MGN | Chapter 6

It was an unexpected blow.

From the files, Maël seemed to cherish his only sister dearly. Mentioning her pregnancy should have made Maël come in with his head bowed.

But then.

“Rejecting the proposal without even listening properly?”

Yves froze for a moment, then laughed in disbelief. The lawyer, perhaps sensing the irritation seeping through, put on a businesslike smile.

“It’s not because of my luck, is it? That’s just an excuse. Especially since you know about your sister’s situation.”

Clear eyes stared at Yves.

“If you want a proper consultation with a lawyer, you need to clearly state what you want. If you’re going to hide things, I’ll refuse to take your case no matter what you say.”

So, you’re not stupid.

The lawyer’s strategy of adding conditions late was ultimately classic. Poke around first to see how much Yves wanted him.

Yves’s mistake was having pre-judged the information in the report. He made a decision beforehand and then revealed his expressions and feelings during the negotiation.

“What do you want from me?”

Even though he pretended to refuse leisurely, he ended up rushing here without waiting for the consultation a few days later. Like a dog protecting its owner, his sister.

With an odd irritation, the person in front of him became bothersome. For some reason, Yves craved a drink, so he got up from the sofa and opened the hidden liquor cabinet.

“Two things.”

Among the many bottles, Yves chose the smokiest whiskey. Pouring two glasses, he continued.

“First, you take on my recognition claim lawsuit and win it. I don’t care how much it costs.”

“Even if it’s not necessarily me…”

“I’ve already informed you. I don’t want it to be more widely known. You take it.”

It was more of a demand than a request. Maël didn’t respond.

When Yves returned to his seat and handed over the glass, Maël made a disgusted face. Politely, but reluctantly, he just touched it to his lips and shuddered.

A reaction exactly matching the intention. Yves laughed, and Maël put down the glass. A few petals fell onto the envelope left on the table. Yves wet his lips again and spoke.

“And the other is the share of the Monte Carlo Casino your sister will have. I want to buy it.”

A thin breath escaped Maël’s lips.

It didn’t take long for him to respond. After a sigh, he spoke calmly, as if he had organized everything in his mind.

“There are a few issues. First, regarding your initial request, as you know, I’m affiliated with a law firm. The larger the lawsuit, the more people get involved, and our firm…”

“Is close with the Grand Palace?”

Is there any major law firm in Monaco that isn’t?

Monaco, excluding Vatican City, was the smallest country in the world. It was a mountainous area by the coast, densely packed with buildings to the point of being eye-straining, and in that small neighborhood, all the world’s ultra-luxury brands competed to enter.

Aston Martin next to Rolls Royce, in front of Bugatti, passing Zegna and Harry Winston to Richard Mille. And in the corner of every store’s display window, a framed photo of the well-dressed Grand Ducal family was placed. As if to praise them for creating a tax-free paradise for millionaires.

In such a modern capitalist paradise, the influence of the Grand Duke was still not much different from before the French Revolution.

“Well, your firm handled your sister’s prenuptial agreement, didn’t it?”

“That’s different. Prenuptial agreements are common in Monaco, and I…”

“Protect me with your wits. I don’t want more people to know about this. Go independent if you have to.”

It was a promise to provide enough compensation. Maël’s arched eyebrows briefly rose, then he calmly continued.

“As for your second request, my sister doesn’t have shares in the Monte Carlo Casino. Even after marriage, such things…”

Tap, tap.

Yves disliked laying out facts both knew in a messy manner. Interrupting Maël, he tapped the envelope on the table with his finger. Maël carefully removed the petals from the envelope and picked it up.

“Can I open it?”

Without a response, Maël opened the envelope, not hiding his discomfort.

About thirty photos spilled into his hand. Yves watched the man silently flip through them one by one.

The lips, drooping like a bird’s beak, and then the plump cheeks hardened. Eyes widened in shock darkened, and the lowered eyelashes trembled. After about ten photos, the lawyer gathered them and put them back in the envelope as if he didn’t need to see more.

The envelope closed. Maël picked up the whiskey glass he had despised, drank half, and put it down with a clatter.

“This… you showed me because Philippe did this, right?”

This time, there were no unnecessary questions. As Yves tapped the glass, Maël closed his eyes tightly and opened them.

“This level of assault should be reported.”

“Three out of four changed their names. I paid them double the compensation offered by the Grand Palace to get this.”

It meant if they could have sued, they would have long ago. Understanding the implication, Maël’s clenched fist trembled, and the area under his eyes turned pink.

Yves put down the empty glass on the table and pushed the envelope toward Maël.

“Borrow it.”

Eyes fixed on his cheek. Yves continued, unfazed.

“The prenuptial agreement is a mess, right? It might help in negotiations.”

“Take this and do the two things you want. Handle the recognition claim lawsuit, and get the Monte Carlo Casino shares?”

It was nice that he understood quickly. It would be even better if he didn’t ask about things they both knew or make annoying confirmations.

As Yves watched with such idle thoughts, Maël’s eyes and neck were already turning red.

“Are you sane?”

So that’s the face he makes when angry. Those big eyes looked like they were on fire.

“Why ask?”

“After showing me this, you expect me to quietly negotiate the prenuptial agreement? Do you think I’d let my sister marry a crazy bastard who beats people?”

Yves added a comment to his personal impression of the talkative lawyer, that is, a beauty who stands out in the dark.

Even in the dark, he’s pretty, but he’s the most impressive beauty when angry in the dark.

After finishing his thoughts, Yves leisurely opened his mouth.

“What if you don’t?”

“What?”

“Was it you, not Manon Montmatier, who was getting married?”

“…”

“Is there a need to fight with your grown-up sister? If it were me, I’d respect and help my sister’s decision. In a favorable direction.”

Poking deeply, the lawyer bit his lips as if slapped. He was someone who boiled often and cooled quickly. Maël, who had been glaring as if he wanted to kill him for a moment, exhaled a long breath and barely regained composure.

“Yves, I roughly understand what you’re thinking.”

“Do you?”

“Power struggles among the high-ups, I get it. You’re trying to secure your position by acquiring shares, right? Tourism and casinos, especially even if their importance has decreased a bit now, the Monte Carlo Casino is the most symbolic business the Grand Ducal family has.”

How many years had the man in front of him been a family law lawyer? In Monaco, where there’s no need to pay inheritance tax, if he specialized in family law, he must have seen enough dirty family feuds.

The struggle of an illegitimate child trying to squeeze in and take a place, the obsession with symbolism, none of it would be new.

Yves didn’t deny it. There was nothing to deny since it was all true.

Was there any whiskey left? As he checked his glass, a clear voice rang out.

“I understand your situation, but honestly, it’s absurd to think I’d let my sister marry after seeing this. I’m sorry, but I must decline the case.”

Yves picked up the whiskey glass. The wedding was less than a month away, and Manon had Philippe’s baby in her belly.

“Does he really think he can break off the marriage?”

If anything, it was absurd on his part.

He’d come back. The situation was obvious. Yves was sure, but the thought of this process dragging on was annoying. Yves got up and headed to his desk.

He pressed the intercom briefly, and soon the door burst open. Seeing the secretary, Maël realized he was being dismissed and narrowed his eyes before standing up.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet your expectations.”

Empty words. Yves took a sip of the whiskey with a smoky scent and nodded.

“Mikola. Cancel the consultation in the back and send the consultation fee to the firm.”

“I didn’t come for a consultation today. I came personally… on my own, it’s fine.”

“It means don’t take the money and go around talking.”

After saying it, he stared. It felt like his mood would improve if he heard a word, but the annoying lawyer just lightly nodded and turned around.

“You.”

Calling out was half an impulse. Yves slowly asked the one who only turned his head.

“Do you have any gay friends?”

“What… friends?”

“I want an introduction. Someone who can show me something fun like last time.”

Finally, his face twisted. Without a word, Maël walked away and slammed the door. Dark red rose petals fluttered onto the table.

The irritation didn’t quite fade. Yves poured the remaining drink down his throat.