Breakfast was the usual Department Head meal - as was traditional, allowing Jurao and his advisors time to meet informally and discuss the tasks for the day. After which, Jurao accompanied Festi and Jouvi to visit Exmarre’s studio - curious about his new Royal Tailor.

  “I can’t really picture you in a mass of ruffles, my lord,” Jouvi remarked as they walked, “Though the style is popur amongst avian beastkin.”

  “Oh, so he didn’t just pull that out of his ass?” Festi snorted, “Guess if we host avian beastkin diplomats, it would come in handy…”

  “Perhaps we should,” Jurao considered. Strengthening their ties with the Beastkin and Troll Realm may be beneficial as they tried to mend their retionship with the Human Realm, after all.

  “I’m sure a fashion designer would love that,” Jouvi chuckled.

  “Here we are,” Festi sighed - waving to a door.

  They were in the Artisan Wing of the castle, specifically where the castle weavers worked. In fact, Laesmez, the Head of the Weaver Branch, stood outside the open door, appearing amused. She was a traditional demon with orange skin, pink banded markings, and white hair in a braid down her back. Her lighter pink eyes fell on their group at Festi’s decration.

  “Good morning, Lordis Festi, Lady Jouvi, your highness,” Laesmez greeted with a slight bow. She added, “I take it you’re here to see the new Royal Tailor?”

  “Lady Jouvi,” Jouvi snorted, wrapping one arm around the woman’s waist, “Please, Laes.”

  Laesmez chuckled, giving her partner a kiss, “I thought to be more professional with the King present.”

  “I do not mind,” Jurao replied, peering into the open doorway.

  “Your highness!” Exmarre greeted - likely having heard Laesmez. He hopped over a bag he’d been unpacking from, leaning on the door frame, “Good morning!”

  “Good morning,” Jurao replied.

  “So?” Festi asked, “Is the studio good, or what?”

  “Oh, it’s just perfect!” Exmarre replied, retreating back into the room. Today, he wore a strangely tight-fitting triangur top that left the bottom of his lower set of pectorals showing and a skirt made up of several colors of wide cloth strips - some with metal beads strung at different heights through them. Jurao noted that he’d painted his nails several colors and had metal caps over his hooves again.

  It made his steps ring against the stone floor as he gestured at the space, “Absolutely nothing but tables, shelves, and mannequins - just what I need for my work!”

  “He wanted to know who did the embroidery on Lord Braelin’s cloak, your highness,” Laesmez chuckled.

  “It was excellent work,” Exmarre agreed, fluffing the feathers of a mantle he’d hung on one of the cy mannequins. There were various fabrics that had been hung on racks usually used for such purposes by weavers, with patterns Jurao did not recognize. Exmarre continued, “I could use someone able to do such precision work - I’ll interview from the current castle weavers and tailors, of course, but any embroidery that catches my eye from a distance is worth hiring the maker of.”

  “She works in the Inspired Quarter of the market,” Jurao replied, and had to think for a moment before he recalled her name, “Emessi - her shop is near Sazel’s Artefact Emporium.”

  They had made a brief stop in her shop during the gift shopping trip—Eweylona wanting to add some extra decoration to the Gawuna wool pieces—or Jurao would likely have forgotten after so much time.

  “I’ll have to make a trip to meet her,” Exmarre decred, tail continuously swaying as he went about setting up the space. He added, “We have more of a retinue on the way from Noskanar - they actually left before us, so should arrive within a month. Joron didn’t want to leave Kylse without his usual guards for too long, and my husband’s best friend is on the way to help with Marcut and general housekeeping.”

  “The wyverns have a weight restriction, I imagine,” Jurao nodded, catching sight of a series of sketches hung on a corkboard. Snip and Snap investigated the rest of the room as he walked over to investigate the designs.

  “Indeed they do!” Exmarre decred, sidling next to the King, “Some ideas I had for the Golden Sun Feast - do let me know if any catch your eye. It’ll be close, but I’ll design something to match for your partner, of course.”

  “Did you intend to host an orgy?” Festi asked, folding their arms as they looked as well, “Your nephew doesn’t seem like the type.”

  “He’s not,” Exmarre agreed with a grin, “But I certainly am! I’ve already let the Steward know - I imagine you’ll be attending the King’s?”

  “I won’t, since I don’t pn to attend any,” Festi replied, “But Jouvi and her partners will be.”

  “It’s his highness’s first time hosting,” Jouvi chuckled, an arm still around Laesmez.

  “Really?” Exmarre asked, brows rising.

  “I have never felt an interest in romantic nor sexual retionships prior to my current partner,” Jurao replied, holding the corner of one of the proposed outfits. White was the traditional color worn to the Golden Sun Feast - as Maenscul’s secondary color - but the simple long tunic in the design had a band of rainbow colors at the bottom he found appealing, with golden tassels beneath. There was also a line of tassels at chest level, adding a point of interest.

  “I like this design,” Jurao said.

  “I shall make it a reality, then!” Exmarre decred, pulling down the other designs easily. He added, “So would my flirting be unwelcome to you, your highness?”

  Festi choked on air.

  Jouvi and Laesmez ughed.

  “I do not think I would return the sentiment, but it does not bother me,” Jurao replied. He added, “My best friend Feyl would be more open to such advances.”

  “His gieuls, too,” Festi snorted.

  “Oh, a couple?” Exmarre grinned, “That’ll certainly help me get settled more quickly.”

  “They’d certainly be welcoming,” Jouvi chuckled.

  “It’s still a bit odd they’re courting,” Laesmez said, “I mean, I’ve heard the stories about Kloy being more promiscuous in his youth, but it’s still hard to see him that way now, as Royal Physician.”

  “Not to mention the age difference,” Festi snorted, “Even if everyone says Kloy is a very attractive old guy.”

  “I’m certainly intrigued by that,” Exmarre grinned, finding a sketchbook and piece of charcoal. He took both to a table near the corkboard and hummed, “A drafting table would be good.”

  “A drafting table?” Festi asked, “Like what the stonemasons use for architectural designs?”

  “Not an easel?” Laesmez asked.

  “Easels need a backing on the paper and don’t have as much room for posting iterations,” Exmarre replied, eyes darting up as he began sketching.

  Curious, Jurao approached to watch - as the original sketches had roughly matched his frame, the new sketches clearly matched Braelin’s frame. He was intrigued by how quickly the sketch began to take shape - having no practice with art himself.

  Festi shrugged, “Easy enough - if you think of anything else, let Laesmez know.”

  “I left a handbook for castle paperwork on the desk over there,” Laesmez chuckled, “Lord Hujur is quite fond of them.”

  “My partner intends to ask his siblings to introduce themselves to Petty Prince Kylse,” Jurao said, “As they are of a simir age.”

  Exmarre’s grin softened to a smile as he said, “That was very kind of him. I’m sure it will help Kylse get settled as well. Where are they from, originally?”

  “Jost, in the Northwestern Reaches,” Jurao replied.

  “Oh, then they have something in common,” Exmarre said, “Kylse is from the Reaches as well - a country called Gresma.”

  “Ah, yes, neighboring countries,” Jurao nodded, surprised by how quickly the first sketch was completed.

  Exmarre set it aside and added, “I’ll have the designs ready soon for Lord Braelin’s approval - did you need anything else in the meantime, your highness?”

  “I did not,” Jurao replied, nodding in acknowledgment as he left. He bid farewell to Festi, Jouvi, and Laesmez and found his partner already working in his office.

  “Aya and Meir were very excited to make friends with Kylse,” Braelin chuckled, “Since he knows about wyverns and Noskanar.”

  Jurao smiled as he sat at his desk, “Petty Prince Exmarre was grateful you asked them.”

  “I’m gd,” Braelin replied, “They pnned to go into the city today, so Kylse should get to see a bit more of Casvven if he decides to join them.”

  They psed into comfortable silence as they worked on their respective paperwork, breaking for the midday meal at the cottage with Ebener, Eweylona, Owren, Beneford, Milve, Nevve, Malson, Jaevve, and their children.

  “Another human Petty Prince?” Jaevve chuckled, “And from Noskanar, how unusual.”

  “How’s that!?” Malson asked.

  “Noskanar’s nobility has long had a tradition of being…” Jaevve considered before replying, “Particurly bigoted against non-demons, aside from elves. Though that might just be that it’s not the best idea to piss off people with pnt magic when you live in a giant tree.”

  “There was an upset after the Royal Trials,” Jurao said, recalling, “As it was put to me, Petty Prince Exmarre was set to inherit the throne. He made a deal with his father, the sitting king, that if he fought to the best of his abilities to keep me from becoming King in the Royal Trials, he would be free to live his life as he wished. Vemera ensured Gavaon, the prior Petty King, kept his word - so Exmarre’s brother, Joron, ascended the throne instead.

  “As Hujur and my other reports have noted,” Jurao continued, “Petty King Joron has long been a proponent of improving conditions for the common folk of his city, which is one of the reasons his father did not wish him to inherit.”

  “A progressive?” Jaevve asked.

  Jurao shook his head, “In Noskanar, he’s part of the conservative faction - though we might consider him a progressive in Casvven.”

  “Makes sense!” Malson decred, “With how big and spread out demon cities are, it would be weirder if politics were exactly the same everywhere!”

  “Politics,” Braelin sighed.

  Malson grinned, “You’ve been having lessons with Forvi on them, right!?”

  “I have,” Braelin agreed.

  Eweylona chuckled, “Well, when one might be the permanent partner of the King, it does behoove one to know the state of the realm.”

  “Did you have any pns to wed?” Ebener asked, “I understand it’s less common with demons, but I did wonder.”

  “Not at the moment,” Braelin replied and smiled, “Though Jurao did say he’d want you to ordain, Nevve.”

  Nevve snorted, “Came up when Halvern asked about my ordaining his and Ierge’s wedding, I’ll bet.”

  “It did,” Jurao agreed. The pair had decided to have a small, informal ceremony - inviting only their close friends and family. Feyl had said it was rather sweet and tasteful, and he - and Gaele - were happy for the pair. Though Braelin had chuckled when reying Gaele’s considerations of moving into fos own suite due to their… enthusiasm at home.

  “You pnned to attempt diplomacy with the Empire at the Hundred Years Ball, didn’t you?” Jaevve asked.

  “I do,” Jurao confirmed.

  “They’ll respect a marriage more than a partnership,” she said, “Not that you should wed for their sake, but you might want to consider the political angle if it’s something you want to do either way.”

  “That’s true,” Ebener nodded, “Even though the Empire criminalizes same-gender retionships, a marriage will still make your partnership more legitimate in their eyes. And to other human countries not already in the Coalition, it will strengthen the image that you see humans as equals.”

  “Though it’s not as though it will change minds immediately,” Eweylona chuckled, “So just a consideration, really.”

  Jurao hummed, considering. He had not given marriage much thought in his life - as he had not considered having a partner before. Was it something he wished to do with his partner? Was it something Braelin desired?

  “I think I’ll focus on getting through dance lessons before I worry about marriage,” Braelin snorted.

  Eweylona ughed, “I see you have your priorities in order, my son!”

  “Do you not like dancing, Uncle Braelin?” Amancia asked, throwing herself over her uncle’s p. She - along with Henes - had been pying with Snip, Snap, and Petal, using a woven ball to dart about the floor.

  Braelin patted his niece’s head with a chuckle, “I just haven’t had a lot of practice, Mancie.”

  “I’ll help!” Amancia decred, jumping up and unching into a dance, “I danced with Mama all the time!”

  “You’re such a good dancer!” Jaevve ughed, “But Uncle Braelin needs to learn demon dances, not Asalban dances.”

  “Oh,” Amancia sighed, “I don’t know any of those.”

  Malson rose to pick his daughter up - tossing her into the air to delighted giggles before decring, “We’ll just have to have mommy Jae teach us demon dances, too!”

  “Yay!” Amancia said - giggling as she was tossed into the air again.

  Jaevve chuckled, “I probably should have been doing that already, really.”

  “It is what it is!” Malson decred. He kissed his daughter’s cheek several times before asking, “Now, who’s Daddy’s prettiest girl?”

  “Me!” Amancia decred, throwing her arms up.

  “Me, too.”

  The table went quiet at the statement, the adults looking at the typically quiet Henes, still petting the more patient Snap’s head. She said, “I’m Daddy’s prettiest girl, too.”

  Malson stepped over Snip to pat her head, saying, “Of course, Hen!”

  “Daddy!” Amancia gasped, affronted, “We can’t both be the prettiest!”

  “Sure you can!” Malson replied, “What’s the yummiest cake?”

  Amancia frowned as she thought, then gasped, covering her mouth and softly saying, “They’re all the yummiest.”

  “That’s how you can both be the prettiest girl!” Malson nodded, leaning down so his half-demon child could climb on his back as usual.

  Eweylona chuckled, “Two granddaughters, how lovely.”

  Malson joined them back at the table - sitting forward in his seat to give Henes room behind him.

  Jaevve leaned over to kiss both her daughters’ heads, chuckling as she said, “I thought she might go that way.”

  They continued the meal with the same joviality, both girls excited by the prospect of learning new dances with their parents ter that night.