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.”b7d2e7ef3f525965

“I’ve been throwing up and couldn’t sleep a wink. I’m out of it.”0d83d68b1aed29f7

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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.”8d6108855b1b0387

Though it was late e2714101a6 advice, Manon considered it 2707581161 for a moment and ee2901631e took it. After eating a b6f044c553 piece of toast, 1b4404c871 she swallowed the 7cf8bfceca medicine with the 5e088afcea water I handed 95a8df7a29 her.af8bfb01a6a143cc

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A navy sedan with the Grand Palace’s emblem on the license plate was waiting for us below.a59a94ce75622315

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.905d46f1cf975131

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‘They want to intimidate the young girl.’b365f3f6d722a2ec

To me, it 18b8e12688 seemed pointless. All Manon had to e3592ad45e do there was read 452ee134c7 the contract and sign 9ff35208b4 her name in the 46ce35c9dc designated spot.d9d87dbe7e24eb03

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

Just before leaving, I 99c177b90b sent a message to d5f6ebd7d7 Diane, who I was fff558a9ba supposed to meet in 76f7a66f12 front of the Grand 6a19ffbd12 Palace. But instead of a 3714e0b8eb reply, I got a d78181d219 call.29d5b917920b1bbe

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― Maël, what 7deca9498b should I do?b6b10c1d8ccd080e

“Diane. Why? Is something wrong?”5d8726c0beaf8948

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― Oh, well, I’m in the emergency room right now.43485c023d8d36b0

“What?”a8e0737abdeea934

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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.fe43e97f3e3b5f66

“That’s not the issue. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”a987a5ba0ad948f6

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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…6bdf2bc21c711d6f

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.9ba6f239a9a65720

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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.”5a9b9731675a09d4

― 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?250c904b97269ccc

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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.0029cf11dbd85aaa

‘Though the fact that he’s Charles’ father bothers me.’af52443661628f7e

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For Manon’s sake, there was no time to worry about such things.938d21603e8ab5ab

“Understood. Diane, I’ll come see you after it’s over.”d434f90c4f9c15df

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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?310dbcb1007257ac

The call ended 534f1c6472 abruptly. Even though e48414fa7d she said dfc4d0f954 she was 87ae22be22 okay, the fd2b8837cb thought of ef0ac8c587 Diane not 47e73c6c33 being there c1fd2eb9af made the 5ff6515f61 burden on 1ce2533a46 my chest 09bc48011c feel heavier 7338c6c44e than before.9d6da3b81a0579cc

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‘It’s just a contract.’dffbbd4bea672f1c

I steadied myself, 4474191ab3 looking at my 4abc4cf391 peacefully sleeping sister. The car moved slowly 73d152621d but smoothly onto the 93ec30cccf road.7435d1e588823ace

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* * *02a8abb3c17d08e6

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.d189dfa2dc0bb59b

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From the guards 30f2718ef8 in white uniforms f34190ff6d changing shifts at 8596ae7df1 the castle gate, 5fec107f8c to the view 8bb6b7737c of the city 51bf2659e6 and sea at 842c7159cf a glance, the 52d199d405 cannons and bullets 3b2739ccd9 that might have 3e762fe700 been used once, 46c0b005c4 and the beautifully 409a931385 decorated garden with 6b127b6f42 the wind blowing f21a65c553 from the cliffs. It was 5237641c83 a breathtaking 560a4c209d scene, too e11bbeafeb beautiful for c73c9c4950 just one 28007f583e family, worth d54467285e paying to 8f00ad1ea1 see.1370310e22b34731

“Oppa, who’s coming instead of Diane?”4ff9ee776fa27f38

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Manon asked, ada65e7cdc still unable 18c5ef3cbf to open 7ed8ea2955 her eyes f07f48721e properly. Almost simultaneously, de7f2979ca a white-haired 30e6d1f46b man standing 6eeacaccd6 next to 04353fd69b the guards, 57a6213d44 looking at 7f0d066e57 a tablet, 7df19a08f8 approached with a6d9a48330 large strides.f54d4e8b536a9f6f

“Attorney Montmatier. And the princess consort is here too. I’m Antoine Duverger.”3424e9125a2ac2be

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“Hello, Attorney Duverger.”dd34ffef93fc1557

I shook the 442b10492c hand he offered. His grip fa62acca13 was strong.8156db3881329f2d

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If you 9148db9d96 erased the 65e676cfc8 wrinkles and 05bc5ed95f beard, dyed ffaa342415 the white fe7dfb7014 hair, and dc66364359 shrunk the 8f3a205be1 build a 337f475ee8 bit, Antoine 800e6734a0 was the 23178c643b spitting image b2ff7c309b of my b53c8a6f5a ex. Manon seemed to 3afd090d7d think the same, 1946f17f11 as she stared 16a72b9f54 at the veteran d03c6e3cdd lawyer for a 6e4f40e250 while, and Antoine f20e238ead waved his hand.914ed911c9c28332

“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.”f8608cdd2b33013d

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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.”f99f3552b82c8abd

“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.”df8a09f9a652c69f

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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.7cb03843ba3d1160

“Shall we go in now?”e9d4eb3a7e6f9565

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After confirming, 53adca797e I smiled 663b93cd04 and led d470b57a4b the way. One of the staff 915987cfaf came out and guided 4f133f4d2e us inside the grand 23ca4a964a palace.fe1b1cbab22141a4

Still half-asleep, 90f8eba673 Manon leaned 26e0a2e761 on me 65ad99b899 as we 51795068e7 walked. Supporting her, we e6af2f44c0 passed the twelve 55103d1b20 labors of Hercules e346b82015 painted on the e9e1c53e85 corridor ceiling, and a98d1698bc Antoine spoke up.73c951553b60e9ad

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“I heard Attorney Montmatier is also close with Charles.”b54b919bf6f49d36

“Ah.”7440140ffd52a078

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“It’s good for people in the same profession to be friendly.”5375cbab5e2d2e68

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.69bd18d0cfbe63c9

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“We’ve both been busy. It’s been a while since we last met.”a2efd7ebdc5fd2c6

“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.”3355369596b186ae

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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.”18351382c38c9b97

At that, f64f688ff5 Antoine nodded a7d2ac7ed1 as if 1ebc95eb35 he understood.4d1b5f0a62811968

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Following the staff, 6107371d31 we turned left. Walking through 93a1768002 the lavish 5ec9815bac rooms that 5b7f3c4370 connected without 3ee05ad404 corridors, we 85cfef9b85 eventually saw 0e8322588f an open 9a714c50eb corridor and f8e80a64f6 a closed dbdf7ce9cc door.b51e51a4419ac2cd

The staff standing in b973dc11df front of the door 4283bc47dd spoke, firmly as if 34262e7b34 it was already decided.cbd438b68c31bdc9

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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.”37bf01f22869b67c

It was a 1045358358 ridiculous demand to f5b297b807 the end. With a frightened face, cf95359a12 Manon clutched my suit 51ccf5cd8a jacket. As I was about 334d78a603 to step forward, Antoine 0fea94112b spoke first.e3da642031b7681a

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“Wouldn’t it be better if I went in? I’ve already familiarized myself with the contract.”6adb1f8c9f54a902

“What? But I…”51e49d4e4ad5c454

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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.”32c78cefe22c410e

“Oppa.”b6fe65e0a5fb3b1b

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Instead of 397b3bcc78 me, Manon e57c6f19e2 murmured softly. Antoine chuckled and fd4c7314bc patted my shoulder.224b17bcc60a8df1

“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.”001525b6dd6a95d2

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“…Please take care of her.”9c80a83e891f0554

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.98911b7ea7e017bd

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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?”2ec2bf0c61c6db8b

“I feel like I’m really going to throw up.”b896b2a554a255b5

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“This is really nothing. Just sign what we saw yesterday, and it’s over. You silly, okay?”87170bed803756a7

Usually, she’d get upset at being called silly, but Manon clutched her tweed skirt and nodded.ff540218d05a6ad8

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As Antoine escorted Manon, 9963d66542 the large door opened. After watching them go 90599bdb80 in, I sat on 8738d6caa0 the chair in front 89f97cf130 of the door.89ec150d7e5e2ffc

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.d9b0fe3c176477ec

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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.b572bb22488f7e66

‘He wants to be part of that.’8e79fd47a466d101

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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.’cf66a9845bc44fee

“Crazy bastard.”de96ffc6a190f7ba

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“Who?”d8d092776acf0b04

I hadn’t expected a response to my muttered words.f9dcd0f70d109572

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