The summer of 2017 was chaos.
After Monaco's historic season, every elite club in Europe wanted the Princes. Real Madrid bid €180 million for Mbappé. Barcelona bid €150 million for Ethan. PSG entered with a shocking €200 million offer for Mbappé.
The football world watched. Would Monaco sell? Would the Princes leave?
In July, Monaco's vice president made an announcement: "Ethan Loki and Kylian Mbappé are not for sale. They are the future of this club."
But behind closed doors, conversations were happening.
Ethan sat with his parents in their Beausoleil apartment, Barcelona's offer on the table.
"€150 million," Moussa said quietly. "They're offering you €8 million per year. Five-year contract. You'd be one of the highest-paid teenagers in football history."
"What do you think I should do, Papa?"
Moussa looked at his son seriously. "What did you promise Kylian? What did you promise Monaco?"
"One more year. One more chance at the Champions League together."
"Then you already know the answer."
Aminata squeezed Ethan's hand. "Money will always be there. But keeping your word? That's character. That's who you are."
Ethan nodded. The decision was made.
He called Barcelona's representative: "Thank you for the incredible offer. But I'm staying at Monaco one more year. If you're still interested next summer, we can talk again."
Mbappé made the same decision—sort of.
He agreed to join PSG, but only after one more season at Monaco. The deal was structured as a loan with an obligatory purchase clause. He'd finish 2017-18 at Monaco, then move to Paris.
When Ethan found out, they met at their usual café overlooking the harbor.
"So you're leaving after this season," Ethan said.
"Yeah. PSG made an offer Monaco couldn't refuse." Mbappé looked conflicted. "But I made sure—MADE SURE—that I stay this year. One more season together. One more Champions League run. Then I go to Paris, you go to Barcelona, and we both chase the Ballon d'Or."
"Still brothers?"
"Always brothers. Distance doesn't change that." Mbappé extended his fist. "One more season. Let's make it legendary."
They bumped fists. The Princes of Monaco—one final season together.
August 2017 - Ligue 1 Season Begins
Monaco's second season started with even higher expectations. Defending champions. Champions League finalists. The target on their backs was massive.
But they'd also lost key players. Bernardo Silva had gone to Manchester City. Benjamin Mendy to Manchester City. Tiemoué Bakayoko to Chelsea.
The team was younger, less experienced. Jardim needed Ethan and Mbappé to carry the load.
They delivered immediately.
Matchday 1: Monaco 3-2 Toulouse. Ethan: 2 goals. Matchday 2: Monaco 6-1 Metz. Mbappé: hat-trick. Ethan: 1 goal, 2 assists. Matchday 3: Monaco 4-0 Marseille. Ethan: 2 goals, 1 assist.
By September, Ethan had eight goals in five matches. Mbappé had seven. They were on pace to shatter records.
September 2017 - France Senior Team Call-Up
The letter arrived on a Wednesday.
Didier Deschamps, France's senior national team manager, had called up both Ethan Loki and Kylian Mbappé for the first time.
World Cup qualifiers against Netherlands and Luxembourg.
"This is it," Mbappé said over the phone. "Senior team. World Cup qualifiers. We're about to play with Griezmann, Pogba, Kanté."
"I know," Ethan replied, his voice trembling with excitement. "We made it."
September 31, 2017 - France vs NetherlandsWorld Cup Qualifier
The Stade de France. Eighty thousand fans. The French national anthem. But this time, Ethan wore the senior team jersey—number 20.
Deschamps started him on the bench. Griezmann, Giroud, and Mbappé up front. Experience first.
France dominated. Goals from Pogba and Griezmann made it 2-0. Netherlands pulled one back. 2-1.
In the seventy-eighth minute, Deschamps turned to the bench. "Loki, warm up."
Ethan's heart exploded. This was it.
In the eighty-second minute, he came on—replacing Giroud. His senior international debut.
Four minutes of regular time plus stoppage. Enough time to make an impact.
In the eighty-ninth minute, France won a free kick thirty meters from goal. Griezmann stood over it.
Ethan positioned himself at the back post. Saw the space. Calculated where the ball would drop if it missed everyone.
Griezmann struck. The ball sailed over the wall, over the goalkeeper's head, and dropped exactly where Ethan had predicted.
He met it with a first-time volley. The Dutch goalkeeper got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out.
3-1.
Goal on his senior debut. Eighty-ninth minute. World Cup qualifier.
The stadium erupted. His teammates mobbed him. Griezmann grabbed his face. "Welcome to the senior team, kid!"
After the match, the media swarmed him.
"Ethan, goal on your debut. How does it feel?"
"Like a dream. Playing for France at senior level—it's everything I've worked for."
"You and Mbappé both scored today. Are you the future of French football?"
"We're part of an incredible generation. Mbappé, Dembélé, Martial, Coman—France has so much talent. We just want to contribute."
"World Cup next summer. Do you think you'll be in the squad?"
Ethan smiled carefully. "That's up to the coach. But I'll work every day to deserve a spot."
End of Chapter 21