Clovis always knew that he would be a simple person, just a farmer. That was his wish because he shared the same love for planting as his father.
Both of them loved to see the plants grow, the sun and rain to develop them, and then to see the fruits make the trees even more beautiful. And of course, to feed their people with those delicious fruits.
But Clovis never thought that one day their people's princess would go into their home to ask his father to teach her how to plant apples. That was a surprise to Clovis's whole family.
While Clovis was young and saw no problem with that, his father feared that by teaching the princess to plant, he would be hindering her from becoming the leader and defender of their people as her mother.
Clovis's father tried to avoid that situation, but due to the princess's insistence and a special request from his wife, he agreed to teach the princess to plant apples.
For the next weeks, the princess spent half a day on the apple plantation learning to plan with Clovis's father, and of course, with him too. By being together every day, Clovis and the princess soon became great friends.
But Clovis has always been very humble and respectful with the princess, never even flirting with her even though he found her the most beautiful woman of all.
The princess was aware of her charm and was very fond of Clovis for being so humble and kind. She fell in love with the simple life of the farmers and took the first step in her relationship with Clovis, making him become her boyfriend.
After learning to plant apples, the princess and Clovis learned everything that his father could teach them about farming. The princess completely abandoned her royal responsibilities to her sister, who willingly accepted to become the new Queen of their people when their mother gets too old.
And then she married Clovis. That was the second-best day of his life, after the day the princess went to his house and before the third happiest day in his life, which was the birth of their daughter a few years after they marry.
Clovis has always felt like the luckiest man in the world for being able to have the calm life of a farmer that has always pleased him and the woman he most admires as his wife. So he was always totally faithful and obedient to her, never even looking at other women.
Men can be easily tempted by beautiful women even when they have the most beautiful one in their homes, and that is why Clovis has always avoided being close to beauties. And the farm life helped that a lot.
But one day, just as out of nowhere the princess came to his house, he gets out of the bath and sees many stunning beauties in front of him. Was that a dream or a nightmare?
[Is my wife trying to test my love even after all these years?] Clovis thinks as she tries not to look at Lucien's wives in his living room.
Angela smiles gently at Clovis. "You must be Anne's father, don't you?"
"Anne's back? Are you friends of hers?" Clovis asks as he looks at the floor. He refuses to appreciate the beauty of another woman besides Laure.
Angela nods and points to the door. "She is talking to her mother and our husband."
Clovis is happy that his daughter has returned home and smiles while talking to Angela and the other girls. "Our house is small and simple, but Anne's friends are always welcome. So feel at home, please."
"Thanks." Angela nods too, and Clovis wastes no time going to the front of the house.
As soon as Clovis is about to pass through the door, he hears Elsie saying that Lucien is Eve's brother. Clovis is shocked and scared. Although Eve is a Queen that focuses only on the benefit of women, he has no problems with her as he never wanted to have power and is satisfied with the life of a farmer. Yet, she is very brutal and terrifying, so Clovis thinks Lucien must be like that too.
Clovis stops and hears Elsie saying that Lucien is also the King of the Alliance. Clovis gets even more shocked. [What does he want with my family?]
[Is he here for Laura?] Clovis thinks Lucien came because Laura was part of the fox-clan royalty even though she abandoned everything to have a simple life.
He is very afraid, not for him but for Laura. And even though he is a simple farmer, Clovis cannot abandon his beloved wife and goes towards them.
Leaving the house with a firm posture, Clovis walks towards Lucien with a resolute expression. He prepares to bow and beg on behalf of his wife and even to offer his life so that nothing will happen to her.
Lucien looks at Clovis with a respectful and friendly expression and then bows to him.
[?!?!?!?!] Clovis' mind stops working when Lucien, the brother of the brutal Queen Eve and supposed King of the Alliance, bows to him, a simple farmer.
"Hello sir, I'm Lucien. Anne told me a lot of good things about her parents, so I hope we can get along." Lucien speaks in a friendly tone.
Clovis doesn't know what to think. As Lucien talked about Anne and arrived with her, he thinks Lucien is interested in Anne. [Perhaps he wants her as a concubine or servant.]
"I'm Clovis, Anne's father. What exactly-" Clovis begins to ask in a very respectful and concerned tone, but he stops because he fears that questioning Lucien will result in disaster.
Laure, next to them, is also in shock as he tries to understand how Eve's brother came to her house to ask Anne to be his wife. And the worse is that she mistreated him.
Lucien feels different being so nice and polite to people he just met, but that's because most of the people he met before were ambitious and arrogant.
He has no problem with continuing to be kind and respectful to Anne's parents as they seem to be excellent people.
"I hope to be your son-in-law because I really love Anne," Lucien speaks and smiles at Anne while extends his hand to Clovis.
[Son-in-law…] Lucien's words echo in Clovis' mind. He thought Lucien was interested in Anne, but like most arrogant nobles, he could only demand that Anne serve him.
But not only is Lucien being very respectful to him despite being a King and he is just a farmer, Lucien really looks like someone incredible. He is certainly powerful as Eve's brother, has many gorgeous wives, and still seems to be the most attractive man he ever saw.
Lucien is just perfect, and Clovis can't help but compares their situation to his with Laure as Anne being the simple person and Lucien the perfect noble.
If Lucien really is as kind as he looks, Clovis has only one doubt left. He looks at Anne and sees her smiling with an expectant expression at Lucien. With just that look, Clovis can see that Anne is in love with Lucien, so Clovis stops thinking that there is any problem.
He shakes Lucien's hand and moves his other hand to his shoulder while smiling friendly. "If Anne really wants this, I'll be happy to welcome you to our family… as my son-in-law."
Clovis's simple and humble smile reminds Lucien of Ron. Lucien believed in his instincts and trusted Ron, of course, also based on his behavior.
Thus, Lucien also believes that Clovis is a really good person and does not prevent him from complimenting him by tapping his shoulder.
"I would be pleased to be part of your family, good sir," Lucien speaks.
"Father-in-law. You can call me father-in-law, my son." Clovis is increasingly sure that Lucien is a good person. Well, it doesn't make sense for him to want to deceive them while he's Eve's brother.
Lucien nods as he likes Clovis more and more too.
"…" Anne just happily smiles as Clovis takes Lucien to talk and drink apple wine inside the house, leaving Laure and Elsie with stunned faces.
Anne smiles at her mother. "Lucien is a very complex person but also very simple… He has several personalities that are perfectly suited to each situation. And this kind and kind Lucien is also a genuine part of him."
"Indeed." Elsie nods while thinking about how many 'shades of Lucien' she saw.
Amelia looks at Anne. "Eve also has such a gentle side, but few can see that. You are really fortunate that he loves you to the point of showing you that side of him."
Then she looks at Laure with a sharp expression, says nothing, and enters the house after Lucien, leaving the girls confused.
"She is a good person, just very jealous and overprotective, just like Lucien." Anne comments.
"She looks a lot like Eve…" Laure says.
Elsie shakes her head. "Not like Lucien… Eve and him… they seem to have a profound relationship, very different from the one with Amelia."
"Really?" Laure doesn't know what she thinks of Lucien. He looks very gentle and humble, but at the same time, he looks like a proud dragon, ready to stand out from everyone else.
Anne hugs Laure tightly. "I missed you so much, mom! Let's go inside and talk. There's so much I want to tell you, especially about Lucien and how incredible he is."
"Mm." Laure agrees and enters her house with Anne and Elsie, leaving many people with confused and curious expressions on the street. But soon, everyone will understand everything as Lucien's troops love to talk about him.
Entering the small, now complete full house, Laure is amazed to see Lucien and Clovis sitting side by side at the small table drinking apple wine. They already look like best friends, or rather a father and son.
The scene is really strange because even retracting his wings as close to his back and as compactly as possible, Lucien can't hide his other unique features and still looks like someone from another world while Clovis has the appearance of a simple fox-man middle-aged.
But they both respect each other. Lucien is very fond of Clovis's personality and is happy that Anne has a good father, while Clovis is happy that Anne looks very happy with Lucien, and he seems to be a great person.
Clovis, for a moment, thinks that Lucien maybe is someone like him who enjoys a simple and peaceful life, but when Anne and his other wives begin to tell the stories of how Lucien and his family destroyed the Light Empire army, Clovis and Laure become shocked.
"So you are the Handsome Devil…" Laure comments, now fully certain that Lucien is Eve's brother.
"…" Lucien takes a sip of apple wine while he doesn't know what to say. He fears that by getting to know him better, Anne's parents fear him.
"Lucien fought to help me regain Portgreen and make it a city for everyone again, not just mercenaries and adventurers. He faced the Light Empire because they are damn racists who hate demi-humans. He may be scary to his enemies, but he is kind and kind to his loved ones and their families." Cassidy speaks with a proud tone.
Laure nods. "This is admirable. If fighting for our family, our people, and freedom is being a devil; I am happy that my sister is a devil for our clan."
Clovis fills Lucien's glass with more apple wine. "Even though I don't really like violence, I also don't mind if all those damned racists die."
Laure smiles as she speaks jokingly. "I am happy that our daughter likes someone who will protect her as I protect my husband…"
Clovis laughs, and Lucien and his wives also laugh as they drink the apple wine made by Anne's family. Meanwhile, Aria, Kara, Ella, Maggie, Jeanne, and Madelyn cook a delicious dinner for them in the small kitchen of the house.
L.u.s.t and Envy are also comfortable to materialize their bodies and stay beside Lucien, just like Amelia, of course.
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