Demon King's Gardener

“It’s been some time since we last met,” the younger man chuckled as he stepped into the box – then bowed, “Good evening, Lord Braelin – a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.”

“Good evening,” Braelin replied.

Petal scuttled out of its seat and over to the new demon, investigating.

“And this must be Petal,” Kaenaz chuckled – crouching to make the inspection easier, “My brother mentioned them before – hello there.”

Petal patted his face approvingly.

“Are you and Feyl close?” Braelin asked, “It seems most demon families don’t keep in contact through adulthood.”

“That’s true,” Kaenaz said, “But since we Sculis are almost all valets, we run into each other a lot.”

“That makes sense,” Braelin nodded, “You seemed to do well in the debates.”

“I’m glad it seemed that way,” Kaenaz laughed, straightening enough to take a seat, “As new to watching debates as you are, my lord.”

“Just Braelin is fine,” the human replied, smiling and patting Petal as the Crushfern returned to him.

“Have you been keeping well,” Jurao asked.

“Oh, as well as ever, your highness,” Kaenaz replied, leaning on his armrest, “I moved out of the estate and in with my lover – though I haven’t told Feyl yet.”

“Why not?” Braelin asked.

“Because it happened just this morning, and I haven’t seen him yet,” Kaenaz shrugged, “Do give him my congratulations on being the best valet as well as your own.”

“This was… the stone mason,” Jurao asked, then added, “Your lover.”

“No,” Braelin said, “The cavalryman – Scilae.”

Kaenaz laughed, “That’s right! Does my brother speak of me, then?”

Braelin nodded, “He speaks of all of you – and your cousins, though less frequently.”

It was true – Feyl’s siblings were a regular topic during their evening games of Ascension, though Jurao had pointed Kaenaz out since Braelin had yet to meet any of them prior to now. As Feyl was much more comfortable with Braelin, he spoke more freely than when the gardener had first arrived.

“That’s not actually surprising,” Kaenaz snorted, “Since he raised us more than our fathers did.”

“… Feyl doesn’t speak about your fathers much,” Braelin said.

“The ones we share, you mean?” Kaenaz arched his left brows with a sly smile, “No, I imagine not – tell me, Braelin, do you know the meaning of demon names at all?”

“I do not,” the gardener replied.

Kaenaz nodded, “Many demons are named for the gods – if I’m not mistaken, you were sharing a box with Lady Messo? Her name is a diminutive of Carmesso, the Goddess of Storms.”

“Ah, that happens in the Human Realm as well,” Braelin said.

“Our fathers thought it would be gauche to name us for Maenscul,” Kaenaz snorted, “Though our vokes is named for them himself – as Mascu.”

“He was never fond of me,” Jurao recalled.

“Gnene is still sorry they got the two of you caught,” Kaenaz snorted.

“Caught?” Braelin asked.

“They hadn’t realized our fathers were unaware of Jurao sneaking in through the window,” Kaenaz shook his head, “But honestly, even taking into account their being a child, why would you sneak in through a window if it wasn’t a secret?”

“It’s fine,” Jurao shrugged, “They let me come in through the door after that.”

“Since he was coming in either way,” Kaenaz laughed, “Our fathers were worried about other families seeing Jurao climb the walls and how it made them look.”

Braelin chuckled, “So, what did your fathers name you?”

Kaenaz nodded, “Gnene means ‘proof’, Wogar means ‘to seize’, Dasti means ‘everything’, Kaenaz means ‘holy’,” he rolled his eyes at this, “And Apae means ‘perfect’.”

“And Feyl?” Braelin asked.

“Beautiful,” Kaenaz replied.

Braelin considered this, then asked, “Proof of what?”

“That one should only have children with other nobles,” Kaenaz replied derisively.

“Ah,” Braelin frowned.

“My brother said you were sharp,” Kaenaz chuckled with little humor.

“Hm,” Jurao asked, not seeing the cause for consternation.

His partner sighed, “While naming your child ‘beautiful’ seems like a fine sentiment, when you give all your other children more… ambitious names, well…”

“Vokes had Feyl before he met Father,” Kaenaz nodded, “Apparently, when he came out with Ierge’s orange spots and Vokes’s pale yellow hair, Vokes thought the best he could manage was to be pretty. Especially being born on Rainbow Day. Then he and Father had Gnene, and were wed when they managed to come out with the ‘right palette’ and Maenscul as a patron.”

Jurao frowned as well. From their talks on the subject, he was aware that Feyl’s noble fathers had always been dismissive of him – how else would he have managed to spend so much time in the smithy without one of them looking for him – but he’d never considered the implications of the siblings’ names before.

“Of course, Vokes didn’t have me with Father either,” Kaenaz waved a hand vaguely, “But they both just pretend they don’t know Apae and I are uncle’s children, even if Apae didn’t turn out as Maensculian as I did.”

“I’m not sure I understand the significance of Rainbow Day,” Braelin said, “I know it’s a romantic holiday, but little else.”

“Being born on Rainbow Day makes Vislaelos, the God of Romantic Love, your patron,” Jurao explained, “Sculis prefer their children have Maenscul as a patron. Don’t bring it up with Feyl; he dislikes discussing it.”

“Ah, yes,” Kaenaz bowed his head, “Forgive me, I said a bit too much without my brother here. Point is, our fathers are assholes.”

Braelin laughed in surprise, “No wonder you’re a rebel, then.”

“Did Feyl call me that?” Kaenaz grinned.

“Not to me, but it seems he’s said as much to Jurao before,” Braelin smiled.

“He mentioned it more when you were younger,” Jurao agreed, “And he still watched over you.”

“That makes sense,” Kaenaz chuckled, “Ah, but – I didn’t come up here to complain about my fathers. I wanted to apologize if I made you uncomfortable while extolling your physical virtues, Braelin.”

Braelin snorted, though his face went a bit pink, “Thank you for the consideration, but it was my own fault for choosing such a topic. Besides, it was just in line with winning, wasn’t it?”

Kaenaz smiled without reply.

Braelin looked away, turning redder.

Kaenaz laughed, “Are you not also attractive by human standards?”

“Maybe to some, but I believe I am considered average in a general sense,” Braelin replied.

Jurao hummed, “I have been told I am attractive – is that true.”

“Yes,” Kaenaz replied, getting to his hooves, “You can both ask Feyl if you don’t believe me.”

“I see no reason for you to lie,” Jurao tilted his head.

“For the fun of embarrassing your partner a little, your highness,” Kaenaz suggested, “If I were lying, which I’m not. In any case, it was nice to finally meet you, Braelin – and to chat, your highness. Good night.”

“Good night, Kaenaz,” Jurao nodded, which Kaenaz took as permission to leave.

As the hall had finally cleared during their conversation, Jurao and Braelin made their way back to their quarters – Feyl waiting for them when they arrived.

“Feyl, am I considered attractive by demon standards?” Braelin asked when they’d both changed for the night.

Feyl’s left brows rose, “Yes, but why ask?”

“I met Kaenaz, and he said as much,” Braelin replied, waving off joining the game of Ascension.

“He was one of tonight’s debaters,” Jurao explained, “He’s moving in with his lover as of this morning.”

“Scilae’s a good man,” Feyl nodded, taking the opening move, “I’m not surprised – they may even romantically wed in the next century, with how well they get on.”

“He also sent his congratulations on your being the King’s best valet,” Braelin smiled.

Feyl snorted, “Was that one of the topics, then? Who else was there to defend me enough to win?”

“Gnori picked you from the outset,” Jurao replied, “And Demarri changed her choice due to my believed preference.”

“Your Demarri?” Feyl asked Braelin.

“Yes,” the human replied.

“Yes, that makes sense – she always picks the easiest stance to defend,” Feyl nodded, “What were the other topics?”

“Whether being Beloved is unfair,” Braelin sighed, “And who the best Department Head is.”

Feyl grinned, “So that’s why my brother was calling you attractive – I couldn’t imagine him flirting with you. No offense; he just doesn’t go for older partners. Relatively speaking.”

“None taken,” Braelin chuckled, “How old is he?”

“Six hundred thirty-four,” Feyl replied, then considered, “So… in his mid to late twenties, by human standards.”

Braelin hummed, adding, “He felt he overstepped talking about you.”

“Why? What did he say?” Feyl asked.

Jurao looked to his partner curiously.

“He mainly spoke about your shared fathers being – as he put it – assholes,” Braelin replied, “For various reasons.”

Feyl chuckled, “He can be very passionate on that subject, yes. Though I imagine he only said as much because he’s heard enough about you from me to know that I wouldn’t mind. But, tell me, who is the best Department Head?”

“Braelin,” Jurao replied, tousling his partner’s hair.

“Naturally,” Feyl snorted, then sighed, “Were you concerned about something he told you, Braelin?”

“About the meaning of your name,” Braelin said.

“Ah,” Feyl shook his head, “Don’t mind it – if it bothered me, I would have changed it myself. Besides, I am beautiful – and everyone tells me so, whether they want to or not.”

Braelin snorted, “Alright then – ah. I forgot to ask – what does ‘Jurao’ mean?”

Feyl chuckled.

“It means ‘love,’” Jurao replied, then added, “The general concept of love, that is – not a specific kind.”

His partner considered this, then smiled, “Demon King Love?”

“Exactly,” Feyl chuckled again.

“It has often been a point of humor for others,” Jurao acknowledged, “I believe many found it more humorous to have a General Love, which I do see the incongruity of.”

Braelin hummed and said, “It’s a good name. It suits you.”

“What does ‘Braelin’ mean,” Jurao asked, feeling that familiar bright spot in his chest.

“Wise, I think,” his partner replied, “Or bright, perhaps? Could have also been an old word for salmon – I’ve heard different things from different people over the years, but I don’t think my mother put much thought into it beyond being my grandfather’s name.”

“Salmon?” Feyl asked.

“A kind of fish known to swim upstream,” Braelin replied.

“You do go against the current,” Feyl observed dryly.

Jurao chuckled, “I think all those meanings suit you, with that logic.”

His partner leaned into him, “Demon King Love and Lord Fish has a nice ring to it.”