Demon King's Gardener

The King participated in one more round of dancing before the feast portion of the celebration drew to a close. This last stretch included all the city representatives, as it usually did during the event.

Petty Prince Voyvok was first – and it seemed he had been considering which question he wished to ask.

"Why are you with your partner, Your Highness?"

"Because I enjoy his company," Jurao replied.

Voyvok frowned, and it was a few moments of dancing before he asked, "That's all?"

"Does there need to be another reason," the King asked.

"You enjoy the company of your friends, don't you?" Voyvok persisted – though the King did not feel as though he were asking with his usual derision. If anything, the petty prince appeared genuinely confused.

So Jurao considered a few minutes himself before, as the dance ended, he replied, "I do. But they do not make me feel the same way Braelin does. There are similar feelings between my partner and my friends – trust, respect, and kinship – but the way I experience those feelings with Braelin does not feel the same as the way I experience them with friends. I have no other way to explain it. But my sole motivation for courting my partner is that I enjoy doing so, and he feels the same."

Voyvok continued to frown, but merely bowed and stepped off the floor – though he almost ran into Petty Prince Kylse. He usually offered his human peer a growl when they passed – but seemed too preoccupied for even that.

"Um, is he alright, Your Highness?" Kylse asked – appearing as unsure of the dance as Braelin had the first time.

"I believe Maenscul's appearance is giving him much to consider," Jurao said.

The human petty prince looked over at the deity and said, "Yeah, I think a lot of people feel that way."

They did not speak more during the dance – though Jurao thought it was likely because it took a fair amount of concentration to do so. While their height difference was not much different, and Jurao was sure Kylse had been practicing with his uncles and guards, Jurao was still not fully accustomed to human-sized partners, and he thought Kylse matched his inexperience. Though he felt they managed to complete the dance well enough.

Petty Princess Hane nor Petty Princelin Voysh offered much commentary – the latter did seem less nervous than fos had at the start of the feast.

"It seems my sister is forming a friendship with Lord Meir'ril," Petty Princelin Doys remarked.

"The twins are both very personable," Jurao said.

Doys offered him a slight smile as ce said, "Yes, Your Highness – they remind me of my siblings back home. Though Ollar and Vaegol butt heads far more often – perhaps because they have not had the same kind of experiences."

Jurao could see his meaning – Aya and Meir were very different in personalities and interests, and while they did irritate each other, he did not think he had ever seen them have an actual fight. Feyl and his siblings had many such fights when they were growing up – as did Exkla and her brothers. But hardship did have a way of strengthening bonds. The King did not think he would have as close a bond with his aunt if they had not met under the circumstances they had.

"Your Highness, Bud is just adorable!" Petty Princess Nevoni of Messaonars said, when it was her turn to dance.

"He is an interesting addition to the gardens," the King agreed, having spent little time with the drakebloom.

Nevoni laughed and said, "The gardening staff have said he makes their jobs easier, as he can speak for the rest of the gardens. Do you think more drakeblooms could be made?"

"As they use people to propagate, I do not believe that is possible," the King replied, though he could see the benefit of a plant as well-spoken as Bud relaying potential issues.

"Oh, dear," Nevoni sighed, "Well, perhaps an alternative method can be found!"

"I am sure the Gardening Department would be open to researching such a thing," Jurao agreed.

Petty Prince Saerma followed her and spoke only of the magic engine in terms more technical than Jurao understood. He was happy for the prince's enthusiasm, however. Petty Prince Sculaes only remarked on how he was looking forward to his family's response regarding Maenscul's appearance.

Jurao bowed as he approached the dais after his final dance, greeting, "We are prepared to end the feast, Lord Maenscul."

Maenscul chuckled and waved for the King to do so.

Jurao nodded to the deity as he stepped onto the platform once more and signaled for the music to end. As Losse stood next to him, the King said, "I had an announcement."

"Ah, yes," the Grand Priestis said with a nod, "Your wedding announcement. Please, go on."

Jurao nodded to em as well in thanks before he turned to the hall and called out, "Before we bring the feast to a close, I have an announcement. My partner, Braelin, and I will be romantically wed two weeks before the Hundred Years Ball."

There was loud applause at this – largely from the progressive faction, though the King spied many moderates and even several conservatives clapping less enthusiastically. He nodded to the room, then gave the floor to Losse.

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E stepped closer to the edge and announced, "Our bellies are now full of the food of the land, and our spirits full from the joy of dancing – let us go now to fill our flesh in the same manner!"

There were cheers to this announcement – and Jurao left the dais to find his partner.

"Ready," he asked – in case Braelin had changed his mind.

"Ready," his betrothed replied with a smile.

The King and his partner entered the side hall for the Royal Orgy first, of course – Jurao nodding to those waiting for them to enter. Beds were ranged about the room, with grass-woven folding screens covered in cloths thick enough to dampen most sounds in addition to hiding those within from view. Incense burners hung from the ceiling, filling the room with a sweet scent and making the air slightly hazy with smoke. The lights were dim, adding another layer of obfuscation.

Jurao felt the thrill of excitement as he led the way to the central bed – marked by golden cloths – and let his partner duck in before him.

"Is there anything special we're expected to do before we start?" Braelin asked, jumping up onto the side of the bed.

"No," Jurao replied, coming to sit next to him.

"Then," Braelin said, pulling over a small tray from a side table where a light sat, "I thought you might like to try this now."

The King plucked one of the drakebloom flowers from the tray with a smile – and carefully pulled the stem from the back to try the nectar for himself.

Warmth spread through his body immediately as the sweet taste lingered on his tongue – and he sighed as his limbs felt lighter. His tail swayed as he felt his cock swell against his slit, though the nectar arousal was not quite enough to cause him to evert by itself.

Braelin sipped the nectar of a second flower as he set the tray back – sighing as his face went red with warmth. He reached down to detach his tunic from its stays, then back up to unclasp the side of his tunic. He hopped down to stand long enough to remove his belt, letting the outfit fall to the floor – his human cock semi-erect as well.

Braelin stepped in front of the King, running a hand up his thigh to rub at his partner's slit as he said, "It's nice, isn't it?"

Jurao slowly everted into Braelin's hand, humming his agreement. As Braelin had described before, it was not overwhelming – only very noticeable.

"Soth said there's a slight euphoric as well as the aphrodisiac," Braelin went on, "but nothing strong enough to make one act out of character."

"Yes, I do not feel… compromised," the King agreed. He added, "But you are… more forward, mud-eel."

Braelin chuckled, face darkening with a blush as he said, "I am just… excited. Surprisingly so."

Jurao fully everted at that, the cloth of his tunic soft against the appendage as it undulated around his partner's hand. The King picked up his partner to deposit him in the middle of the bed, which made Braelin laugh. Jurao stripped out of his tunic before he joined his partner, gently rocking their groins together so the forks of his cock wrapped around his partner's single-pronged cock. He had certainly thought the new circumstances might give him more pause – but the drakebloom nectar made it easier to ignore the muffled sounds outside their screened bed.

"There's… oil… on the table," Braelin said.

"Ah," Jurao said, reaching over to grab the small clay oil container, sitting back as he examined it.

"Here."

The King handed his partner the jar, and Braelin poured a small amount into one hand before handing it back. Braelin rubbed it between his fingers before he reached down – rubbing his oiled fingers against his back hole.

Jurao held his cock up against his stomach to keep it from getting in the way, watching as his partner pressed a finger inside of himself. He controlled his breathing as he continued watching his partner add more fingers, thrusting them in and out as he worked himself open.

"Should I use my mouth," he asked – having asked Feyl for advice.

"If you… wish to," Braelin replied – dragging his hand across his own thigh to spread more of the oil.

It did still seem like an odd activity – but Jurao did not find himself repelled. So, perhaps due to his slightly heightened arousal and the excitement of trying something new with his partner, the King had little issue with lifting his partner's hips from the bed and experimentally licking the oiled hole. It tasted mainly of the oil – bells of desire and blanket fruit seed.

Braelin gasped and sighed – then laughed and said, "This is a bit uncomfortable, my heart."

"Ah," Jurao said, realizing he was holding his partner upside down. He shifted to lie on the bed and asked, "Better."

"Yes, thank you," his partner said.

Jurao nodded and returned his attention to the man's behind. He licked his hole again, then cautiously pressed his tongue inside. As his best friend had suggested, he thrust with his tongue shallowly, slowly pressing deeper as he did. He used one hand to pump his partner's cock as he did, another to tease one of his nipples, and the other two to hold the gardener's hips steady.

Braelin squirmed and moaned, taking hold of Jurao's horns – which the King did not mind. After some time, he said, "I am… I think I am… ready, Jurao."

Jurao pulled away slowly, not wanting his partner's hands to be cut by the ends of his horns by mistake. Shifting back up as he wiped at his mouth, he took a moment to admire the way his partner looked – flushed and panting, sweat making his skin appear a little shiny in the dim light.

Braelin offered him a smile as he reached down again – using his fingers to spread his hole open a little.

Jurao's tail swished – perhaps he was not the only one who asked for advice. He shifted forward, taking the larger fork of his cock in hand to press it between his partner's fingers.

Braelin groaned, taking his hand away as Jurao pressed further in. His breathing hitched as the King kept pressing forward, and he grabbed Jurao's hands on his hips with a sudden whimper as his back arched.

"Pain," Jurao asked, stilling.

Braelin shook his head – releasing a heavy breath as he relaxed – only to whimper and arch up again before he managed, "The way it… moves… hits-ah."

Jurao tried to place the reaction, then suddenly recalled the mention of a pleasurable spot in several books, as well as Kloy's sexual education lesson, now several months past. Watching his partner arching so suddenly, he asked, "Should I pull out."

"Further," Braelin replied, managing to lock hazy pale blue eyes with Jurao long enough to add, "Press further."

Jurao obliged. It did feel very pleasant – the tight, warm pressure wrapped around his cock as it undulated. He pressed until he hit the fork in his cock, the smaller end wrapping around the shaft of Braelin's cock and making him squirm more.

The King was not sure he had seen his partner cum so quickly or with such force before – and the way his walls clenched around Jurao's cock had the King following quickly after him.

Jurao lay beside his partner as they both panted, idly stroking his stomach as he asked, "Good."

Braelin reached up to wipe at tears at the corner of his eye, smiling over at his partner as he said, "Yes, my heart. Did you enjoy yourself?"

"I did," the King said – reaching for a small towel on the side table to dab at his partner's eyes as he said, "but I see the hardship on your body that had you concerned."

Braelin chuckled, shifting to tuck his head under his partner's chin, "I worried more about your size – I did not consider how you also cannot control how often your cock hit the best spot inside. It was almost too much pleasure, rather than pain."

"I did enjoy myself," Jurao said, "but I think I prefer when you fuck me."

Braelin hummed, and the King could hear the smile in his voice as he said, "I would not mind doing this again – but only occasionally."

"I am fine with that," Jurao said, smiling himself as he pulled up a light blanket so they could both drowse in comfort.