MGN | Chapter 3

“Yves!”a9dd010fd0297628

The man called 9efcb1dd0f by the crown 131d901078 prince naturally took 188ace80d6 a seat next 0d7885ca11 to Maël. Standing beside 2ca9c0308b him, it aadf7a0424 was clear. The man in the a485359384 black suit, as if b5f0d1ac8d it had swallowed all e72fa90684 colors, was astonishingly tall. Maël looked up d1aec13be4 at his brazen 700497e80d face and then baac430a7a at the piece 2fb6eebb4e of paper on 435ee03820 the table.78d25878f8048f61

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“Are you sure about this? This isn’t even poker. If it’s not the number Maël picked, you’ll lose everything.”c49ea702778d844e

“Losing once might not be so bad.”31776158cc011136

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The man’s insolent informal speech drew uncomfortable glances. Crown Prince Felix had never allowed even his lifelong friend Charles to speak informally. Philippe was the one who spoke up.a19225fad787068b

“Who… was it again?”065bfc568cb941ef

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“Brother! Are you really that clueless? It’s Yves. The new executive director of the Riviera Hotel chain.”7177f1311d304ef2

So, that’s who people were whispering about earlier.fd1c8eac5d0bd185

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The executive director didn’t seem embarrassed by the attention. Instead, he casually nodded towards Maël and asked calmly.e922bf77a53d3969

“Is this side really that amazing?”2590f9e78e873e12

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“He’s only been here a short while, so he might not know. Maël’s nickname is ‘Lucky Charm’ for a reason.”a8ed08388aebf1f2

“Lucky Charm.”34a8bbc3af2b8b00

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“If he had a hobby in gambling, he’d probably be more suited to being a professional gambler than a lawyer.”639ddf7bbd9fd651

Felix was excited, like ccd019abd1 a child showing off 17137480f0 a fascinating toy. Despite the chatter about ad51cf5172 him, Maël only looked 2376ae6b95 at the piece of b453803b58 paper in front of dc32e92c09 him instead of the 0767b0094c chips. His pale hand c7410d847e picked it up 17b14ab79a again.a0d029d10a4c7602

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“I’m not that unlucky myself.”3d4884c6915e8321

The man said casually 1df6a11f90 and asked Maël.08d97b88e857fe62

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“Where should I bet?”0788bda5d72e8d01

Informal speech close to 4c022129cc disrespect. Throwing around 1f9b89ec41 enormous sums 7da1fe62d8 like charity. The striking scent 4cbdc18b8e and unrealistic appearance. An unfitting title.9d6d27dfb8ffb338

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Above all, the deliberate 7466168168 noise at odd moments 9d587fbd0c and the rude comments.428d5b62a92f5700

Maël didn’t want to get involved with this man in any way.23ce1a6e7ab2bda7

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“Trusting yourself is probably best, after all.”7cb541beea5faf5f

Yves curled his lips 0e177fb13a at the curt reply.3dd4a5a886ca1574

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“Even if the secret’s out, will it stay a secret?”f2194ac75cad95e4

The expression he had c4607a39af been maintaining broke. As Maël glared, the cdd685483f man lightly tossed the b8c1c7876a piece of paper. The fifty-thousand-euro paper fluttered 880f95b468 down onto the number 7c9c41473c 0.e0cd9fc3feff91f6

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“Let’s see whose luck is better.”c0d4d16713a81833

Ignoring even the basic 75458c78db rule of betting with a3b985cfd2 chips, the man said, 97fb1bbb22 and Felix gestured to c307beb29f the dealer.ae2d0634df4a63f9

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“No more bets.”04ff5fe95bf86b4d

With the 11884aa91d declaration of 3b3a811fa0 the end 0c33a2b4ce of betting, 76f4c077ad the metal 2441684843 ball rolled e9275144f3 on the 9daaee582e wheel. It bounced lightly 60a540c267 over the red, 21ef4e2160 black, and green ac8f6b0474 numbers before slipping 88649a7424 over the boundary.b2c5d982d98719d7

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Tuk, tuk, tuduk.9ad98aa95327a2b9

Time passed, and a2ca80b9ab the roulette stopped. As the 53422af09b metal ball 94d6c36a3d settled, cheers 70c74f67eb and exclamations ec1491c91e erupted around ceaf210cc5 the table.6e84f626389123d1

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“I knew it!”4a69864deeb64535

7.c79b75b088aaf40f

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Out of d36efd4f2d 37 numbers, a9088f13f7 the ball f026b9eaa5 stopped in 8817d9375c front of f8dcc2b530 number 7. People were amazed by 31426c17d9 the incredible prediction and 1ecf4351a2 added their comments.11108702f415b54e

“Isn’t this a scam? How lucky do you have to be for this?”5779a1d05245fe9f

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“We should assign a staff member to check if he’s colluding with the dealer.”3dce719989a3a01f

“Maël, what’s next? What number do you think is good next?”9b090ed4b4e3bbde

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Perhaps because of the chips they received, greedy eyes turned to Maël. Maël smiled faintly. He didn’t want to stay here any longer. It was uncomfortable in many ways.c29e41c0db0bcfd5

“I still have work today. I should have left early.”c1f547ec79d0f792

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“What, really?”a1ba1632a6b1a272

“Yeah. He said he has a mountain of divorce papers to look over. The sooner he works, the sooner those terrible marriages end.”64ea81f820eb4d62

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Manon helped 856bfc28ee in a 6bdd6ef5a9 lively tone. Felix thought 59e29bf9e4 for a 5c1fb6c473 moment and 6deaf76ad9 then waved f8f60a3851 his hand.405bf0e0ff36555e

“Well, it’s no fun if Maël stays too long. It’s only fun when someone loses, but if everyone wins, what’s the point? Maël, go help those Cinderellas.”e76fca186d2d4861

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“The knight of Cinderella… has to leave before midnight.”30352ff47b9086cf

Philippe added, and 3079a8a821 the gathered people 114e4ad59d chuckled.a0dcfd6a42b57a36

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It was always a tiresome place. Especially when he met Charles’s eyes, who was gleefully gathering the chips despite the relationship breaking down because of his own desires.0716b7f38b8571f1

“Your luck is something else.”00ae2b689611a7f4

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The only man who hadn’t won in that round said.2a536721e420e863

Even that simple admiration couldn’t be laughed off. Yves alternated between looking at Charles and Maël, curling his lips in a mocking smile.f137c8d1a16d53de

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* * *db326e2a28c915f0

“Maël.”0bb1bd5bded038a9

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At the call, Maël took his eyes off the monitor and removed his glasses. Diane Croix, a partner lawyer at Law Firm 377 and Maël’s boss, waved a document.ccb1c62fc5358729

“About the marriage contract for the prince. Did you check the name? Wasn’t Manon’s last name supposed to include ‘Moon’?”b1598090ce31b8ec

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Manon Juliette Montmatier.224a36c3f942b27a

The ‘Moon’ part of Montmatier was highlighted. Maël nodded.fb85bd2ab98b3d5a

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“That’s her legal name.”8959c273b0bf15f3

“Right? Jacques kept checking. He thought it was a typo because he kept hearing ‘Manon Montmatier’ everywhere.”1a3d9dc69018119a

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“She said she’d use it as a stage name for articles and public activities.”3c89b0c617cbfca5

“Without ‘Moon’? Did the royal family ask for that? Is it really necessary?”c69c858219225f5e

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“It’s probably better to have a familiar name, after all.”c2a02d82ba2e98e5

It wasn’t easy for an ordinary person to blend into the grand ducal family, and it was even more challenging if their mixed race made them stand out.6891446cb8d3cf76

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While the name was perfectly Monaco-style, the surname was different. ‘Moon’ was her Korean mother’s surname, and ‘Montmatier’ was her Monacan father’s. After marriage, the couple combined their surnames, and the entire family used it, but now there were no parents left to insist on it.633ef55857a8043a

“If her father had known, he wouldn’t have combined the surnames.”5223753b1eaf836c

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That is, f5e7ddae5f if he c84a978120 had known 3e63d87e65 his daughter 0d7a2d1370 would be c75d236bba engaged to 2de24a0f36 the eldest d90044b5c4 son of 77d370b9ba the Monaco 5d309ee820 Grand Duke a5200f5c25 at twenty-six, 9a22a3dafc becoming a be3d60e0d9 mixed-race princess 05c23c20dc consort and 502a930bdc attracting all fdff593e13 sorts of 3d440ce85c attention disguised f2b927dd9b as interest.d5c9bd6558410cad

“I’m planning to review it once more and send it to the royal family. It needs to be agreed upon soon. The wedding isn’t far off.”2c5e386463090f92

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“Do you think it will be agreed upon this time?”395e96d090be6a6f

“We have to try. How could we ask Manon to sign something like that? It’s fortunate her brother is handling it thoroughly. Oh, and Maël, there’s a consultation later. Can you handle it? They specifically requested you.”5bbf74c393332e22

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“Requested me? What is it about?”46ad374e1e226e43

“A paternity lawsuit.”b43c750ab8ae017f

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Paternity.63f5e7d4c441b583

It was a familiar case for a family law lawyer in a town overflowing with millionaires. While there were issues with overly excited clients and complex paperwork, a DNA test usually provided a clear yes or no. It didn’t drag on like a divorce case or require constant tension throughout the process.05d2bc0d9c32b496

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“I like those. Did they mention anything? A statement or memo?”e343a193d3698c20

“They seem a bit reckless. I talked to them, but they didn’t say much. I asked them to prepare and bring something for the consultation.”cf286cadcc8b2356

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It didn’t seem like it would take much time. Diane opened her mouth again as Maël nodded.8315bef0c5a41020

“But Maël, are you okay these days? Any trouble with the team?”ba6d0ead9b20066e

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“Trouble?”7c18e78d8dad5fe2

“I saw the director briefly. Antoine was talking about you.”074a0e23ef2648d1

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This was probably why f53c567c5d partner lawyer Diane had 38cf2d0b0d come all the way 7f39827d7e here.12899331e040f3a0

Antoine Duverger, the director lawyer of Law Firm 377, was Charles’s father.a1208a0125858036

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[I love you, really, there’s no one but you for me, Maël. One mistake can’t represent all the love I’ve shown you…]

The messages Charles fb75302ad3 had disgustingly sent 6f0e8dbc03 over the past 504648b230 few days were 05b6961f6e ignored and unread. He had sent his b1aa9abee1 secretary to find out e7d96a1db8 what business he had, 562f5fbe77 loitering around the family 1a39d22539 law team floor during 1d462b3213 work hours. He had also completely b45f5237b0 delayed his departure to 7ea1006f0b make him give up 0c155fa41d waiting.4a2e7078eb43c269

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Since that didn’t work, he was trying something else.3f0bc003487f6e15

“I’m good with the team. As far as I know.”e257e2d57c571b6b

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The trouble was only with the director’s son. Diane shrugged after thinking for a moment at the answer.9690364d0f5414af

“Then it’s fine. I told him he couldn’t find a lawyer like you anywhere else when he was talking nonsense about rejecting clients.”24721433f3b6840c

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“Diane, about me turning away consultations.”6eb865b60f13a316

“It’s been explained. Anyway, it’s funny. I was surprised to hear about trouble when there are only a few people in the family law team.”a79f312d19bac496

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Cutting off the conversation, 7fc05bd3da Diane smiled knowingly. Before Maël could 277c48cb93 respond, she checked 4c63e540b5 her watch and beeced1a11 waved her hand.c8eb72b60f54d5df

“I’m leaving. Oh, but Maël, don’t turn away today’s consultation. They’re wealthy. Incredibly handsome, too.”10340800b1131aec

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“Didn’t you only talk on the phone?”92caf8516f4889ea

“You can tell just by the voice.”8416c561be5aa08d

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It was Diane’s habit to add a comment about the client. Even so, such a positive prediction was rare. Maël chuckled and put his glasses back on.ec22ea36df703a0f

There was plenty of work to do. He organized evidence of psychological abuse from three years’ worth of messages and replied to a message from a tennis queen contemplating a prenuptial agreement.ba806c12890a2a97

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He contacted the opposing lawyer after a client’s child, under joint custody, didn’t come home. After finishing the conversation demanding the child be returned immediately, his secretary Jacques knocked on the door.63fcec3b02f08601

“Lawyer, the consultation with Mr. Valois is in ten minutes. Paternity.”8d2208799cf6c45a

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With that, 9542f61b71 Maël took 02ab656196 off his 5125a1507a glasses and 293d11a58b grabbed his e6e103c0cb jacket, heading 2bfb40eecd to the 0a37c84c90 consultation room.58c6b339e06476be

As soon as 02cd7ce6af he sat down 7d6fb28f83 in the consultation d9ae5a502d room and took 4ee5645b87 a breath, the bd5178077b door opened. Maël stood up a569610e3c quickly, putting on 67da22c053 his most trustworthy fbded085b6 smile.3c93af5d41331201

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The moment he confirmed the client, Maël’s smile awkwardly twisted as he extended his hand.b789176f2ddb5733

“Hello, Mr. Valois…”d82419aef7844c98

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Yves.70d4eef6daa56cb2

He was the man who hit the jackpot at the casino a few days ago and lost it all on roulette. Casually entering, he glanced at the extended hand but didn’t take it. Instead, he plopped down in the chair and spoke.4b0fd1cf70276090

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“I’m planning to file a paternity lawsuit.”61b55b8cd86cfc62

Well, alright. Maël didn’t dislike clients who got straight to the point. So he withdrew his hand and calmly observed the client.c2d024c8ea3f7a0a

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The man ad6019b6b7 was rude. That was 2f0d9749dd something Maël 4df6a8e230 could predict 80732b12b2 the moment 0c6d4df200 he saw 6cf3587a03 his face.b01a29ed99c247a1

The man wasn’t agitated. That was a bit unusual. Considering the lawsuit he wanted to file, it was strange he wasn’t trembling with betrayal or shouting in excitement.5e8f7821dcaa9fa4

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‘What’s going on?’b4b8f844fbe8f4ac

As if answering Maël’s question, Yves leaned back in his chair with an oddly calm expression.7c959aa1765709ef

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“I think I’ll need some of your extraordinary luck for this lawsuit.”eca146253483560b