MGN | Chapter 5

Since Yves 310e839afe banned knocking, cab4fedde8 his secretary 8d25a28b0c Mikola made fb418aeb1d a point 86d7289f9f of opening 0b1595d7fc the door 62d2506818 loudly, as 8f5e454c21 if to 2c8895534e be heard. Yet, the office 4316fe76a5 door handle on c60e5a3c8b the 5th floor c5af20a0e1 of the Riviera e23d379f74 Hotel moved smoothly a33162d431 without a sound. Maybe it a7c17d3bd8 was because 13153df443 they spent 9dddccdcc3 a fortune cd14fce3eb on it, d7fe2cfafc unlike the eee154c45c previous office.b16fa9ef6e45c4fb

The Riviera Hotel chain business, started by the Grand Duke’s family, was a ridiculous comedy of losses. Yves couldn’t tear his eyes away from the report, utterly baffled, when Mikola approached and handed him a black file. Yves finished reviewing the report he was reading before looking up.e8ded32230769502

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Mikola stood still, holding out the file, only straightening up and speaking once he had Yves’ attention.4c6bedf6750abed0

“Here’s the report you requested. Also, did you schedule any appointments with Maël Montmatier, the lawyer, aside from the consultation?”4bf3c2f09b9e9f13

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“We’re not that close.”a0776071b360866b

“He’s waiting in the lobby, asking if he can see you today.”19cb32adab860d23

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It was a few days earlier than the scheduled consultation. He didn’t seem like the type to show up unannounced.b7fab82dacc995d3

Instead of answering, Yves took the file from Mikola’s hand and opened it.1ad9de164e349daf

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“The court observation?”6068354bb3b0dca4

“He was flawless in court. He was aggressive, precise, and the verdict went in favor of his client. If you want to see it yourself, I can arrange for you to attend the next trial.”2a0ae6a2f7e4ded1

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“That’s not necessary.”3620722b991b01b5

Yves said as cbdcfc6b35 he dropped his 56b954b2ed gaze to the 849076cf06 few pages in 8db3db07b2 the file.7724be7bde5f6c31

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It contained the 5f77fd11cb life of Maël a20d024672 Montmatier, neatly documented.ede2858120b6aaa1

Nationality: Monaco. Age: Thirty. Passed the law school entrance exam while pursuing a master’s in Paris, obtained his lawyer’s license at twenty-three, and entered the Monaco legal scene through a mentor’s recommendation during his law firm internship. A promising six-year senior associate lawyer specializing in family law, nicknamed the Knight of Cinderellas.16db7685bb76c61a

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Yves skimmed through the 409a95b2f5 contents with his gray 77b6f261f9 eyes, flipping the pages, a355921a4f and asked,519b3e7514cbf526

“Is this really all his assets? No hidden money?”3a74ef6714660375

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“Some journalists are digging since he’s the only living family of the princess consort, but nothing.”25a394a8382644d2

Is that even 6a9656dcb0 possible?a4dfe62d0512b383

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The roulette ball stopped on the number Maël chose, like a well-behaved child. Several people, starting with the crown prince, couldn’t stop praising the lawyer’s almost magical luck.fbaf84c1bcdbd0ba

Could someone with such 50f920a0c2 luck really have so cce7e1c8b2 little wealth?79b41f88d1c73c0c

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If his actions were foolish compared to his luck, maybe, but Yves didn’t see Maël that way. So, there was only one answer.d92942aa9fc1af5e

“Does he dislike gambling?”ed4a85f3abaa425d

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“Unless there’s a special reason, he doesn’t go near casinos or gamble. Even when he receives chips, he doesn’t exchange them but uses them in the casino’s restaurant or gives them as tips to dealers if the amount is large.”a41abd09c79764f1

A fastidiousness 61d1257f58 that wants 7cc3a8397b nothing to 40f8dfbf45 do with 5f4d3de193 such money. Yves raised an eyebrow 926fe88e19 and asked again.38883aee49be8bb4

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“No connections with the dealers?”3198b3a9f2b7b792

Such unbelievable luck 36f2342c35 was worth suspecting 2cf068cb10 at least once. Digging might 74fc14a8d0 reveal something 51224ba798 to use 69c0cb376b as leverage.a80e46e259cbc080

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“The crown prince already investigated through the casino. There’s nothing. However.”c10a0190c1c2c903

Yves looked 42ed84b03a at Mikola, 6632c134ad who hesitated 9cb3ddc01a for a 5a702e5bca rare moment, bafcf638fc clutching his b12b09a013 wrist before 8a6a62e13c speaking a f4b231ed52 beat later.d76b2048c6734807

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“There are rumors. That the dealers are smitten with his looks and deliberately give him good cards or match the throws.”744c9968033cf4cf

Yves stared, but that 3b6f96bbd9 was all. His secretary, who 97faf7a279 had never lied a0c96a19b6 or joked since 06897d630c wearing a prosthetic 2265d89aad on his left af70302421 hand, must have e61358c4a0 really heard such d98dd00239 rumors.bd03fe9ffb3406e0

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“Huh.”f578a1f084a46b39

Yves sighed briefly, recalling the man’s appearance.e78904a4ef7ad7ca

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He was like a 33b485aeb2 man painted with watered-down 687122c67d colors. When he felt a69d9f04b2 insulted, a faint 3b3849654e hue appeared on 39df4d2964 his transparent cheeks. His large eyes 4133d9b75c and slightly drooping d83bd20a60 mouth corners added c55452a8cc to his unique ab315eef6b atmosphere. A rare e6f5e449a4 and peculiar afbe224d56 beauty, hard 9d68c14e3c to find 593a80ea69 a resemblance.5cc194c85b040f4a

Well, it 1bd13c30c3 was a b36bdd7e48 face that bdb8bc7d12 made sense. If no 8965a1a0eb one talked ffc39a2161 about it, 518394be17 that would c4afd2df90 be strange. A face anyone 0be97fe9ee would want to 189017f3c7 gossip about at d0dff6a23a least once.9c4bb66e3699b395

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But that was it. Yves wasn’t interested in his flashy looks.3f377e8499fc7859

“Amusing.”75c9bc8d9dd72627

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He said, flipping the 56a42cfb4f paper. It was 73f3c86e61 densely written, 36dedd883f catching his 2a253dedb8 eye—it was 604e44ca29 about family 6700275dad relations.d84ab5171d586b4d

Younger sister, c41ff04d43 Manon Mathieu. His Korean-French a939151854 mother died e2a00286b7 in a 822f088e74 car accident. His Monegasque efb81d59b4 father, a bdf3a02d9a hotel manager, a309635573 died of 5ffa4887a5 illness.2f6b618fa545b353

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The fact that his father’s last career included the Riviera Hotel caught his attention.59581be6bde77028

“He has a terrible relationship with his sister, who will become the princess consort. After their mother’s accidental death, there was domestic violence from their father. The father was investigated by the police several times due to neighbors’ reports but was released each time due to the children’s testimonies.”c10bc9e8226fd475

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Mikola reported the dd5dfb21b6 key points in f814e1066b time with the 992a67b283 paper flipping.0b18ea0b98f720b1

A mundane, common tragedy passed by the man’s indifferent ears, but one word caught his attention belatedly.3ae0e4b9c08b2001

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“Adopted?”02e27278c6f2264b

“Yes. After Maël’s adoption, his younger sister, Manon Mathieu, was born to his adoptive parents.”3a1b5baf79cd5aa2

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His face changed at the mention of his sister, yet they weren’t even blood-related. As Yves slowly raised his gaze, Mikola mechanically spoke.0e4269681da60d7f

“It seems he’s recently been searching for his biological parents. He was adopted from Korea and couldn’t find information about his biological parents, so he visited the Korean embassy in Paris for a DNA test.”02467fc7ef6f76f1

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Is he feeling lonely f7bc6c0324 because his non-blood-related sister 2e414cce73 is getting married?2481838f13786c39

Yves scratched his eyebrow and turned the page again. It listed other relationships that couldn’t be categorized under career or family.409e588fad3c89cc

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[Gay. In a relationship with Charles Duverger, corporate advisory lawyer at Law Firm 377.]

He stared at it for a long time, more disappointed in his trusted secretary’s skills than anything else. When Yves pointed to that part with his fingertip, a response came.488445ba0b25a48e

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“It’s ambiguous to say the relationship has completely ended, so I left it. There are noticeable changes in their relationship through recent messages, though.”8fb707b3584a8566

“Why did you leave that out?”9c3af1815af6bdcd

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“Sorry. If needed, I can attach the messages and update it.”4b56b8809535f59b

“That’s not necessary.”14b1ec14ddb54e6d

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He had no desire to read about a homosexual love affair he’d already witnessed up close in text form.a28e005e92ea91dc

Yves continued reading the 2372ad915d report. The rest was trivial ce255f457e information not worth remembering. Then, at the f77d151e0c very end, he 59590dcbb4 found a line ff585d8d49 even Mikola, who ad979495c3 compiled the information, 1b146956d2 might not remember.3490c70539d6c42c

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[In addition to the pro bono activities conducted by Law Firm 377, he volunteers for free legal counseling for domestic violence victims in the Nice area.]

Yves narrowed his eyes 1e44c5946f at that. A thin chuckle escaped 5a9106a908 his lips.dfe570ae28bc04b0

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A short report. Yet, even from this brief report, Maël Montmatier’s upright mindset was evident.8d25028474873509

“Easy to understand.”789c662ad7f3eb63

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An orphan who 9854b901f3 ended up with d00bbaac2d terrible adoptive parents 789454ba84 due to bad de76561274 luck. He lived needing dc71a4807c help, and through d40ceb7cdb relentless effort, he b49c79934e now helps others.f533d1f63a0b52bd

That’s what it takes to be called the Knight of Cinderellas.fe5922fc94227397

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Turning another 4742911daa page, he 78bed3c632 found a b8f18994bd few attached 51c4dd5a16 photos.33ec34d3268b890b

“Less impressive than I thought.”4e82910bf474cd54

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Yves muttered, 3af511b738 looking at 73eed49026 the black-and-white 19356b59f6 photos. He closed the 92cd7495ef file and tossed b3638729d6 it aside, and 9114c655c1 Mikola tidied it 532fbf4a9a up, asking,7c9ff439b32ea4bc

“Should I send him away?”382477e39f1fe684

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Ah, he 2980b5f7ee did come.0f6a3ac35576a8db

The consultation was only 0f323a5eee a few days away. He had to see 68a73e572a him again, and he e20358f0e3 had a rough idea 64dfdd30c4 of what kind of 592524e33d person he was.c292318801063062

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The only a635ae4f76 thing that cb8280ffd5 had been 6569c327d0 slightly refreshing 74232c53f3 was when bb204aa1ed he returned 170f980f32 the money, a4b5d46d99 claiming it f6bb6e786a was for 3b223de72d the secret.4ed681c6a69207ce

Even so, after that, well. It was obvious what would provoke him and how he’d react. Even what he’d say when he came up here.650331e7c76dbd15

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‘Will he stubbornly argue?’aa95e7ac6f41b528

In the previous meeting, he provoked him by touching on secrets. Now, showing what he prepared would make the lawyer come over in anger. He didn’t seem foolish enough to miss the opportunity to spread the Grand Duke’s disgrace.fdb5c9d3f943c89a

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“It’s better to handle it quickly.”ae239c270dfe101b

Yves answered, 5bf6a388f0 looking at d8cb8bbbc9 the dark a3eee6060a green vase 5b8f3f6595 across the 0cf2a3a35c room. Three deep red Baccharole c232165cc2 roses in full bloom 68a517773e under deliberately dim lighting. The vivid color hurt 2d006fb2cd his eyes. As Mikola left, Yves e6dd95b410 pressed the corner of 0d218fb2bf his eye.4fa1480afa7531ab

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It didn’t matter if the princess consort’s brother was just a pretty face and a dull person. Despite the talk of luck, the only reason Yves sought out Maël among the many overflowing lawyers was that he was the relative of Manon Mathieu, who would become part of the Grand Palace.4ac6016ccd8bad25

Philippe and Manon’s wedding was not far off. So, the story related to their prenuptial agreement also needed to be brought up quickly.89b891f6c1969512

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Yves opened a drawer c28e00f75b and took out a 375bb11257 brown envelope. He tossed it 398ead8e5d on the table 52c5439963 as he leaned 2eb4cdbfac back on the 722353ff16 sofa, and soon 19c3301dde the door burst 84291c7b1e open.d436b4f756dbcdb4

The door closed with a bang after letting in only one person. After Mikola’s informal introduction, a greeting came from a distance.fe5e1b6bc915edb1

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“Hello, Yves.”55eae15a7aab9f77

Having seen the poor hospitality, he could have just come and sat down. But the lawyer just stood there, upright. When Yves didn’t respond, Maël pointed out clearly.d9f6bea66af08786

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“You didn’t tell me to sit.”94d3747843b2a8e1

With a 8a92823051 soft yet 59a6d5525d firm reproach, 7b53f59918 Yves finally e2b2151c5a looked up.4dfc149f7348f0c8

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Sometimes, there are 122c3d175c those rare beauties 7b42f16b1d who stand out e89a1ce9c6 more in the 04243b0e5b dark than in 7ed8751124 natural or bright 48e156a73d light.dba8f0e1a3310a92

Eyes and 03a68d02d2 hair the 55a1f0091e color of 75b9d5186f sand, skin 293d04a155 pale, lips 6364780cbc a light 82ab439e62 pink. Common colors, yet their 8065188dfc combination created an oddly 631107b03d unforgettable face. The lines were e843403648 delicate and balanced.467eda09e4df4648

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The eyes were the b46671c773 most unusual, wide and a8703c55e2 slightly upturned, with subtly c098e189a0 different shapes on each 1712350ec6 side. As if inherited from 6d144fe443 different countries.ee0e53732eddc78f

“Come and sit.”713668c7f200ace5

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At Yves’ casual reply, Maël approached. His small nose and mouth made his large eyes seem filled with clear vitality. Almost transparent in their freshness.8f08933f785575b2

A dull but visually db5d70bb18 pleasing beauty.9e454190cbfe2aac

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“I came today to decline the case.”8c9a030c29782d0c

Just as Yves was 13e34437bd about to acknowledge that, 74103842e8 the lawyer said so.a3c567781df01a7a

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