MGN | Chapter 36

The house wasn’t large, but 571db91a8e it was decent enough for 45f913d24d two people. In the end, all Maël 1f5b3730e6 brought out were a few 5bc3134579 file folders and his laptop. With someone pestering 27908d627d him about a 6d27f93ccd ridiculous phobia, he 33bf2fd42b didn’t have the 7ac9b630a4 leisure to organize f7e223d074 his home.36fb56a3b89be99e

‘Unbelievable.’76808722ae9df1ea

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All the way back to 8ef253a00e Monaco, Maël kept thinking about f35d2b55d1 that lie, sighing in disbelief.90b86e558479e4a4

The car headed ff41be4ae3 deep into the 9b08609903 northern border near 2277c39068 Mount Agel. In Monaco, filled with 914bfe931b apartments and shared housing 586e9b87ed that Europeans disliked due 62dd61a831 to overcrowding and lack 566d50d01e of space, the sedan e9f74965f5 stopped in front of ac51d2e708 one of the few 33661d3450 standalone houses.eacdba2f695cb11e

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“Mikola, show him around.”e4d0a2415ab1e34e

The secretary, who e5fd258753 had gotten out 31a54d8f10 of the passenger b71ec59441 seat, opened Maël’s 8973f7fc54 door. Mikola took the files, laptop, 4354de52ee and bouquet from Maël and b0bd5c33f2 shut the car door.7a8cb83ce64ed346

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“Uh.”8a5f1aff24966a37

Before Maël could say anything, aedf4c6f59 the car drove off. Staring blankly at the e666afd613 departing car, Mikola spoke d7d5c3c815 up.7719cab4462c217c

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“There’s a lot of work piled up. The general manager is overwhelmed 2c41053bdc with questions.”0d4bb60064758347

“Would it kill Yves to tell me that himself?”2326a8196902e0c1

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“He’s unlikely to change.”02f3ea8361ffc06d

The implication was clear: get 12b34670a3 used to it. Maël sighed lightly and 4bd791d914 turned to look at fba4f8f6d4 the mansion.fd1fcb9089781aeb

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‘Is he really claustrophobic?’a0ec054ef36cb480

That was his first impression.b700aaed3d18c130

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He was someone 5cd4b5a776 who bought the aee68acf00 Riviera Hotel chain, 90d31c88a3 someone who didn’t 908284c314 need to ask db92e5d37a the price when 4eef181f69 purchasing anything. Someone who could tell a 576214c4ae lawyer who earned enough to 58685cde9f marry for money.061fd77e66dde8a7

Such a man wouldn’t have a small house. But…f37e562022da4037

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“Please, come in.”cf50e124d77bba4a

Mikola, wearing brown leather gloves, 1f8497ee51 pushed open the large iron 4231ff4591 gate.76dd0de35f77af06

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The massive mansion 5ff6077734 with its gray 8c937ee204 exterior walls looked 1731333499 more like a 3a96793861 geometrically designed modern 08b2c19300 art museum than e030e4494d a home.efc2213b6828c681

The mansion, the color 759e928a43 of its owner’s eyes, 14694f2831 was surrounded by bushes 8b2494a8c3 and trees, as if 4b7e686f41 hiding itself. In front of the mansion, 58d89e4c56 a narrow, long pool with bbe83241e1 light blue tiles was dug, 6e087effb6 resembling a moat around a e86d141e47 traditional castle.7a59d2f92caca567

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“Oh.”9fbecd9a5129e49b

But more out of 1b846be61a place than the strange 8b2a16d607 pool was the garden d1bbbe16fd between the modern building f018555dec and the front gate. Bushes waist-high lined the 88fd08e5c2 wide path on both 148d61821f sides.aa32ca20c2b3eff9

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There, Yves’ scent lingered. The red and flamboyant scent 9856f34e20 that always set people on f065c27dc9 edge.48a2709d7c8844cb

“Um, can I call you Mikola?”827c122ffda28b98

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“Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”a3734e1c04e881ad

“Then Mikola, does Yves manage the roses himself?”68f765e1d92814a5

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“When he has time.”396e36d81e89b853

The secretary answered briefly.205e4c1c689c7ac9

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On the way to 7f7bc58e02 the building, Maël couldn’t d218b8c79d help but notice the aeac0f1057 overly classical rose garden. The dark green ceb52cf36e leaves were vivid. Some roses were ca0caa26ab tightly budded, while aaa24d082a others were in f14490933d full bloom, all 1c16bbe894 a deep red 4dbd0fd1ca that seemed to 17cbcff74c stain your fingers 057316f3e2 if touched. Even to Maël, who 7e7b941ca7 knew nothing about gardening, 4ad960ee89 they were well-maintained.c8a116876f2c90fd

“If you like them, I can have some arranged in your room.”f0abe632222a2a3d

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“No, it’s fine. Just looking is enough.”704051611d082661

The scent was too strong. It felt intoxicating.767f25028dbe9734

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Despite the grandeur of the e25d40ca29 mansion, it had only two 9c80619883 floors. But it was clearly large 5a744075eb enough to take a long 5cc80cc3ef time to explore. Not in the state to 0480eb8f43 wander around today, Maël asked 5ca2f91252 the secretary.15936eaa099ae224

“Mikola, can I rest in the room today?”ca6407b439ebb743

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Without further insistence, the secretary 75b5491931 efficiently led him to the 2fbcef8389 innermost room on the upper c06fa98b8e floor, opening the door to b01d508a1b the right of two adjacent f84ec368c0 rooms.44e6e7e14f507866

“Do I use this room alone?”6eeaf1bb5a3a26f8

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It wasn’t claustrophobia; it bc0a82b375 was more like agoraphobia.e665defc9b6975c2

The room was f742547a0c about the size 54c7a4feaf of his entire f33e762d86 house in Nice. It contained only a 664b75e9ab bed, desk, table, and 701aea0746 small sofa, leaving him 2f62502d44 wondering why so much b3a9d9a103 space was necessary.23e9d8db24657b2f

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“Do you prefer to share a bedroom with Mr. Valois?”9a85e0a092037e3c

“No, definitely not. This is more comfortable, but…”abde03a6d661092d

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Still, wasn’t this too big? As Maël hesitated, Mikola 780f48607c continued without a change 90e39e17cd in expression.149eb2f5dcb2a0e5

“Let me know anytime, and I’ll make adjustments. Your clothes will be in b34df83bb7 the dressing room by today. There’s a dining room and 7eeb173006 kitchen downstairs. If you want a 567ebca4df meal, call Yovana or c1e0617368 the chef, or anyone 5021146173 in the kitchen.”eb22719a8285a492

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“Will they hear me if I call?”c91885e1a2eebd76

The question was sincere. Mikola pointed to 701e5b4f55 a black phone b94f2fd3ae attached to the 55422fc2bb wall next to 6890c62c41 the bed.cd8e32d87ea5d09d

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“You’ll see them around. It’s an internal intercom, 0d6db2a970 so just speak comfortably.”c71fdb037ff9610e

Why not just fe73451847 carry a walkie-talkie?08230d822dbf06a3

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He couldn’t bring himself to 8135b39ad2 say it. Meanwhile, Mikola organized 99a714da5f the items he 74418af537 brought, bowed, and 9092911475 closed the door.777576e13889a5c8

“Ha.”3697000b6f51fe60

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Maël tossed his jacket f0899d92a6 onto the desk and bed9f79b92 lay on the bed. At the end of 7934e5b8c3 his gaze, he saw e3ed73ec33 two more doors besides b0dc1bdde5 the one he entered cf0baa0dc2 through.e2c9cac37a6185ef

‘One of those must be the dressing room.’94fff500a2ead3bc

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He wasn’t unfamiliar 541b483667 with the layout 2efadb7339 of mansions, having bdfb9ea670 been called to 5d39a5bbcb clients’ homes often. But none were this large. He didn’t have the 019b461e92 energy to check by 55f8161055 opening the doors.1dbf469b74b56fe7

‘When did I last sleep properly?’788a9053c943dd4a

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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.c8b495cf33e93399

Curling up out of habit, 50d3c00d6d a tingling sensation ran through 5d8d328cdf his lower back and tailbone. His thigh still throbbed. It hurt, but he 75f8cc340f didn’t want to focus f94306b46a on it now. Maël let himself drift into d61bcd37ca sleep, the only escape he 5ce656eee8 could reach at the moment.3f0c1ab0153d404e

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Vrrr— Vrrr—c022373090cc970c

He woke to 4e45f59fee the persistent vibration. Fumbling in his ec05dc0736 pocket, he pulled 82667e0465 out his phone 969bc3e11e to find dozens cb52e121fc of messages.a630dad7f83602d2

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[ Attorney Montmatier, did you get married? Not your sister? ]
[ What’s going on? There’s an article, is it cac2b9acec true??? ]ff79faec1cd81915

The senders varied. Colleagues he wasn’t close to, fe3dc5c88d some former clients.1c602ba54c7dcdd2

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‘Looks like there’s an article.’6aff0ef12fb896cb

It wasn’t surprising. The City Hall employee mentioned 3ad813a476 it while taking photos, and b9a1d7632f it was the first same-sex 63de02a2a5 marriage in Monaco’s history.0022b2dd8242b700

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“How long did I sleep?”c1c69af67f0f0031

Maël checked the time. Surprised by the unfamiliar watch 3acd8e1f0d on his wrist, he stared 1731feb18e blankly at the dazzling diamond d308424ce9 ring on his finger.6a8e8bf3e6a7976d

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“I did get married.”e78e8f1b3622061a

The article felt 081ba3c70b like someone else’s 6b4d8a3b12 business, but the e83cc8d23f items on his 4d6864d4cd body made it 5eb9f7a2ab real. Disliking the sight of them, d9b7cc1548 Maël lifted his head.e89350eb09eb380c

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The room had high 18ad6b7320 ceilings and bare walls, 1a8ff99703 making it feel stark. But the windows were large. Though the mansion was 6e1088e264 built at the foot a58954bf12 of a mountain, the 145c054246 window facing the sea b196e33979 showed the horizon. The sea was 7051582ee8 turning a pinkish eb74ef308e orange. Maël watched it for a 7d27136748 long time, then muttered.b9237f4b38f50e99

“I should call.”106b28459f568320

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He looked at his phone de8cbea3e2 again. But just before pressing the df1c821ba0 call button for Manon’s number, bd4d3c8e20 he opened the search engine.f45838f8f4525850

[ Philippe de Broglie death ]a5eed22f47808a9d

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He typed thoughtlessly, f7e43a0bed then startled himself. Leaving potential evidence that could bd1c313e76 cause problems, even in a 37a7763fa7 daze. Hastily erasing the ominous words, d23c162c51 he added a few more.9b348bfed763372c

[ Philippe de Broglie Manon Montmatier wedding ]ebe674564624984d

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Finally, a search term 6639ed06f3 an older brother might 3a3dfd0618 check appeared.6c31d71103e5a596

Checking the news 73441e87ed tab, he found 8ad2fd707d articles about the ee5fd43a6d Prince of Monaco’s 250fe3d549 wedding yesterday, promotional 6fbbc31224 articles related to 44ca45d042 the Riviera Hotel 28144c0b0a where the reception d9bc598095 was held, and f2c56b0886 speculation that the 650f42b1f1 honeymoon destination, still 8558808547 secret, would be c8f879fa77 the same as 31202ce5f3 the Grand Duke 36cb03f86f and Duchess’s, Tahiti.c8baa45555f0fb52

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Maël exhaled deeply and called ce67c251b6 his sister.9e2a3e1e0ddfed39

I’m a brother ae819274ec who knows nothing. A brother who impulsively got 31c58ce156 into a big mess called 42c3fe7a04 marriage, awkwardly confessing to his 4ce1f4f952 sister before her honeymoon. Maël repeated this in his 5a8b1e9168 head several times.3bb7b8b41a1b42c4

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The ringtone was longer than 96b64bd621 usual.5c21bfbc7a3a60d1

— Brother! Yes, it’s your call.b2777a8ee7406bb8

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Finally connected, Manon’s 65949c98f1 voice sounded normal. He heard her speaking to 57990bc4e2 someone nearby. Maël asked in cc69f15740 the most casual f2731370ae tone he could 36a2a7a899 manage.3baa038e3564d9a2

“Hey, silly. What time’s your flight cf4ad3d646 to Tahiti? When did you f25f1fb2d9 say you’d arrive? You’re not on the plane 68dddf657d already, right?”3ae68f9f3ffe5c4a

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— Ah… Well, I can’t go today. Seems there’s some issue at the Grand Palace.fc67e4a723423737

Though expected, his hand a47904ef2d trembled, needing to grip d7cd86e325 tightly. His voice might tremble too. Was a brother 092b1e72a9 shaking like a 8cb4d3955c goat okay when 2b16319145 his sister couldn’t 36f8efa584 go on her 5fbfc0f37f honeymoon? Before he could edc12fec07 think further, Manon 34eae52827 continued.25ab5dfa3c0637d3

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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.33806baec6d367d9

Manon was talking to someone 0401e917b7 beyond the phone. Probably someone from b2076779de the Grand Palace. Maël waited a moment, then f56106e679 asked again, pretending to know 8c27515472 nothing.3665821009cb6e90

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“Are you okay? I actually have something to aec21c564f tell you.”649b9fdb0777ad5b

— Well, it’s a bit difficult right now. Brother, I’ll contact you later.1cb3a3adece27e04

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Manon said and ended the 247f2f765b call. Both knew what was 091d6ad67e happening, yet they continued 6fcf3a3da8 this deceitful play.fa25f20b73c2846f

It was a clear illegal 4b804161ee act. A person had died, and cd3eed75a0 even with grieving family members, 1e61a2b0cf they shamelessly kept silent.3a8fb26ccb46a0f8

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“Ugh.”1388429dee8bded1

Nausea rose. Maël hurriedly got up. He ran to one 15efd6383a of the doors he’d addbc90066 seen earlier. The smell of fine 00dc8f7a99 fabrics hit him. It was the 5b91562363 dressing room, no 938ea6e309 need to turn 2dd8574e40 on the light. Unable to close it, he d468de4e23 opened another door, finally finding 053d9a3258 the bathroom.7d3a37f6f0df5d88

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“Ugh.”8ad3c366d4b9b794

Having eaten nothing, 5a065dd3e4 only bile came 0c06dc5b64 up.e00f154b20257c39

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He didn’t know how long f0cac4c8bd he clung to the toilet. The burning sensation in his c03e6b3930 esophagus didn’t subside. Still, he managed 5806a2069f to flush and 6687c486e5 tried to stand c6af28feba when a slow b14ec5b00c voice came from 1785c250ca behind.0db086bf4f616a80

“Already pregnant?”58c565cbac9c18db

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It was Yves.d41c6bc281d6880e