Demon King's Gardener

After the unusually loud breakfast and escorting Braelin to the gardens, Jurao headed to the castle smithy. He’d already sent word to Alae, wanting to get to work right away.

“Huh?” Nevve looked up as the Demon King walked to her forge, “Oh, hey, kid, what’s going on?”

“I wanted to make a broach,” Jurao replied, “But I haven’t made anything in a while, and it would be human-sized.”

Nevve laughed, “Oh? And why do you need to be the one to make a human-sized broach?”

“I realized I have a romantic interest in Braelin,” her nephew replied, “And discovered that a broach is a typical courtship present for humans.”

His aunt laughed again, “Well, best reason to make something yourself is to show someone else how you feel. Take off that cloak and vest so they don’t catch fire and get set up on the forge over there,” she pointed her hammer at an empty forge in the workshop, “And I’ll be over when you’re ready to start.”

“Thank you,” Jurao said, and went to do as instructed.

“Oh, hey Jurao,” Ferrori said - then caught himself, “I mean, good morning, your highness.”

“Good morning,” the Demon King replied, setting his cloak and vest aside. He unstrapped his swords from his waist to keep them from getting in the way as he worked, “Have you been well.”

“Well as ever, working for Nevve,” the man grinned.

“You want me to break your nose the other way?” his aunt called from her forge.

“Might improve the view!” Ivali, another one of the civil smiths, called out with a laugh.

“Couldn’t hurt it!” Ferrori agreed, laughing, “But anyway, you really do have a crush on that human you made Royal Gardener?”

“I do,” Jurao replied, finding the tools he would need and setting them on the nearby workbench. Then he turned to the fire, “It is… confusing.”

“Yeah, all crushes are,” Ferrori nodded, “Even if you’re a veteran like Ivali.”

“Hey!” Ivali shot back, “Which of us has five partners and which has none, eh?”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” Ferrori laughed, and jerked a thumb at the other man, “But hey, looks like Ivali is volunteering advice!”

“Oh, the kid - I mean, his highness doesn’t need my help,” Ivali waved a hand, “He’s here making a personalized gift! He’s got this!”

“Is that all it takes…?” Quinesti, who had been an older apprentice at the same time as Jurao, asked with a sigh.

“I’m hearing a lot more chatting than hammer falls,” Nevve warned.

“Yes, ma’am,” the pair said in unison, upping their work tempo.

Jurao missed the workshop sometimes - he’d grown up apprenticing here under his aunt, and most of the older smiths still just treated him like Nevve’s nephew. If he was completely honest, he liked it better than the way most people treated him as King.

“Alright, looks like you’re ready for your refresher course,” Nevve said, walking over as he finished his setup.

“Yes, please,” Jurao replied.

“Now remember, you’re going to be working in small scale, so use your smaller set of arms,” his aunt said, “You’ll be a little more dextrous that way. I’ve got some copper lying around unless you want to be really obvious with gold.”

“Copper is fine,” the Demon King replied, “I don’t think Braelin would understand the significance behind gold anyway.”

“Probably not,” Nevve agreed readily.

Just like when he was her apprentice, Nevve walked him through the process of making what he wanted - watching him work on a few test versions and offering corrections before leaving him to his own devices. Doing something with his hands that wasn’t paperwork was nice - and it was pleasantly warm inside the workshop.

“Your highness,” Alae appeared at the entrance to the workshop, “It’s time for the midday meal, your highness.”

Jurao looked up from his work in surprise, “Ah, Alae.”

“Who’s that?” Ivali asked, mostly to himself.

“Jurao’s secretary,” Nevve replied, walking over to her nephew’s forge, “Oh, hey, done with it? It’s a simple piece, so I’m not surprised it didn’t take you too long.”

“I think so,” Jurao replied, handing the piece he’d been working on over to her for inspection.

“You can come in, by the way,” Nevve called over to Alae, looking the piece over.

Alae nodded, but stepped back and held the door open, “I took the liberty of having food brought for the entire shop.”

“Thank you, Alae,” Jurao said, watching as servants wheeled in two carts of food trays.

“Of course, your highness,” Alae bowed, “I knew you would prefer not to be the only one served.”

Ferrori whistled, “Damn, little Jurao with a secretary…”

“He’s not so little anymore,” Quenesti huffed.

“And it’s King, anyway,” Ivali laughed.

“Would you like to join us, Alae,” the Demon King asked, since his secretary had come so far out of his way.

“I would be honored, your highness,” Alae said.

“Looks good, kid,” Nevve said, returning the broach, “Oi, you lot just going to sit there? We have guests, so let’s grab a table!”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ivali and Ferrori said together, finding a stopping point in their work before doing as instructed.

Seated around a few workbenches pushed together into a makeshift table, stools brought over for chairs, Jurao checked his work over himself as they ate.

“So what’s this human guy like, anyway?” Ivali asked, “I mean, you’ve never been interested in anyone else before, so he’s gotta be… something.”

Alae chuckled but didn’t offer an answer.

“He’s very quiet,” Jurao replied, finally putting the broach away, “And he has a very gentle presence - when I’m not looking at him, he almost seems to disappear.”

“That’s true,” Nevve huffed good-naturedly, “He’s almost a plant himself.”

Jurao smiled in agreement, “He’s also extremely single-minded - everything he does is for the sake of the gardens.”

The other three smiths were staring at him.

“You’re smiling,” Quenesti frowned, “Stop.”

“Hey now,” Ferrori punched the other man’s shoulder.

“What? It’s weird,” Quenesti replied.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you tell him to stop,” Ivali laughed.

“His highness often smiles when Lord Braelin is involved,” Alae said, the only one of them sitting up properly.

“Huh,” Ferrori said, resting his chin in a hand, “Maybe I’ll make time to go out to the gardens then - see for myself.”

“Wait, the human’s a lord?” Quenesti asked.

“There seemed to be confusion in how to address Braelin,” Jurao clarified, “So he was granted a Minor Lordship to accompany his station.”

“Makes sense,” Nevve shrugged, “So you going to go pick up a cloak to go with that broach?”

Jurao hummed, not having considered that.

“I could have a selection of fabrics delivered to your office in a few hours, your highness,” Alae offered.

“No, thank you, Alae,” the Demon King replied, “I haven’t made it into the city since my return, so I believe I will take the opportunity.”

“As you wish,” Alae smiled.

“What I don’t really get,” Quinesti huffed, “Is why someone who doesn’t notice other peoples’ looks is always surrounded by attractive people.”

“Careful, your jealousy is showing,” Ferrori chuckled.

“What do you mean,” Jurao asked.

“Just what I said,” Quenesti rolled his eyes, “There’s always been Feyl, then Minaz, now you’ve got this guy…”

Alae smiled sweetly, “You find me attractive?”

Quenesti choked on his food, face darkening with a blush.

“Brought that on yourself,” Ferrori remarked.

Ivali just started laughing.

Jurao hummed, “I still do not understand the embarrassment associated with attraction.”

“No?” Nevve asked, arching a brow.

Her nephew nodded, “It seems like an odd thing to be embarrassed about - if you are attracted to someone, is that not a compliment.”

Quinesti groaned, “I thought we were done with this…”

“Sure,” Nevve replied, “If they take it that way. If it’s someone you dislike, it doesn’t always feel good to know they’re attracted to you, though.”

“It can also be an admission of weakness,” Alae said, “As many people would do things they normally wouldn’t for someone they’re attracted to.”

“That’s a scary way to put it,” Ivali chuckled, “Not wrong, though - there’s also just fear you’ll be mocked for your attraction.”

“Why would someone mock another for their attraction,” Jurao frowned.

“You should ask Feyl,” Quenesti replied.

Alae chuckled, “What a wicked thing to imply.”

Jurao wasn’t sure what the implication was.

“You know how some people are just mean?” Nevve sighed, “That’s why.”

“Ah,” Jurao sighed, “Attraction is a complicated business.”

“It certainly is,” Ivali agreed, “Would be so much easier if we could control who it happens with, too - romantically or physically.”

“Not that it hasn’t worked out fine for you,” Ferrori scoffed.

“Have you been attracted to anyone before, Aunt Nevve,” Jurao asked.

“You remember that Beast Hunter that brought you here after Jeakke died?” Nevve asked.

The Demon King shook his head.

“You were pretty young,” his aunt chuckled, “Anyway, since he couldn’t hear me out about Jeakke when he dropped you off, Omarri wrote me later inviting me to send him hate mail. Kept up a correspondence ever since - meet up when he’s in town. Love that man, though neither of us is the settling type.”

“You never told me that before,” Jurao said.

“You never told any of us that before…” Ferrori grinned.

“Well it’s not the business of you lot,” Nevve replied, waving a hand at her smiths, “But as for you, kid, things between us didn’t turn romantic until you’d already gone and joined the army. Didn’t seem to matter much then.”

The Demon King thought this made sense, and turned to his other side to ask, “What about you, Alae - if you don’t mind my asking.”

“I don’t mind, your highness, but I still prefer not to answer,” his secretary replied.

Jurao nodded, “Of course.”

“Why the sudden interest?” Ferrori asked, “You grew up hearing me complain to Ivali and watching Quenesti fumble, so I get why you didn’t ask us…”

“Hey!” Quenesti said.

“I suppose I am just… attempting to understand my own feelings better,” Jurao replied, “I asked Feyl and Minaz for advice, but they told me what worked for them would not work for me, and I did not end up hearing what they did anyway.”

“They’re not really wrong,” Nevve chuckled, “If you tried copying Feyl, you’d probably hurt yourself.”

“Is his method that strenuous,” Jurao puzzled.

Alae chuckled, “Your highness, it is simply a method which requires a great deal of experience.”

“I see,” the Demon King accepted, “By the way, Feyl believes you hate me.”

“Oh, good,” Alae replied, “I’ve been working very hard to make him believe that.”

“Why,” Jurao frowned.

“It’s funny,” his secretary replied, then smiled at him, “I don’t hate you, by the way. At least, not anymore.”

“You used to hate me,” the Demon King asked.

Alae nodded, “Oh yes - I thought you were putting on an act of treating everyone the same and rewarding work over status. Back when you’d gotten your first officer commission and I was still just a message runner in the Administration Office, that is.”

“I remember that,” Jurao nodded.

“Considering you asked for me as your secretary by name when you became an officer, I should hope you remembered,” Alae chuckled, “Why did you pick me then, your highness?”

“I found you easy to get along with,” the Demon King replied.

“So simple,” Quenesti sighed.

“Indeed,” Alae agreed, but in a more good-natured way, “Though I suppose finding people easy to work with is a challenge for you at times, your highness.”

Jurao nodded, “It often can be - I have been told I accidentally threatened to fire someone when I only meant to suggest lessons.”

“Ah, yes, Voga,” Alae chuckled, “In any case, when working for you directly, I realized you were not acting, and so my ire quite disappeared. Still, annoying Feyl is just a hobby by this point.”

“I still do not understand the amusement,” the Demon King replied.

“Because, look,” Quenesti started, “Feyl’s not the most terrible demon in the realm, but he’s pretty full of himself, and it’s just satisfying to get the edge on people like that.”

Alae smiled at the smith, “Precisely - he’s also just an ass, especially when being overprotective of you, your highness.”

“That’s for sure,” Quenesti grumbled, looking away from Alae with another blush.

“The smithy isn’t for flirting,” Nevve huffed.

“I wasn’t!” Quenesti said.

“That’s disappointing,” Alae said, “Since I was.”

Quenesti choked again.

“Give the kid a break - I need him to be useful for the rest of the day,” Nevve rolled her eyes.

Alae chuckled, “As you wish, Head Civil Smith.”

“Ugh,” Nevve intoned, “Just Nevve is fine. Not you lot - still boss to you.”

Ivali and Ferrori shared a disappointed look at that.

“Anyway, if you want to make it into town and back in time for the evening meal, you better get moving,” Nevve said.

“Ah, yes,” Jurao replied, getting to his feet.

“I’ll handle making sure this all gets cleaned up, your highness,” Alae said.

“You’ve been very helpful regarding the situation with Braelin, Alae,” Jurao noticed - the man didn’t usually go so far out of his way, which the Demon King didn’t mind. It meant he was focusing on his actual job duties.

“I have ulterior motives, really,” his secretary replied, “If a romantic relationship does develop between you and Lord Braelin, it could lead to a great improvement in how inspired demons like me are viewed.”

“That makes sense,” Jurao nodded, then waved, “Thank you for the help, aunt.”

Nevve hummed an acknowledgment, getting to her feet, “Come on, then - you can all put a tray back on a cart, right?”