Demon King's Gardener

As predicted, Braelin spent the rest of the day in and out of consciousness - mostly out of it. Jurao worked on his lock and eventually sent for books from the library. While he had his own collection in his suite, he was after something specific he knew would not be found on the singular bookcase.

“What’s that?” Braelin asked groggily, rousing after the books were dropped off.

“I assumed you had already perused most of the collection on plants,” Jurao replied, looking through the titles, “So I asked for stories about Iescula - I thought it may be good for you to know more about her. Or at least… mm. I… didn’t have many friends when I was a child. So although Feyl and Exka were nobles and I was not, when Exka would get sick as a child, I would go seek them out.”

“Did that happen often?” Braelin asked.

“Often enough,” Jurao replied, “She often struggled to breathe when she was younger - it happens every once in a while now, but not as often as when we were children - and she tends to recover more quickly.”

“Malson is like that,” Braelin nodded, “I heard his mother was as well - but her breathing issues did not improve as she got older.”

The King nodded, “I would sneak into Exka’s room by scaling the wall.”

His partner chuckled, “How did you know which room was hers?”

“Feyl,” Jurao replied, “Their families live in the same estate in the city. One day, Exka didn’t show up to sneak onto the training grounds. Nevve said it was fine if I went to look for news - but I couldn’t find Feyl either. Another noble kid told me about Exka being home and ill, and gave me directions to their estate in the city.

“So I asked Nevve if I could go, and she said they would probably turn me away, but I was welcome to try,” the King went on, “Of course, I decided to try.”

“Did they turn you away?” Braelin asked.

“Yes,” Jurao nodded, “But as I was leaving, Feyl threw a book at me from Exka’s window to get my attention.”

“Was that the beginning of him throwing things at you?” his partner snorted.

“It was, actually,” the King smiled, “But he’s never thrown something I couldn’t catch - or anything that would cause serious harm. The heavier objects came after my Ascension.”

“I see,” Braelin chuckled.

“In any case, before I could call up, he made an ‘x’ over his mouth to tell me to be quiet,” Jurao said, “Then waved for me to come up. So I scaled the wall around the estate, jumped onto the estate wall, then scaled that.”

“Malson used to climb down the tree outside his window,” his partner nodded, “Usually to come eat with me and Uncle at night. I’m… pretty sure everyone knew where he was, since it was usually Dad that would come get him later. I think he just liked the adventure of it.”

Jurao chuckled, brushing back some of Braelin’s hair, “It can be exciting.”

“So what did you do when you reached the room?” the human asked.

“Oh, yes,” the King nodded, “Feyl told me the other noble was setting me up to fail when they told me where the estate was, and wondered why I’d bothered to come - Exka was happy to see me, though. It seemed Feyl was also absent because he was looking after her. So whenever she was feeling poorly, he would read to her. That’s what made me think to do so for you.”

“That’s nice,” Braelin smiled, “Dad used to do the same - I don’t remember much of what he would read, but it was still nice.”

“I was rarely ill, but I remember one of the few times I was, Feyl and Exka came to keep me company as well,” Jurao added, smiling at the memory of Exka marveling at how small his and Nevve’s cottage was and Feyl telling her not to be rude. He hadn’t understood what was rude at the time - a three-room cottage was much smaller than a clan estate, after all, “And as we grew older, I was able to enter the estate freely - since I was going to do so anyway.”

His partner chuckled, “I would be happy to be read to, even if I don’t recall it later. Thank you.”

“Of course,” the King said, “Is there anything else I can do.”

“I wish I could let the gardens see I was alright, at least,” Braelin sighed, “But I know - bed rest.”

Exhen, Imao’s replacement, chuckled from across the room. Fae had a book of faer own and was studiously keeping faer attention on the pages.

Jurao hummed and looked to faer, “Is it alright so long as he does not leave the bed.”

Exhen looked up in surprise, blinking a few times before saying, “I… suppose?”

The King moved the table away from the side of the daybed and handed the books to Petal, asking, “Can you hold these for me, please.”

Petal wrapped its tendrils around the books obligingly and shuffled up the bed towards Braelin.

Braelin looked a bit confused as well, watching as his demon partner opened the door to the room.

Jurao returned, standing behind the head of the bed - crouching down to brace it against his abdomen before picking up the entire thing.

“Oh,” Braelin said, then chuckled, “Yes, I see.”

Exhen’s mouth hung open as the King carried the bed out of the room.

Jurao could easily manage the weight of the bed, his partner, and Petal as he carried them through the castle halls - and the bed being designed for a single demon in size helped with any unwieldiness. They appeared to be garnering a fair share of looks and whispers, but the King ignored them as usual.

“My lord!” Kloy materialized from one of the crowds, “What… ah…”

“Braelin wanted the gardens to see he was alright,” the King replied, “Since he’s on bed rest, I thought the best way was to move the bed.”

“I…” Kloy chuckled, rubbing the bridge of his nose under his glasses as he fell into step behind them, “Yes, technically, that does keep from breaking bedrest…”

Jurao agreed with a hum and a nod, and they soon reached the back veranda. The gardens all shook immediately, leaning forward intently as the King carried the bed down to the entrance to the Labyrinthine Hedge.

“Yes, hello,” Braelin said, patting the investigating branches, “I’m alright; you can relax. Sorry to have worried you.”

Jurao returned to the veranda for a chair for himself and found Hujur and Feyl waiting there with Kloy.

“You know,” Feyl sighed, taking the situation in, “It probably would have been worse if he’d only carried Braelin.”

“Yes, you may have a point,” Hujur agreed, looking bemused, “The whole bed is more… ridiculous than romantic.”

“Worse,” Jurao asked.

His best friend rolled his eyes, “People are still upset about the Royal Gardener being a human - and it has hurt your general reputation with the conservative court factions. Though the progressive factions and younger generation in general find it all quite romantic. Unfortunately, conservative factions are the majority.”

“Tempers especially rose with the arrival of Braelin’s family,” Hujur sighed, “The court was starting to accept the idea of a single human, but a whole family of them?”

“So any overt romantic gestures from you to Braelin… well, they may not be well received by the court,” Feyl sighed.

“It’s going to be an interesting Assembly this quarter, my lord,” Kloy chuckled.

“You may even be challenged to a few duels,” Feyl snorted, “Well, they’ll challenge Braelin, but I’m sure you’ll champion him.”

“I would,” Jurao replied.

“Why bother?”

They all turned as Milve approached, not quite glaring in Braelin’s direction.

“He is not able to defend himself from a demon attack,” Jurao replied.

The High Priest scoffed, “He has the Crushfern, doesn’t he? Few should pose a challenge to it, so long as he chooses it as his weapon. And if anyone should be fool enough to call for lethal combat, he’ll be the one to choose the field of battle,” Milve gestured to the gardens, “Your highness has already stated he does not need protection here.”

“That’s true,” Jurao considered - deciding he would ask Braelin how he would want the situation handled.

“We’re also coming to the end of your grace period for not attending court events after returning from your Union Campaign,” Hujur remarked, “As a Department Head and your romantic partner, Braelin attending with you could help mollify some… traditionally minded tempers.”

Milve scoffed, crossing all four arms as his tail twitched - then he added, “I… would like to formally grant Lord Braelin status as one of Iescula’s faithful.”

“Really?” Hujur blinked, “That would certainly win over some conservatives…”

“But why?” Feyl asked, then effected a slight bow, “Pardon, your grace - I’m Feyl, the King’s valet.”

“... valet singular?” Milve asked.

“Indeed,” the valet replied dryly.

Milve huffed - then his stiff posture relented a little, “I have… with assistance, read the notes… Lord Braelin has been compiling,” it seemed like it physically pained the High Priest to apply the title, “They… read like medicinal textbooks. I,” the man growled, rubbing at his forehead, “I am forced to admit that he treats My Lady’s children as… as people, the way She sees them, and thus I must….” he sighed, the last of his defiance melting away, “I must concede defeat. The plants here are not weaker for having a caretaker - they are… so much stronger for it. It wounds my pride, but if I declare a rock a fish to eat, I will be worse than hungry.”

It was another common demon saying - that to deny the truth was to welcome ruin.

“He has built a place to honor My Lady and offered respect to Her Temple despite my… less than diplomatic approach,” Milve said carefully, “This would be, in part, my… apology.”

“I’m sure Braelin would be fine with a regular apology, your grace,” Jurao said.

Feyl and Kloy both snorted at this, quickly covering the reaction.

Hujur appeared to be mentally counting to ten, but the King was uncertain as to why.

Milve’s face had darkened with a slight blush as he grumbled to himself.

“My lord,” Kloy offered tactfully, “While Braelin might be satisfied, it behooves a person of High Priest Milve’s status to make a public declaration of his acceptance after…”

“A public spectacle of his denial,” Feyl finished with a sharp smile.

Milve sighed and rolled his eyes, but did not deny the statements.

“Ah, yes, I see,” Jurao nodded,

Hujur had a thoughtful expression as he said, “We should have it in the garden - yes. Make it a combined ceremony,” his Steward stepped forward, cupping his chin with one hand, “Celebrate Braelin’s return to health while formally presenting him to the court as a peer and formalizing his position in the Iesculan priesthood.”

“Oh,” Feyl said, grinning, “That’s brilliant, actually.”

“I have my moments,” Hujur shrugged, going a little starry-eyed as he said, “A month is a bit short notice for such a grand event - I’ll have to stay up late getting the paperwork done, and of course, such a historic occasion will need to be recorded in triplicate with proper cross-referencing to previous ceremonies-”

Despite the wording, the Steward was practically glowing as he went into further detail about the kind of paperwork ahead of him - tone as airy and bright as any demon discussing the results of a duel.

“Is,” Milve stepped to the side, “Is he alright…?”

“Hujur enjoys paperwork,” Jurao said.

“Maybe a little too much,” Kloy sighed, turning away, “I’ll need to prepare some recovery tonics if he’s going to work himself that hard…”

“You can let Hujur know any necessary details for what you had planned, your grace,” Jurao said, finally picking up a chair, “Please, excuse me.”

Milve didn’t have a reply to that, standing awkwardly where he was on the veranda.

Braelin had drifted back to sleep while he’d been speaking with the others - the branches of the Labyrinthine Hedge curled around him in bloom, much like a wreath.

Jurao chuckled as he set his seat down, patting the branch nearest to him. Petal shuffled over, holding out one of the books he’d handed it.

“This one,” the King asked, finding he was holding a book that covered Iescula’s birth and rise as a goddess, “Very well - thank you for holding them for me.”

Petal patted at Jurao’s face with its tendrils, then shuffled back and settled in Braelin’s lap.

With a smile, Jurao began to read.