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.”02480115f77d207a

“I’ve been throwing up and couldn’t sleep a wink. I’m out of it.”46af289df62f9c7b

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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.”9bf84035d4ac2b67

Though it was 82c6cafc56 late advice, Manon 002202bb25 considered it for fe66e961ee a moment and db3f8f24ba took it. After eating 40153b351a a piece 173e3f7154 of toast, 527b6ef3dd she swallowed 123a3599a4 the medicine ee581ff9a3 with the a5892fc309 water I 6f9bc24048 handed her.cdc057edf0e10b34

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A navy sedan with the Grand Palace’s emblem on the license plate was waiting for us below.7cfb51f38d8bb7bd

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.d5847f79270229bf

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‘They want to intimidate the young girl.’b8d166fff7510863

To me, 1c36fbfeee it seemed cbab995309 pointless. All Manon had 51bf817517 to do there 52435d7620 was read the 710813a3ee contract and sign 4c90e40e45 her name in 44626a5707 the designated spot.195360ad753ead97

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

Just before leaving, 901f20acf0 I sent a a208746c3e message to Diane, 5fea88dcb3 who I was efee59b64f supposed to meet 290b3b0cea in front of b3a1d7d235 the Grand Palace. But instead of a c653ad6ffc reply, I got a a763bf8b41 call.8bc4d0cd3af33c56

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― Maël, what should 472eb92eff I do?67f281f3c4abdcd3

“Diane. Why? Is something wrong?”6a04d4efc5a11a69

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― Oh, well, I’m in the emergency room right now.bc360b56577603d5

“What?”6aadbecdc4f149a5

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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.7ff31698dd15a51f

“That’s not the issue. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”80a0893e8a071461

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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…ed07d84a63229586

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.009799d9d503947e

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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.”87b5d76f0e4711cd

― 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?f51d544fd0ee0678

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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.43c5ff0ca242b0a3

‘Though the fact that he’s Charles’ father bothers me.’cd159a874b83152d

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For Manon’s sake, there was no time to worry about such things.48941612bd1b44e0

“Understood. Diane, I’ll come see you after it’s over.”47e96bd3491ec1da

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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?7b22ea9daf0017a4

The call ended f7701c87d1 abruptly. Even though e82fc297d5 she said c4801b3d99 she was 210397cfca okay, the a804b59122 thought of 3c01e336bb Diane not ee0f9d7eff being there ff1579bb73 made the 862c796db8 burden on d5cda45442 my chest 9c4356f842 feel heavier c30b705849 than before.2a8beffc142865ef

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‘It’s just a contract.’f982488e15948e1c

I steadied myself, 01c1b912f5 looking at my ad7bbf7743 peacefully sleeping sister. The car moved 33946c3263 slowly but smoothly 432b554ea1 onto the road.e346ddf1c2ac3a0c

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* * *e1a0cdaad2807d65

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.9eb48ae845752311

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From the 5491da7188 guards in 9c3d71f744 white uniforms fbeb556879 changing shifts 7cc8148f79 at the 9d1acd67c2 castle gate, 71b5ac48eb to the aa11225bc3 view of 38d3119658 the city 150433b31e and sea d277ff791d at a dcc3e0be6e glance, the 79628f2ed4 cannons and 7d9223ab88 bullets that d054908524 might have a9f836392d been used 05a21fa165 once, and 8d5893638a the beautifully 1cfa52cefb decorated garden ed5b4f6682 with the faf465b1b5 wind blowing 5cc256c324 from the 898358fad4 cliffs. It was a db3ce203a3 breathtaking scene, too d8039f108a beautiful for just 9ca4f5f480 one family, worth 52b8144fe8 paying to see.e37b3e7e476e491c

“Oppa, who’s coming instead of Diane?”9c40ae8871c1abe1

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Manon asked, ece2959362 still unable 50a1ee0475 to open 41fb8ebaae her eyes d4880dc900 properly. Almost simultaneously, a white-haired 0153a7f2e9 man standing next to a112c2e4e6 the guards, looking at 5aa0fdd216 a tablet, approached with efbc359c6a large strides.db6790e35cdcb109

“Attorney Montmatier. And the princess consort is here too. I’m Antoine Duverger.”fbc74e6d8036edaa

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“Hello, Attorney Duverger.”14db21caa47af659

I shook 616d4b5bfc the hand 0dfb449298 he offered. His grip was strong.811953f829163744

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If you 1f97b6d213 erased the d638af2d67 wrinkles and 4e638c15c7 beard, dyed 1a3ce55d78 the white de52fc6c5e hair, and 2e0065910e shrunk the 33e97c669a build a 09817773ef bit, Antoine 0a1c56de27 was the 76e12147b8 spitting image df7a41bb0e of my b7d9a0a3fa ex. Manon seemed a27a504fa5 to think 9a0266addf the same, 1502f912ca as she b3ca5164d9 stared at 36cfb67345 the veteran d88fb9a90d lawyer for 53e9b2b57f a while, 911c971d11 and Antoine be68de9cd2 waved his 27e2142099 hand.cef5cda77ec5f2e3

“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.”8104570d95bdade1

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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.”11e380b52aac6722

“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.”aaeecf9f05d2b8b2

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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.68c318cb7334582e

“Shall we go in now?”64f2124875cbb5dc

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After confirming, I smiled a4183880ff and led the way. One of the staff 9016581e64 came out and guided df91cb3313 us inside the grand acad9b93f5 palace.d86194711b68e09b

Still half-asleep, 37ce5a40eb Manon leaned 1820ee8346 on me a47260e7cf as we f72b845b2a walked. Supporting her, we 17e02bd75a passed the twelve 2624656397 labors of Hercules fdd406f01a painted on the 5713da17da corridor ceiling, and de1c6cabdd Antoine spoke up.4fb969369c9daac7

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“I heard Attorney Montmatier is also close with Charles.”0167e69e3e1a41d9

“Ah.”66642edc74e1ad15

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“It’s good for people in the same profession to be friendly.”cde65c722bbe6afa

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.1570f9fad343bb07

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“We’ve both been busy. It’s been a while since we last met.”29baf36af1074652

“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.”48fd807fa6804c96

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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.”2b2dc7ea02e86ccb

At that, Antoine a0b761773c nodded as if e5e7409392 he understood.6e6d679760f0db7a

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Following the da9ba5d435 staff, we f393fc7b0b turned left. Walking through 71480fd749 the lavish 4a09746ae0 rooms that afa36e2953 connected without 7152d8c82e corridors, we 07f3cc0ba3 eventually saw 5f85a9a281 an open c2b71f38fb corridor and 27e861a9b9 a closed 773844213f door.b23d23de73ba2b12

The staff standing in bf2ea3dc54 front of the door 2062d506d0 spoke, firmly as if 77d7d6dd47 it was already decided.6cccba0895f8f62a

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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.”f0a41bc4edecb390

It was a ridiculous c40201ceef demand to the end. With a frightened face, 1041f84916 Manon clutched my suit 07b0482dea jacket. As I was about a71dfd2d9c to step forward, Antoine 63c7d2127d spoke first.d99a4581d7897012

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“Wouldn’t it be better if I went in? I’ve already familiarized myself with the contract.”5dba8c258fbd5c93

“What? But I…”23952fcb8aa14301

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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.”897747c307749ba4

“Oppa.”208f680521f7aff2

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Instead of f2235bfd80 me, Manon 28c3d622e2 murmured softly. Antoine chuckled and 3c50bae21f patted my shoulder.dae0f2ba3cba26b1

“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.”5d1f30c49d03bd81

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“…Please take care of her.”54b69672d2a2b6ca

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.1db185ad4267cb13

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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?”3ce6c15693f4fb39

“I feel like I’m really going to throw up.”d8f0d89990933885

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“This is really nothing. Just sign what we saw yesterday, and it’s over. You silly, okay?”d0083c93d60be2ec

Usually, she’d get upset at being called silly, but Manon clutched her tweed skirt and nodded.221bdb3e7012a6c6

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As Antoine escorted Manon, abd0c96899 the large door opened. After watching them a61e23347f go in, I 4127a8046c sat on the c948d640cd chair in front 5a788d9746 of the door.7f3e75e266afa044

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.4726b6239a777a4b

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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.910a05a1a65af2e8

‘He wants to be part of that.’cbe175619c955e60

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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.’aa96331fa128b9ee

“Crazy bastard.”870ac4a7cc34d007

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“Who?”69e227c1c36eeca8

I hadn’t expected a response to my muttered words.aefe1a03f7685ba3

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