Jurao approached the head staff dining hall with no expectations, which was why he was surprised to find a commotion in the hallway.
“I was in the gardens all day!” Gnori yelled, “There’s no way you were there!”
“But… he was?” Gaele, standing behind Braelin and looking uncertain, replied.
Braelin didn’t seem particularly intimidated by the captain of the castle guard - if anything, he seemed lost in thought.
“Honestly, Gnori, do we have to do this?” Hujur sighed, standing behind Gaele, “Could we at least move inside…?”
“The pride of the castle guard is on the line!” Gnori yelled, “I’m not going to let him lie and just-!”
“When you entered the part of the garden with the mushrooms and the hanging moss,” Braelin interrupted, “You tripped over a root. I’m sorry, the plants were being mean.”
Gnori froze - since his back was to Jurao, the King had no idea what expression was on the man’s face, but he could guess by the silence that it was true.
Jurao chuckled in surprise - it was difficult to render Gnori speechless.
The captain turned and flinched, “Your highness!”
Gaele quickly bowed, “Excuse me! I’ll take my leave!”
They ran off, dodging around Hujur and turning the first corner they came to.
“That’s the Gentle Garden,” Jurao said, approaching the three remaining.
“That makes sense,” Braelin nodded.
The Gentle Garden was deceptively named - it simply caused the most painless death compared to the others. It contained many fruit trees, which were harmless on their own - but when swayed by the trees, the Lullaby Moss produced a sound that caused vertigo in those within range. The Nightmare Shrooms released sleep-inducing spores, adding a second measure to cause invaders to lay down and sleep. If neither of these worked, the Stoneblooms produced pollen that caused paralysis. All of this gave the roots of the Blanket Bushes time to wrap around the victims and pull them underground.
Jurao had never actively considered the deadly symbiosis each garden had been designed with until now.
“Does that satisfy you, Gnori,” Jurao asked.
“… what if the plants just told him that happened?” the captain of the guard challenged.
Braelin frowned, “They can’t talk; they’re plants. None of the ones that can repeat sounds are in that part of the garden, either.”
Jurao chuckled again, turning his head to be more polite.
Hujur was staring at him in surprise, and looked over at Gnori.
Jurao looked back in time to see the two share a look of confusion before clearing his throat to say, “There you have it. Better luck tomorrow, Gnori.”
“Uh… sure,” Gnori said, scratching the back of his neck.
Jurao headed into the dining room, gently pushing Braelin along as he asked, “How is working with Gaele so far?”
“Good,” Braelin said, walking along, “They seem to know what they’re doing.”
“Gaele is such a dear,” Gavven added with a giggle and wave, “I don’t know how you knew to pick them, but I’m sure they’ll be quite happy in their new position!”
“Is that who was trying to calm Gnori down?” Minaz asked. Once again, she had shifted one seat over - the King wondered if this would become a permanent arrangement. He wouldn’t mind, though it was technically improper for his Right Hand to be seated one over.
“It was,” Jurao confirmed, taking his seat.
“And what were you laughing about?” Minaz asked, smiling a little and glancing at Braelin as though she hadn’t heard the conversation outside.
“That was you?” Festi asked, “I don’t think I’ve heard you laugh before, my lord.”
Ah, is that why Hujur and Gnori were confused? Jurao thought, and said, “Nothing important.”
“Everyone’s been talking about seeing the new Royal Gardener out and about,” Gavven giggled, “I had no idea the plants could be affectionate, Braelin.”
“Maybe because no one likes to go near them,” Braelin replied, examining the food that was brought out, “And insults them.”
“… they do eat people,” Jouvi said, “I’ve lost three workers over the past two hundred years.”
“You planted them to eat people,” Braelin said, still looking at the table, “Then you starve them and get mad when they eat people. You don’t even water, prune, or weed them - and you call them creepy for protecting all of you when they’re doing their best despite all of that.”
For a moment, no one seemed to know how to reply to that sentiment. Jurao looked around the table, taking in the various expressions of shock - either from the statements themselves or from the usually reserved Braelin being so forceful. Well, not that his tone had been accusing or louder than usual - more confused.
“You’re right,” Jurao said, turning his attention to his Gardener, “We take them for granted - I’ll go to apologize after we’ve eaten.”
Braelin looked up in his own surprise, then blinked a few times before smiling, “They’d like that.”
He has a nice smile, Jurao thought.
“… I guess we should all apologize,” Minaz said, looking away like there was suddenly a bright source of light in the room.
The other heads of staff looked away in the same manner, begrudgingly agreeing.
“Well!” Gnori slammed a fist on the table, “I never called them creepy!”
“No,” Braelin agreed, looking down again, “They like you since you give them any corpses from outside the wall, even though you’re scared of them.”
“Aw, that was nice of you, Gnori!” Gavven giggled, reaching over to push his shoulder.
“It was just the easiest way to handle it!” Gnori said, cheeks darkening in an embarrassed blush, “It’s not like I was trying to be nice!”
“I guess it was unfair to blame something starving for trying to survive…” Jouvi huffed, “Not like they’ve made an attempt in the last decade anyway…”
“We could put up a sign?” Hujur said.
“A sign?” Festi sighed, crossing their arms, “Saying what, ‘please be nice to the plants’?”
“That was the idea,” Hujur shrugged.
“That would be nice,” Braelin added distractedly.
“This is ridiculous,” Festi rolled their eyes and muttered, “Just because the king has a-”
Kloy cut them off by bumping his shoulder against theirs, smiling as he said, “Everyone of us made changes when we took over our positions - I don’t see why it would be different for someone in an entirely new one.”
Festi grumbled without making another retort.
“What do I have, Festi,” Jurao asked.
Once again, the table fell silent - but this time, all eyes were on Festi. Jurao thought it was interesting how many different expressions there were. Kloy had covered his left eyes with one hand, and next to him, Jouvi frowned. Next to Jurao, Hujur looked as though he’d swallowed something sour. On the other side of the table, Minaz looked like she was accusing Festi of something, holding up one hand; next to her, Gnori glared, and next to him, Gavven grinned in delight. Braelin looked just as confused as Jurao was.
“Yes, what does the king have, Festi?” Gavven giggled.
Festi scoffed, “A crush, obviously.”
This seemed to cause everyone to groan, though Jurao wasn’t sure why.
“A crush,” the Demon King tilted his head, “On who.”
This caused a second, louder groan from the table.
“See!” Gnori said, slamming a fist on the table, “He doesn’t! So all of you stop causing weird rumors!”
Gavven was lost in a peal of giggles, putting eir head on the table as eir shoulders shook.
“Why would you say it?” Minaz sighed.
“I don’t know,” Festi sighed back, “I thought maybe this time would be different.”
“Does that mean we can move on from this topic?” Jouvi asked, “Please. I already have to go apologize to plants tonight.”
Jurao looked to see how Braelin was handling the ruckus.
The human caught his gaze and just shrugged, looking around the table with interest.
“My lord,” Hujur said gently, glancing at Braelin and back to the King, “Do you really not…?”
“Not what,” Jurao asked.
Hujur sighed, looking defeated for some reason, “No, never mind…”
The rest of the meal passed uneventfully, and Jurao led the way to the gardens himself when it was finished. They made an odd little parade - it wasn’t often that they all walked together outside of official business. Nobles and servants alike whispered to each other, some running off to report that the Heads of Staff were on the move with the King.
With so many eyes on him, Braelin stuck close to Jurao’s side, eyes on the ground. The King kept a hand on the human’s shoulder, keeping him from running into anything.
This made Gavven giggle even more, which Gnori scolded em for - not that e minded him. Jurao still didn’t understand what they all seemed to be caught up about, though.
When they emerged into the gardens, they had certainly garnered an audience.
Feyl broke away from the crowd, a strained smile on his face as he looked down at Braelin before looking up at Jurao and asking through his sharp-toothed smile, “What. Are. You. Doing?”
“Braelin pointed out we had been taking the garden’s protection for granted,” Jurao said, “I said I would apologize, and the others decided to do the same.”
“Oh, I see!” Feyl said, a vein in his temple throbbing, “And you’re going to do so in front of everyone, are you?”
“It would set a good precedent,” Jurao decided.
Feyl put two of his hands together in front of his face and took a deep breath - then pointed them forward as he released it, “Okay. Fine. Apologize to the plants. But first… Braelin, you obviously don’t need to apologize, so step over here with me, hm?”
Braelin didn’t resist as Feyl guided him to the side - in fact, he seemed relieved to be out of the center of attention.
Feyl’s going to yell at me later, Jurao thought - he wasn’t sure why yet, but Feyl was always very clear when he explained what form of decorum the King had unwittingly broken. Setting those thoughts aside for the time being, Jurao turned back towards the garden - walking into the Labyrinth Hedge properly.
“Since long before I was King, you’ve been protecting this castle from invaders,” Jurao said, reaching out to touch the nearest bush, “And we have mistreated you and taken you for granted. We have insulted you for doing the very task we demanded of you - and for that, I apologize. Thank you for your hard work.”
The hedges shook gently - and Jurao watched his Heads of Staff step up as well.
“A general shouldn’t mistrust a soldier for being too efficient,” Minaz said, and bowed her head, “Sorry.”
“As groundskeeper, I should of at least made sure you got fed regularly,” Jouvi sighed, “So… sorry.”
“We’re really doing this?” Festi rolled their eyes, then sighed, “Sorry I called you creepy - I was just worried you would try and eat me.”
“That’s not a very good apology,” Gavven giggled, then turned and made a little bow to the hedge, “Sorry I was mean to you and avoided you - I thought of you as an enemy when I should have thought of you as a friend! Thank you for protecting us, darlings.”
“Sorry I think you’re scary!” Gnori said, “I just know I couldn’t take you in a fight, and I hate it, even though we’re on the same side!”
“Thank you for protecting the castle,” Kloy said, bowing his head, “And I apologize if I’ve spoken out of turn.”
“Oh my…” Hujur sighed, then made his own little bow, “I apologize as well - thank you for all your hard work.”
At the very least, Jurao thought, looking over the murmuring crowd, This will solidify that we consider Braelin an equal as a Head of Staff.
Among the onlookers, he spotted Gaele and their father, Halvern. Halvern looked frozen in shock, while Gaele wore a contrasting look of pure awe. Jurao wasn’t sure what the reason for either look was - all he’d done was accept a fault and take responsibility for it.
The hedges shook some more - then suddenly burst into blooms of white flowers. Jurao blinked in surprise - but remained where he was. Gnori shouted and fell on his behind, while Minaz took a wary step back. Gavven was suddenly hiding behind Festi, who grimaced. Jouvi and Hujur took their own uncertain steps back, while Kloy remained still. The crowd’s murmuring spiked in equal surprise.
“It’s not the white ones that cause confusion,” Braelin said, soft voice cutting through despite the disturbance.
Jurao looked over, spotting the human standing next to Feyl near the entrance to the hedge. Feyl himself looked concerned but uncertain.
Braelin stepped forward, walking over to the King’s side. He reached out a hand, and a small branch reached out - depositing a flower in his hand, “The yellow ones cause confusion. These ones are just to say thank you.”
“I didn’t know they produced different colored blooms,” Jurao said, pulling his hand back to find a handful of flowers.
“It’s just white and yellow,” Braelin said, “But the white ones are harmless. Most of the plants can make their blooms harmless if they want. But anytime they showed flowers around other people, they were gotten rid of without checking. They like having flowers, though.”
“I see,” Jurao said.
Cautiously, the others relaxed, approaching the hedges themself. Slowly, as it was clear Braelin was right, the onlookers approached as well. Jurao looked on as they examined the new blooms and talked amongst themselves, some taking the example of the rest of them and making apologies.
“This is nice,” Braelin said.
“Hm,” Jurao hummed inquisitively.
“The plants like people,” his Gardener added, bowing his head obligingly as the hedge bestowed him with a flower crown, “But most of the time, people run away when they get near. I think that’s why they accepted me so easily.”
“I suppose,” Jurao postulated, “That means you take care of each other.”
Braelin nodded, “It felt less lonely after losing my family.”
“What happened,” Jurao asked.
“We got separated during the overthrow of the Jost throne,” Braelin replied, frowning, “I don’t know what happened to anyone - I hope they’re alright.”
“It would be difficult for them to find you while you’re in another realm,” Jurao said, considering, “I could ask my scouts to look for them.”
“No, that would probably be troublesome for them,” Braelin said, “But thank you.”
Jurao nodded, I’ll just have them keep their ears open for anyone looking for Braelin, then - it wouldn’t be troublesome just to answer.
“Braelin,” Hujur said, approaching them.
The human looked over, tilting his head.
“Please - before it gets too late, allow me to show you to your room in the castle,” Hujur said.
“Alright,” Braelin said, then inclined his head to Jurao, “Good night, my lord.”
Jurao nodded back, watching as Hujur led his Gardener away.
“You’re going to have people listen for anyone looking for Braelin in the human realm, aren’t you?” Minaz asked, walking up to him.
“Yes,” Jurao said, “He has already cared for the gardens for a decade - it seems like a small thank you for his hard work.”
Minaz snorted, “And you are so full of gratitude tonight - well, I suppose it’s simple enough. I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you,” Jurao said, looking at the blooming hedges again.
“You really,” Minaz sighed, “Need to become more aware of yourself, my lord.”
Jurao blinked at her - she’d said it before, over their years together, but he still wasn’t sure what she meant by it.
“Don’t mind it,” Minaz said, waving vaguely as she walked off, “Good night, my lord.”
“Good night,” Jurao said.
