Demon King's Gardener

“Juju! I came to visit~!”

Jurao started awake in surprise, blinking as he took stock of the situation.

First, Princess Morvvan had just burst through the door to his receiving room in her usual noble robes and boisterous mood. She was a fire red-skinned arcane demon with coily white hair flowing down her back and wavy golden markings that matched her eyes. She had stopped, standing completely still with her tail wagging as she stared wide-eyed with a closed-mouth smile.

Second, he was on the couch in his receiving room - he remembered he’d planned to stay up until Braelin went to sleep, to ensure his gardener didn’t stay up too late. Except… it seemed he’d fallen asleep before the human. The human who was…

Ah. Sound asleep with his head cushioned on Jurao’s thigh, probably unintentionally.

Cute, the Demon King thought in surprise, feeling his face flush at their proximity.

“Morvvan, could you at least move out of the…” Feyl sidled around the unmoving princess, then paused himself. He looked down at Braelin, then up at Jurao, “Well this is new.”

“I heard you had a crush on a human,” Morvvan said, practically vibrating where she stood, “Please tell me this isn’t a misunderstanding.”

Jurao hummed, rubbing the back of his stiff neck, “I do have a romantic interest in Braelin, but this is… incidental.”

Morvvan made a high-pitched noise before rushing forward, circling behind the couch to look at Braelin over the Demon King’s shoulder, “I’m so glad it’s true - oh, humans really are small, huh?”

“They are,” the Demon King agreed, debating whether or not he should move, “I had heard Braelin takes frequent naps, and wondered if perhaps he stays awake too long at night.”

“So you thought to stay up and check,” Feyl concluded with a sigh, “And woke up like this - and no doubt Braelin will confirm he didn’t go to sleep like this when he does wake up.”

“How is he still asleep?” Morvvan asked, grinning like she was still a child despite being a century older than Jurao.

“The man sleeps like the dead,” Feyl huffed, “Honestly, it’s a bit of a hassle.”

Morvvan made another high-pitched noise, stepping back to bounce up and down a few times, “Oh! But I want to meet him! I want to know what kind of man caught your attention, Juju!”

“He’s not going to wake if you shift him,” Feyl added.

Jurao nodded to his valet, reaching over to grab a pillow before carefully doing so. As Feyl said, Braelin didn’t rouse at the shift, aloowing the Demon King to get to his feet. Jurao looked at his valet, “You were right about one of the princelins showing up.”

“I know,” Feyl said, flicking a piece of hair over his shoulder.

“Tell me everything!” Morvvan demanded, getting close - then immediately stepping back, “Oops, sorry, too close.”

“Thank you,” Jurao nodded to the apology, “Where should I begin.”

“At the very start!” Morvvan said, clasping her hands, “I want to know what actually happened, not some rumors!”

“Can we do that while Jurao gets ready, at least?” Feyl asked, not waiting for an answer while ushering the Demon King towards his room.

“Yes, yes, of course,” Morvvan said, walking back with them.

So while Feyl helped Jurao prepare for the day, he recounted the past week’s events - discovering Braelin in the gardens, appointing him Royal Gardener, and everything else.

By the time they were finished, Morvvan was sitting on the floor laughing, “You apologized to plants! And thought you were sick when you were feeling attraction!?”

“It was the most logical conclusion at the time,” Jurao replied, “And the plants deserved an apology.”

“Oh, I’m so glad dad recommended you for king,” Morvvan composed herself, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, “You’re much more entertaining than any of my siblings would have been.”

“Entertainment isn’t really a mark of good kingship,” Feyl pointed out, finishing adding some braids to Jurao’s hair, “There, all ready.”

“Pssh, says you,” Morvvan replied, jumping to her feet, “But I never thought I’d hear of Juju being unable to express himself. You’re usually too blunt.”

Jurao stood as well, adjusting his cloak, “I just do not see the point in speaking around what I mean when I could just say it.”

“And that’s the best part about you,” Morvvan said, waving a hand, “But still, I think I’ll stick around - I want to see how things turn out, after all!”

“Of course,” Jurao said, “This castle will always be your home when you want it.”

“Ah, and that honest heart,” Morvvan laughed, “Seriously, I need to make sure this guy is worthy of someone as amazing as you, Juju!”

“That nickname…” Feyl sighed.

Jurao walked back into his receiving room, “I’m fine with it.”

“I know, it’s just… silly,” his valet sighed.

“You’re awake!” Morvvan said, rushing past the two of them back to the couch.

As usual, Braelin was awake - and blinking blearily at the princess as she suddenly leaned over the back of the couch.

“Hello!” the princess grinned, “I’m Morvvan!”

The human made a noise of acknowledgment, still blinking.

“She’s one of the former princelins,” Feyl sighed, walking over as well, “A particularly annoying one.”

“Hey!” Morvvan jumped back, clasping her hands behind her back, “I think you mean a particularly cute princelin, right?”

“No, that would Forvi,” Feyl replied, then looked to Braelin with a smile, “Sleep well, Braelin?”

The human was looking between the two groggily and tilted his head to voice, “Nn?”

“Well, since you used Juju as a pillow, you know,” Morvvan added, readily changing subjects with a gleam in her eyes.

“... Juju?” Braelin frowned, clearly struggling to keep up with the conversation.

“Morvvan’s nickname for me,” Jurao clarified, joining them all near the couch, “Nothing to worry about - we can all reconvene at breakfast.”

Morvvan gasped in delight, “You would bring this up at breakfast.”

“Yes, and we should leave to make sure they have time to set an extra place,” Feyl said, “Hopefully Vajur won’t make a scene this time…”

“I can’t believe you almost fired him,” Morvvan grinned, then skipped to the door, “But then again, I absolutely can!”

“See you at breakfast, Braelin,” Jurao said, nodding to the human.

His gardener nodded back, still looking puzzled by everything happening around him.

Jurao smiled, finding this look cute as well.

Morvvan gasped loudly but was pushed out the door by Feyl before she could say anything more.

“Don’t you need to accompany him anyway?” his valet said, pointing at Braelin with one of his free hands as they left.

“Ah, yes,” the Demon King sighed.

“Did I… use you as a pillow…?” Braelin asked, then yawned, “Sorry about that…”

“You really should go to bed earlier,” Jurao said, reaching out without thinking to tousle the man’s hair, “But I didn’t mind.”

The human sleepily leaned into the contact and half yawned, “Alright then.”

Jurao felt a sensation like the electric crackle of a spell go down his arm and spine. He took his hand back gently, realizing this was an impulse he might need to be more careful following in the future. Not sure what else to do, he cleared his throat, “What do you usually do to prepare for breakfast.”

“Stop by the cottage,” Braelin sighed, “To get dressed and that.”

The Demon King hummed an acknowledgment. After a few more moments, he asked, “When do you leave.”

Braelin made a grumble, then said, “... when the maid makes me, usually.”

Jurao chuckled - ah, that made sense, considering it was only half an hour to breakfast by the time the human roused, and he wasn’t much awake by then. With that in mind, he said, “Pardon me, then.”

Braelin didn’t fight the Demon King pulling him up to his feet, and was able to walk along on his own to the door - with Jurao gently pushing him by the shoulder.

“Your highness,” Imeorri, one of the maids assigned to clean his chambers, bowed, “Good morning.”

She was a squirrel-based beastly demon with red skin and swirling light pink markings. She was dressed in the typical livery of the cleaning staff - loose dark green pants with a matching undershirt and a light green vest belted to keep from interfering with their work. Next to her was her cart of cleaning supplies and another maid who bowed.

“Good morning,” Jurao replied, nodding back.

“Lord Braelin, I see you’re on your feet already,” she went on, turning to the human.

Braelin made a noise of agreement, yawning.

“Sorry for the trouble,” the Demon King said.

“Not at all, your highness,” Imeorri replied, clasping her hands behind her back, “We’re happy to serve anyone appointed by you.”

“And Lord Braelin is never in the way, your highness,” the second maid - he didn’t recall her name - said with a bright smile.

“Thank you,” Jurao replied, pushing Braelin along again, “We’ll let you get to work.”

Imeorri bowed again, and she and her partner entered his suite with their cart.

It didn’t take long for Braelin to gain enough cognizance to walk without being guided. Stopping at the human’s cottage took very little time, and soon they were on their way to breakfast proper.

Morvvan was waiting at the back veranda, and gasped when she saw them, “You do have him walk next to you!”

“I can’t sense him behind me,” the Demon King explained, as usual.

“Good morning!” the princess said, crouching in front of Braelin immediately, “Do you remember me?”

Braelin took a few steps back from her - she had a bad habit of getting too close to others - and looked to Jurao.

“This is Princess Morvvan,” Jurao said, “She introduced herself earlier this morning.”

“Sorry, I don’t remember,” Braelin said, bowing a little, “Nice to meet you, your highness.”

“So quiet,” Morvvan pouted good-naturedly, “I just want to squish your soft-looking cheeks.”

“I would rather you didn’t,” the human replied.

“I won’t then,” the princess sighed dramatically, standing back to her full height, “But hey, Braelin! What do you think about Juju?”

Braelin frowned.

“Her nickname for me,” Jurao clarified again, assuming the man had forgotten that.

“Oh,” his gardener said, expression smoothing.

“Yeah,” Morvvan nodded, “So, what do you think about him?”

“What do I think…?” Braelin tilted his head, “In what way?”

“Like, how do you feel about him?” Morvvan clarified, “I mean, I don’t know anything about human standards, but he’s pretty handsome by demon ones!”

One of the guards at the door made a choked sound of surprise, the other quickly hushing them.

“I am,” Jurao frowned.

“Wow, mister confident,” Morvvan grinned, then paused, “Oh, that was a question?”

“It was,” the Demon King nodded.

“Then yeah!” the princess replied, “In, like, a rugged kind of way, you know? Plus, everyone loves facial scars!”

“If you say so,” Jurao sighed, then looked down at Braelin.

His gardener appeared deep in thought.

“Hmmm?” Morvvan seemed to notice as well, crouching down again without getting too close this time, “Maybe you do think Jurao is handsome, Braelin?”

“I don’t,” the man sighed, “Really pay attention to that sort of thing.”

That doesn’t surprise me, Jurao thought with a smile.

“Then what are you thinking about so hard?” Morvvan asked.

“How I feel about his highness,” Braelin replied, “You asked, but… I just realized I don’t have an answer. It’s odd…”

“Odd,” Jurao asked, feeling that little twinge in his chest.

His gardener nodded, “Usually, I have at least a vague idea…”

“Oh?” Morvvan grinned, “How intriguing.”

“We’re going to be late to breakfast,” the Demon King interrupted before the princess got carried away.

“Right, right,” Morvvan laughed, standing again, “We can give Braelin time to think about how he feels, no rush!”

She’s as forward as ever, Jurao thought - though not unkindly, as it was a trait he appreciated. He always knew where he stood with Morvvan, and she didn’t make assumptions that Jurao meant more than he said.

Still… he tried his best not to look at Braelin as they walked, despite his curiosity. He couldn’t be sure, but he felt it was a good sign that Braelin didn’t have an immediate answer.

“Good morning, your highnesses,” Hujur greeted as they all arrived. Today, there were chairs at the end of both tables - freeing up the space to Jurao’s left for the princess.

“Hujur!” Morvvan greeted, running over to pull the man into her customary hug, “Aww, look at you, Steward and everything!”

“Yes, princess,” Hujur replied drily, accepting the embrace with a smile, “That does tend to happen when one’s mentor retires.”

Jurao took his seat, Braelin to his right as usual.

Morvvan continued to hang off Hujur as she gasped, “You have him sit next to you, too?”

“So you agree, Princess Morvvan?” Vajur demanded, jumping to his feet, “That that thing doesn’t belong-”

“It’s not nice to call people things, Vay-vay,” Morvvan interrupted flatly, “And he can sit wherever Jurao wants him to sit. That’s the beauty of being King. If you don’t like it, join the next Trials.”

Vajur huffed and sank back into his seat, crossing all four arms.

“Hey, Braelin!” Morvvan changed the subject, “Did you know Hujur here is my oldest friend?”

“Why would he know that, your highness?” Hujur sighed, ducking out of her embrace.

Braelin seemed to have missed the question, still looking thoughtful.

“Uh, Braelin?” Minaz arched a brow at the man, then cleared her throat, “Braelin?”

“Hm?” the human blinked, looking at her.

“What are you thinking about…?” she asked.

“How I feel about his highness,” Braelin replied easily.

There were several reactions around the table - Gnorri hit it with a fist, Gavven giggled in delight, and the others mostly stared.

“I asked him what he thought earlier,” Morvvan grinned, flopping into her own chair, “He’s been taking the question very seriously.”

Braelin nodded in agreement.

“... kindred spirits strike again…” Minaz said, rubbing one of her temples.

“You always ask people odd questions…” Hujur sighed.

Jurao signaled for the meal to start without interrupting them.

Morvvan laughed boisterously, “That’s right! Silly me, asking questions for no reason! No reason at all!”

Everyone was giving the princess a disbelieving look, but Jurao wasn’t sure why - she did often ask strange questions without prompting, after all.