Demon King's Gardener

As more and more attendees arrived, the individual greetings began to blur together in Jurao's mind.

Feyl's siblings were all in attendance, of course – Gnene arrived with their partners, a doctor and a priest of Nosu, both more openly jovial to their more reserved manner; Wogar arrived with Lord Egae, the young Armory Master, who was unable to stop casting admiring glances her way; Dasti arrived alone, being unpartnered at the moment; Kaenaz was naturally accompanied by his cavalry man suitor Scilae, the latter of which appearing nervous, being unused to noble events; which left the youngest Engaegasculi sibling, Apae, who only reached adulthood only a little over a decade ago.

"Good morning, Your Highness," ce greeted with a bow. As cer name of 'perfect' implied, Apae was very close to Maenscul in appearance – yellow skin with white spotted markings, light blue hair that fell down to cer waist in natural waves, and even white eyes set in their black sclera.

"Good morning, Lord Apae," Jurao replied, inclining his head. He added, "Your brother is socializing on my behalf, but I can call him if you wish to speak."

Braelin looked up at that – as Apae was the only sibling of Feyl's he had yet to meet.

"That isn't necessary, Your Highness," Apae said as ce straightened, cer court smile a bit… dreamier than cer siblings. Ce added, "I know my other siblings are close with our brother, but we hardly know each other."

Jurao knew this was true – Feyl had moved out of the estate when Apae was still an infant, so they had not formed a strong bond. Though Feyl had tried to reach out to cer, Apae was resistant, likely due to the influence of cer fathers.

"Of course," the King said, knowing that their lack of connection was a source of regret for Feyl, but not knowing how to help close such a rift.

"Good morning, Your Highness!" Ayelma greeted, pulling Gaele along with her and narrowly avoiding running into Apae.

"G-good morning," Gaele said as well – face dark as fos looked anywhere but at the elf-human young woman.

"Good morning, Aya, Lordis Gaele," Jurao replied, amused by the obvious display of Gaele's affection for his partner's sister. Now that he knew fos held such feelings, at least.

Ayelma hugged one of Gaele's arms as she said, "There's a bet started on whether or not Maenscul will attend the feast – did you ask them to come?"

"I did not," Jurao replied, "I overheard the start of it – someone heard Kloy say he would not be surprised if they did, though he did not intend to start a bet."

"All of the Department Heads have bet they will," Gaele said with a chuckle, "but I think it's just so Kloy won't lose as many scales when they don't."

"That's why I bet they would," Feyl said, appearing at the King's side. With a slight smile, he asked, "Did you ask Aya to attend with you, Gaele?"

"You know I asked fos!" Ayelma said, sticking out her tongue at the valet.

Gaele chuckled nervously, face going a bit darker.

Feyl also chuckled, in amusement – though his more relaxed smile stiffened into his court smile as his eyes moved to Apae and he said, "Ah, good morning, Apae."

"Feyl," Apae replied, with a small nod of acknowledgment.

"Oh, is this your youngest sibling?" Ayelma asked – then also asked, "Wait, is Gaele or Apae older?"

Apae frowned, eyeing the pair next to cer.

"Apae is, though only by two years," Feyl replied, "And yes, ce is my younger sibling."

"I'm sorry, what do our ages have to do with each other?" Apae asked.

"Gaele is Feyl's sibling, too," Aya replied, "From his dad."

Apae's expression smoothed back into cer dreamy court smile as ce said, "Ah, I see, so fos doesn't really count, then."

"That's not-!" Aya started, stopped by Gaele putting a hand on her shoulder – surprising them all, by Jurao's estimate.

"I know, um, everyone else is happy being a 'Sculi sibling,'" Gaele said, glancing at Feyl before they added, "but that's because Feyl doesn't want to be distinguished from the family name, and they love him so much. So I, uh, don't really mind if Apae doesn't want to count me as a Sculi – since I'm not one. That doesn't make me not Feyl's sibling, so… you know?"

Feyl stared at his youngest sibling for a moment – then he snorted and his court persona melted away just a bit, as it had been doing more often as late. He reached out and patted fos head, but walked away rather than thank fos directly.

Apae frowned after him, appearing confused.

"Anyway," Ayelma said, pulling Gaele back a little to look behind them as she said, "Kylse! You have to greet the King, too!"

Kylse looked as nervous as Gaele – and his face was slightly redder as he kept glancing between his two guards, both dressed in little for the occasion. He cleared his throat as Aya called him, stepping forward to bow and say, "Good morning, Your Highness."

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The petty prince did not strictly need to greet Jurao by protocol – but the King suspected Ayelma had used the call as a distraction, so fewer people would see her jump up a little to kiss Gaele's cheek, making their face go darker and their deer tail swish.

Pretending he had not witnessed the young demon's pleased embarrassment, Jurao said, "Good morning, Petty Prince Kylse. How are you today."

"I'm," Kylse considered a moment, looking back at his guards again before he said, "doing well, Your Highness. Ah, how are… you?"

"I am also well," Jurao replied, "Is this your first time attending a Golden Sun Feast."

It took a moment before the young human man flinched and said, "Yes! I mean, uh – yes, Your Highness. I hadn't attended any of the feasts in Noskanar. Joron didn't think I was ready for it."

Invaokka snorted, the bull beastly demon crossing his arms and looking around the hall like most guards would to assess potential threats.

"For the political aspect or the sex part?" Ayelma asked.

Kylse made a choked sound before he said, "Both, I think?"

Braelin gave his sister a wry look that did not suggest approval despite his amusement.

His sister just grinned and shrugged.

"Have Lavven's writings helped you with your magic, Kylse," Jurao asked, rubbing his partner's arm.

"They have, yes," Kylse said, and cleared his throat to add, "Thank you for letting me read them, Your Highness."

There was a slight commotion as Meir'ril also arrived – along with the three dragons, Maukul, Souar, and Lave.

"I didn't think he was serious," Ayelma said, still grinning. She pulled Gaele down into another bow with her before she ran off to speak with her brother – who appeared to be another embarrassed party, though none of the dragons appeared distressed. Meir'ril had asked Jurao if it would be all right to invite the trio, as it appeared he was casually courting all three, and the King had seen no reason why it would not be. Though it did appear to amuse most of the elf-human young man's family members.

Jurao had not noticed when Apae departed, but he supposed if ce had no other greetings to offer, there was no need for concern on that end.

The other petty royal representatives also greeted him, of course. Petty Prince Voyvok's greeting was stiff and short, though given his dislike of Braelin, this was hardly surprising. Petty Princess Nevoni and her wife Okkik were more enthusiastic – and very pleased with a bottle of Nectar of Desire mead. Petty Princelin Doys was subdued, as was cer natural temperament, and noted that cer sister Zizis was busy speaking with Meir'ril and the dragons. The gardening staff member Exkla, elven priestess Edhaidua, and Iesculan acolyte Sculos had joined them. Dancing had started by then, and Ayelma had pulled Gaele onto the floor along with Demarri, Kylse, and the human petty prince's guards.

Petty Prince Saerma greeted the King with his two siren and one demon partner – and trotted away upon spotting Feyl to speak to the valet about the magic engine they were both working on, his partners apologizing after him.

"G-good morning, Your Highness," Petty Princelin Voysh greeted, accompanied by fos guard and mentor Aogae as Saerma's partners went to catch up with him.

"Good morning, Petty Princelin Voysh," Jurao replied, currently holding Braelin against his side as subtly as possible to keep his partner on his feet. He asked, "How have your lessons with Kloy been."

"Good, Your Highness," Voysh said – and hesitantly added, "Ah, Sun-style is… not so different from Water-style."

"I have heard it is believed Vasculas adapted Water from Sun," Jurao replied, "So similarities in the form would not surprise me."

"Excuse me, Your Highness," Vajur said, offering Jurao a slight bow – though he was addressing Voysh.

"Oh, ah – yes? Um," Voysh hesitated, looking to Aogae.

"Lord Vajur, the King's spymaster," Aogae supplied lowly.

"L-lord Vajur," Voysh said.

One of Vajur's eyes twitched – likely at the idea that one of the petty royals had not memorized all of Jurao's inner circle – but his face remained mostly impassive as he said, "I have been meaning to offer to teach you Star-style, Your Highness."

Aogae's brow ridges rose in surprise.

"R-really?" Voysh asked.

"I asked Ovvislae if they wanted their style taught as an art," Vajur replied, tail twitching, "It would seem they do."

Soth chuckled, the kinfolk bowing to Jurao and asking, "May I approach, Yer Highness?"

"Of course," Jurao replied.

Soth nodded to him – patting Vajur's knee as they walked away from him and up onto the dais. They took out a small vial, pulling the cork out with a sharp claw before holding it up while softly saying, "Drink this, Braelin – take tha edge off long 'nough ta get through yer dance."

Petal took the vial from the kinfolk, as it had Braelin's arms tangled in its tendrils, and Jurao reached over to help steady the vial so his partner could drink the contents.

Voysh had been staring at Vajur throughout this exchange, a bit wide-eyed.

Aogae gently elbowed fos in the back.

The princelin started and said, "Yes!"

It was said loud enough to cause several heads to turn in their direction.

Voysh's face darkened as fos looked down at fos hooves, and said, "I mean, I would be honored, Lord Vajur."

Vajur snorted, bowing before he turned to walk away, saying, "We can work out a time at a later date, Your Highness."

Soth accepted the empty vial back, patting his friend's elbow and asking, "Better?"

"A little," Braelin said softly – cautiously putting his weight back on his own feet, as Jurao held him barely aloft.

"Thank you, Soth," Jurao said, feeling the way his partner continued to relax.

The kinfolk offered him a wink and said, "Won' last long – bout an hour? Vajur said that'd be enough fer the ceremony 'n dance without compromisin' yer after feast activities."

Braelin was able to chuckle and say, "Thank you, Soth."

Soth offered Jurao another bow as they stepped off the dais, jogging after their partner.

Voysh had turned fos gaze to the King and his partner, saying, "I… heard you get nervous at large events, Lord Braelin."

"Yes," Braelin replied, voice still softer than usual.

Voysh opened fos mouth – then closed it, though fos still looked as though fos wished to say more.

"Have you met with Lordis Laesar, Lord Aogae," Jurao asked, to keep the silence from carrying too long.

After an additional moment, Aogae said, "Yes, Your Highness. I am glad ce is doing well."

From Kloy, it appeared the doctor's parent was rather openly flirting with cer former guard – which flustered Aogae, though in a more subtle way than Gnori or Gaele's flustered states, also by Kloy's account.

"Um," Voysh said – then bowed and said, "I… hope the feast goes well, Your Highness."

The princelin then turned and darted back into the crowd – Aogae taking a steadying breath before he also bowed to the King and followed.

Grand Priestis Losse stepped onto the dais where Maenscul's throne sat – nodding to Jurao to indicate it was time to start the ceremony.

"Ready," Jurao asked his partner.

Braelin sighed, but was able to offer the King a small smile as he replied, "As I can be."

Jurao nodded – stepping away to take his partner's hand before leading the way across the room.

It was time for the feast to truly begin.