Volume 3: In Which a Demon King Meets His Romantic Partner's Family: Demon King's Gardener, #3

By Rori Thornton

Jurao and Braelin are, after all the hijinks, officially courting romantically. But their story is far from over...

 

The first members of Braelin's scattered family - the elf-human twins Meir'ril and Ayelma, along with Braelin's fully human uncle, Owren - arrive in the Demon Realm. All are glad to be reunited, but it seems to stir up some bad memories for the Royal Gardener...

 

Soon after, the envoy from the Temple of Iescula, Goddess of Seiges and Plants, arrives - and he's not happy about the human gardener tending his Lady's beloved plants...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aurora Thornton
• Release date: Jun 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223259848

Book preview

Volume 3: In Which a Demon King Meets His Romantic Partner's Family

Demon King's Gardener, Volume 3

Rori Thornton

Published by Aurora Thornton, 2023.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

VOLUME 3: IN WHICH A DEMON KING MEETS HIS ROMANTIC PARTNER'S FAMILY

First edition. June 21, 2023.

Copyright © 2023 Rori Thornton.

ISBN: 979-8223259848

Written by Rori Thornton.

Also by Rori Thornton

Demon King's Gardener

Volume 1: In Which a Demon King Does Not Have a Romantic Interest in his Human Gardener

Volume 2: In Which a Demon King Has a Realization and Attempts to Court His Human Gardener

Volume 3: In Which a Demon King Meets His Romantic Partner's Family

Volume 4: In Which a Demon King Takes Care of His Romantic Partner

Volume 5: In Which a Demon King and His Partner Do Something Exciting

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Also By Rori Thornton

In Which a Dagger is Presented

In Which the Twins and Uncle Arrive

In Which a Family Catches Up

In Which Braelin Talks About the Past

In Which Minaz and Jurao Tell a Story

In Which Maenscul Has Something to Say

In Which Breakfast is Had in the Gardens

In Which Jurao Asks for Guidance

In Which an Unhappy Priest is Overruled

In Which the Rambling Crushfern Gets a Name

In Which Milve Tours the Gardens

In Which Everything Will Be Alright

SIDE STORY: The Scout and the Prince

Continue Reading

Further Reading: Volume 4: In Which a Demon King Takes Care of His Romantic Partner

In Which a Dagger is Presented

WHEN JURAO ESCORTED Braelin back to the gardens, he was surprised to see his aunt and Ferrori waiting on the veranda.

Aunt Nevve, the Demon King frowned.

Hey, brat, Nevve replied, with a lazy grin, I hear congratulations are in order.

Ah, yes, thank you, Jurao replied.

Braelin sent his assistant to ask me to come out here for some work on his cottage, his aunt said.

And I tagged along to satisfy my curiosity, Ferrori added, sketching a bow, Nice to meet you, Lord Braelin.

Braelin frowned - but it only took a moment for his expression to clear, Yes, right, I did. Nice to meet you, ah...?

Ferrori, one of the senior civil smiths, the man replied.

Braelin inclined his head in acknowledgment.

What work were you planning on, Jurao asked curiously.

Well, Braelin looked aside, scratching at his chin.

Given he seemed to have forgotten asking Nevve to meet him, the King wasn’t surprised he also needed a moment to remember what he’d asked her to meet for. His aunt didn’t offer an explanation, still grinning - perhaps Gaele hadn’t given her any details on that front. Ferrori seemed nervous, but the Demon King had no idea why that would be.

Ah, his gardener was clearly struck with realization, If my family does come here, they’ll need somewhere to stay. I might not use the cottage much, but...

I see, Jurao nodded, That makes sense.

Ferrori snorted, then coughed to cover it, It is the only human-sized accommodation in the castle...

Go on - we’ll talk about it where the plants can handle anyone throwing a temper tantrum, Nevve rolled her eyes, shooing her nephew off with one hand.

Jurao nodded to her and reached out to touch Braelin’s shoulder as he said, I’ll see you before the evening meal.

See you then, Braelin agreed, nodding back.

Jurao returned to his office, wrapping up his work for the day before heading back to the gardens as promised to escort his gardener to the evening meal. He found the man waiting for him alone, rather than with Gaele.

Ah, before we go to the evening meal, Braelin said, I had... something to give you.

The Demon King was surprised to see his... partner - yes, that qualified their relationship, he thought - partner’s face redden. He felt his own face heat a little in response, and asked, A gift.

Braelin nodded and pulled something wrapped in fabric from a jacket pocket. He fiddled with it, saying, It’s... not very grand or fine, but I wanted to... ah. Here, you’ll understand.

Jurao accepted the cloth-wrapped object, wondering what it could be as he pulled the fabric back. What was left was a dagger - one similar to the one Braelin had shown him before. The Demon King picked it up, stunned by the gesture of a return courting gift.

Unlike his partner’s dagger, the one Jurao now held was made of three thorns to fit in his hand comfortably. Two had been turned to create a serrated back edge, with additional serrations carved in. The handle had been wrapped with dark leather, with a hole carved at the end to better facilitate a backhand grip.

It’ll take a few days to harden into something useable, Braelin said, looking away, But I needed to carve it when it’s still soft enough for it. I actually asked Nevve to meet me for help with the design since I don’t have any experience making weapons...

Jurao hummed, still a bit stunned - he tested the grip, taking a few slow swings to test the weight. It was lighter than any other dagger he’d had - he wondered just how sharp it would be when hardened. Carefully, he rewrapped it, and found himself smiling as he said, It matches yours.

Braelin looked up in surprise, and smiled in return, It does.

I want to kiss him, Jurao thought - then realized, Ah - I can.

Without other considerations, he leaned down to do so - only briefly, surprising his partner for a moment before the human leaned into the pressure.

When the Demon King pulled back slightly, he said, Oh - perhaps what we were missing before was... circumstance.

That could be, Braelin agreed - then took a step back, We’ll be late if we try to test that theory, though.

Yes, Jurao agreed, returning to his feet and turning toward the castle.

The guards at the door were both openly staring - but one roused themself as the King faced them. They glanced over at their compatriot and hissed, Hurge!

The other guard - presumably, Hurge - also straightened, face darkening in a blush.

Feyl’s going to yell at me later, Jurao thought, leading the way inside. While he knew it wasn’t unusual for those courting to openly display affection, Feyl had seemed to believe it was better that he and Braelin do so privately. At least, based on his valet’s off-hand comment about closing doors. Perhaps this was one of those situations where there were secret rules.

Jurao had come to realize that occasionally others would tell him there were no rules for a given situation, but would later seem to have agreed upon unspoken rules of conduct the Demon King never quite grasped himself. Feyl was good at explaining those kinds of rules.

Everyone else seemed to fall silent when they arrived in the Dining Hall. Not suddenly, but by the time Jurao took his seat, all his Department Heads were staring at him.

Is something wrong, he asked, looking around the table.

Not... exactly, my lord, Hujur answered, It’s just that... well...

You’ve been smiling since you walked through the door, Gavven giggled nervously, Did something good happen?

Ah, Jurao said - he hadn’t even noticed. He looked over at his gardener.

Braelin’s blush had returned, but he nodded at the look from the King before training his eyes on the table.

With that, Jurao pulled out the thorn dagger, Braelin made me this dagger - and I suppose I am quite pleased about it.

Braelin scratched at his chin but smiled himself all the same.

Like, Festi blinked, squinting as if looking at a bright light, A return courtship gift...?

Exactly, Jurao replied, carefully wrapping the dagger again. He wanted to admire it some more, but now was not the time or place for that.

How very thoughtful! Gavven added.

Was that made from Wall Briar thorns? Jouvi asked, Aren’t those poisoned?

Only the old ones, Braelin replied, The green ones don’t have poison yet - the briar dropped some for me when I asked.

That explains how you could carve it, Jouvi sighed, Those thorns are at least strong as steel, after all...

Really, Jurao asked, thinking back to Braelin’s fully hardened dagger.

I mean, they’d have to be, Festi shrugged, With demons trying to push through them and all.

Fair point, the Demon King said, signaling the meal to start.

I suppose that means you have a matching pair, then, Kloy smiled gently.

Indeed, Jurao agreed, feeling his own smile at the reminder.

Gnori pounded a fist on the table