Demon King's Gardener

Jurao went to check in on his partner before breakfast - relieved when he saw Braelin was propped up by pillows to eat with his family that had already arrived. Meir’ril and Ayelma were seated on the edge of the bed again, with Owren in a lower chair next to it. Petal was still crouched at the foot of the bed, but more spread out than the previous night.

“Good morning,” his Gardener said as he stepped inside the room, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry everyone.”

The Demon King couldn’t stop himself from crossing the room and leaning down to kiss the man.

Meir’ril choked on his food, and Ayelma made a sound of surprise herself.

“Kids,” Owren snorted.

“Sorry,” Braelin said again as Jurao pulled away. His cheeks were tinged pink, eyes a bit wide with surprise.

“There was nothing more you could have done,” the King replied, briefly touching his forehead to the human’s before pulling away, “Kloy said surgery prior to this would have been too risky.”

“I just wish you would have told us you were injured!” Ayelma said, getting over her shock with indignation.

“Sorry,” Braelin repeated once more, “I just-”

“Didn’t want to worry us, we know,” Ayelma huffed.

“Not that knowing would have helped, really,” Meir’ril shrugged, “Since no one anticipated this happening.”

“At least it’s done with,” Owren said, “And you have staff to handle things while you get some damn rest - and I’ll check their work, so you’d better stay in bed like the doctors told you.”

“Yes, uncle,” Braelin sighed, then added, “Honestly, I don’t feel like I could stand if I wanted to - I couldn’t even sit up by myself.”

“Very normal post-operation fatigue,” Zede said, striding through the door, “Good morning, how are you feeling otherwise? Pain?” she seemed to only notice Jurao when she was standing next to him, “Your highness.”

Jurao nodded to her, “Thank you for your hard work, doctor.”

“Yes,” Zede nodded curtly, then looked back to Braelin.

“I feel a bit sore, but otherwise fine,” her patient replied.

She nodded, making some notes in a small notebook, “We have you on a mild sedative and pain medication - you will need to take it four times a day, or the pain will become much worse. You live with the King, correct?”

“Yes,” Braelin said.

Zede nodded and turned to Jurao, “Will you or someone else be able to remain with him and monitor his condition?”

“Yes,” Jurao replied.

“Then you may return to your living quarters as soon as you wish,” Zede said, “Please get me if you experience any complications or unexpected pain.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Braelin said.

“I look forward to keeping you all healthy,” Zede replied, and bowed her head before walking back out of the room.

“She’s a bit brusque,” Ayelma said dryly.

“Well, she still saved Braelin’s life,” Meir’ril shrugged, “Some people are just like that, you know?”

“Better than the ones that’ll talk your ear off over hay fever,” Owren grumbled, “Getting some seasonal medicine shouldn’t take forty minutes.”

“Old Lyte could ramble,” Ayelma sighed in agreement, “But it was cute how he would forget his glasses were on top of his head.”

“I wonder if he’s doing alright,” Braelin asked.

Jurao reached out before his partner’s hand reached his chest, saying, “It’s probably best not to touch the surgery site.”

Braelin offered him a smile in return, “Yes, thank you.”

“Ugh,” Ayelma said, “You’re so sweet!”

“Hm,” Jurao hummed in question.

“It’s still a bit off-putting,” Meir’ril chuckled, “The Demon King has such a scary reputation in the Human Realm, but you’re… not.”

“Ah,” the King nodded, “No, not unless I must be.”

“It’s actually harder to picture you being scary,” Ayelma laughed, “Even if Maeli says you are.”

“Maeli,” Jurao asked.

“They’re the one teaching Aya how to ride her hornhound,” Braelin said.

“I named him Sweetie because he is one,” his sister said proudly, “He just doesn’t know it yet!”

Jurao chuckled, “It seems naming is a family talent.”

Meir’ril tried to cover up a laugh at that.

Ayelma gasped, “You’re not comparing my excellent naming skills to Braelin’s, are you?”

“Am I bad at naming things?” Braelin asked - but his smile belied his innocent tone.

“Obviously,” his sister snorted, “You just pick the most obvious thing - you named a patch of ivy Climber.”

“Climber was very ambitious,” Braelin nodded, then yawned, “It wanted to reach the top of the wall. It was an aspirational name.”

Meir’ril chuckled, “I’m sure it did.”

“And Petal likes my naming skills,” Braelin added.

The Crushfern waved a few tendrils at him, but seemed content to remain where it was at the foot of the bed for now.

Jurao chuckled, then sighed, “I’m afraid I must go to the Heads of Staff breakfast - but I’m glad you’re doing well.”

His partner hummed, eyes slipping closed as he said, “I’ll see you later, then.”

“See you then,” the King replied, brushing Braelin’s hair back before nodding to the human’s family members.

“So sweet,” Ayelma repeated with a soft laugh.

“Until next time,” Meir’ril nodded back.

“Hmph,” was all Owren offered him, but that didn’t bother Jurao.

Outside of the room, he found Kloy waiting for him.

“My lord,” the physician nodded, falling into step just behind the King’s shoulder, “I’ve taken the liberty of assigning s a few of our nurses to stay with Braelin in your quarters throughout the day, unless you’ve an objection.”

“No, thank you,” Jurao said, “I’m just glad everything went well.”

“As am I,” Kloy said, “Zede is a brilliant surgeon, and her wife’s knowledge of magic and pharmaceuticals will be a great boon to everyone. I’ll have to thank Alae for suggesting them.”

“Alae did,” the King asked.

“Yes - he ran into them when visiting the Human Realm during your Union Campaign,” the Royal Physician explained, “So he made sure to mention them when he heard I was looking for doctors that specialized in human medicinal practices.”

“I will have to thank him as well,” Jurao nodded, “I…”

He found himself pausing in the hall, frowning as his gaze landed on the floor, “It seems odd, but, despite the short time we’ve known each other, I’m not sure what I would have done had Braelin died.”

Kloy sighed with a gentle smile, “I don’t think it’s so odd - some bonds may form like a river canyon, cutting deeper over slow centuries, but others form like a rainstorm on the plains. Suddenly drenching you while carrying a risk of flood.”

“I’m not sure I fully understand the second analogy,” Jurao said, turning to face the older demon.

The Royal Physician nodded, “I’ll try to explain - rain can be a blessing, especially for areas further from a river than most cities. But, on the flat plains, it can also cause unexpected flooding - easily able to sweep even you away, my lord. In the same way, some relationships come as a sudden blessing - and standing in a rainstorm is sure to have one soaked. Like how some bonds feel like they have covered you entirely.

“But when something bad happens unexpectedly, it can be confusing and overwhelming,” Kloy said.

“Like being swept away by a sudden flood,” the King nodded, “Yes, I see.”

The physician nodded, “Exactly - but the floods don’t make the rain a bad thing, and once you’ve learned to expect them, you can prepare better in case of another.”

Jurao nodded again, “Yes. Thank you, Kloy.”

“That was something my okels used to tell me when I started getting older,” Kloy chuckled, “But I don’t believe I saw the wisdom of it quite so quickly.”

“But you still remember it,” Jurao said and began walking again.

“Yes,” the physician agreed, falling into step, “And I’m sure ce would be happy to know that I do.”

“So,” Minaz asked as Jurao took his seat, “How was Braelin?”

“Good,” the King nodded, signaling for the meal to start.

“He’s on bedrest for the next week and will likely spend most of that time sleeping off post-operation fatigue,” Kloy specified, “But nothing suggests he won’t make a full recovery.”

“Oh, the poor dear,” Gavven sighed, “And his family must have been worried sick, too!”

“Yes,” Jurao frowned, “They were.”

Vajur grumbled, then said, “I have news about the former crown prince.”

The King looked up at that, “Yes.”

Minaz and Hujur shared a look - both smiling.

For some reason, Vajur’s face darkened just a bit with a blush as he said, “Apaje has made contact and is leading him and the former captain of the guard, Beneford, to the Gate in Vede. They should still be about a month away by now.”

“That is good news,” Jurao smiled, “Braelin’s uncle was in a relationship with the former guard captain, so I am sure they will be glad to know both are alright and on the way.”

Vajur scoffed, tail whipping behind him.

Gavven giggled uncertainly, “If Braelin’s brother is like Gnori, then I wonder what the former captain of the guard is like…”

Gnori pounded a fist on the table, “I don’t believe it! Until I see it with my own eyes, I refuse to believe I am similar to a human prince!”

“I think you’ll hear it before you see it,” Minaz snorted, “If Braelin’s right about his brother being louder, anyway.”

“Were you the one who told the gardens he was alright, Kloy?” Festi asked.

“No, I believe that was Gaele,” the physician replied.

“Ah, I hadn’t thought of that,” Jurao frowned, “But I’m glad someone remembered to do so.”

“It was,” Jouvi hesitated, “Sad.”

“The gardens kept… holding anyone that walked inside?” Festi frowned, “Not like, restraining them or anything. Kind of like…”

“Hugging?” Jouvi suggested.

“Yeah,” Festi agreed, “And the plants not doing that were all… drooping on the ground.”

Gavven giggled, “Until Gnori yelled at them, anyway.”

“I did not!” Gnori yelled, slamming a fist on the table as his face darkened, “I gave them a very helpful pep talk about how Braelin would be worried if he saw them like that, so they needed to compose themselves!”

“You gave the plants a pep talk?” Minaz grinned, “Aren’t you still afraid of them?”

“That’s that, and this is this!” Gnori replied, pounding the table again, “If you’re already physically hurt, mental stress makes it harder to heal! Do you really think Braelin could stay in bed if he saw the gardens moping like that!? Or heard about it!?”

“You have a point there,” Jurao nodded, “Thank you for considering that, Gnori.”

“Well!” Gnori made a strained noise, “If Braelin weren’t healing, it would make you upset, my lord! And if you were upset, you’d be distracted from your duties! So it had to be done!”

Gavven giggled, “You can just say you were worried about Braelin, too. Finding him hard to deal with doesn’t mean you can’t worry.”

“Hard to deal with,” Jurao asked.

“Personality clash,” Gavven giggled with a dismissive wave, “Braelin’s just the general type of person Gnori struggles to connect with.”

“That’s not-!” Gnori blushed further, then huffed, “It doesn’t matter!”

Jurao didn’t press further - he certainly had his fair share of people he struggled to get along with due to ‘personality clashes’, after all.

“Braelin’s uncle said he would check over the new gardening staff’s work in his absence,” the King said instead, turning to Hujur, “But I don’t believe he’ll be managing anything beyond that.”

“I’ll make a note of it,” his Steward nodded, “I suppose someone should tell his grace about this, as well…”

“I believe I shall stop by the gardens myself after breakfast,” Jurao said, “So I will inform High Priest Milve.”