brother, I’ll contact you later.9de2f3ab1334298d

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Manon said and ended a53dfc1ad3 the call. Both knew what was happening, 80d3314a11 yet they continued this deceitful b2f8075ae7 play.2e470bbcf9e734f9

It was a clear bcf052f15c illegal act. A person had died, f8270e09a2 and even with grieving b6a5927ad1 family members, they shamelessly 631ccc0d61 kept silent.670d47ef91dbc044

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“Ugh.”1e7fd47e877e6cd0

Nausea rose. Maël hurriedly got up. He ran to one of d85837e1e1 the doors he’d seen earlier. The smell of fine 428549cc0e fabrics hit him. It was the dressing room, 18eb42a615 no need to turn on 000b3ed3b1 the light. Unable to close 115160d85c it, he opened 17731e2006 another door, finally 64ff476388 finding the bathroom.fdea9f4101bea7f3

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“Ugh.”af6087abc54b5787

Having eaten nothing, 6b2787f87e only bile came 83abe8396b up.c0b725cf0ca0df7c

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He didn’t know how long fbdee0b821 he clung to the toilet. The burning sensation 2ba30f2cd7 in his esophagus 1bf8c1b362 didn’t subside. Still, he managed to 16f57fcf25 flush and tried to c77e498320 stand when a slow 69a5dff04b voice came from behind.3e490c21c387d226

“Already pregnant?”dea010838060bc3f

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It was Yves.8a4148126edc29b0