Jurao had intended to show Isholog the way to the library – curious about Huo’a and Braelin’s progress – but was stopped when he reached the back veranda.

“Why are you covered in mud?” Feyl sighed, circling him and shaking his head.

“Sir Isholog and I had a duel,” Jurao explained, “He summoned a storm.”

Snip and Snap were also covered in mud – the pair having played in it while Loge explained his magic to Meir’ril and Ayelma as Jurao listened in. Both hounds seemed pleased by this state of affairs, sitting on either side of Jurao and panting.

“I thought I heard thunder earlier,” Feyl snorted, also eyeing the dogs before sighing and waving Jurao off the veranda, “You can’t track mud all the way through the castle, Jurao – the officer barracks baths should suffice.”

“Ah,” Jurao realized, “Yes, I had not considered the mess – Feyl, would you show Sir Isholog to the library.”

“U-um!” Gaele stepped onto the veranda, a stack of papers in fos hands, “I was, uh, headed there myself, your highness – I can show… Sir? Isholog the way.”

“Sir is a title of respect used for knights,” Jurao explained, understanding the confusion when the position did not exist in their realm, “I am sure it translates differently depending on the language.”

“Ah, yes, I see,” Gaele smiled, and bowed – a normal bow from the waist at a roughly forty-five degree angle, rather than fos’s previous ninety-degree or more heavy bows, “Thank you, your highness.”

Feyl snorted with a smile of his own, “What is a knight, exactly? They’re in romance novels, but I didn’t quite understand what the position entailed.”

“A knight is a warrior-scholar of the nobility, and lord of the lands attached to their knighthood,” Isholog chuckled, “At its most basic definition – different cultures have different expectations of their knights, but that is fairly universal in my experience.”

“Since we do not have a feudal system common to other realms, our closest equivalent would be an officer in the army,” Jurao added.

Isholog nodded, “Knights often serve in the same capacity during times of war, so I think the comparison is apt. But, if you permit, I can solve the mud problem here – especially since I caused it.”

“I would be grateful, thank you,” Jurao nodded.

Isholog stepped back off the veranda, gesturing for the King to join him. Once Jurao had, the elven man used water magic to wash away the mud and wind magic to dry the water afterward.

“That explains why only one of you was covered in mud to begin with,” Feyl snorted, and said, “Jurao, Lord Halvern has requested to speak with you in your office.”

“Ah,” Jurao nodded, “Very well, I will go to meet with him. Thank you for guiding Sir Isholog, Gaele.”

Gaele bowed again – a little more enthusiastically – and said, “Of course, your highness!”

“Fos is much more comfortable around you,” Feyl observed as they walked together toward his office.

“Yes, I’m glad fos is less nervous,” Jurao agreed.

“A lot of people say fos has gotten more confident in general after becoming Braelin’s assistant,” his best friend chuckled.

“Hujur said the same,” the King nodded, “Are you getting to know fos.”

“I mean, it’s only been a week,” Feyl shrugged, “But fos seems to appreciate having someone to talk to about fos dads, at least. Well, someone who actually knows fos dads.”

“That’s good,” Jurao said, “How is Ierge.”

“Twisting a rainbow,” Feyl rolled his eyes – but smiled.

The expression was a common one—it referred to the time Vislaelos chased down a rainbow to gift his husband Soken. Vislaelos had succeeded, of course, and when Soken had praised his efforts, the God of Romantic Love had accidentally twisted the rainbow into a knot in his excitement and joy. Thus, it was used to describe endearing but clumsy behavior in romantic love.

“I am glad for them,” the King nodded, “Though I wonder what Lord Halvern wishes to discuss.”

“I imagine, given the kind of man he is,” Feyl snorted, “He intends to apologize.”

“For what,” Jurao asked.

“For ‘borrowing’ your office inappropriately,” his best friend explained.

Then King considered and realized, “Ah. Yes, I see.”

Feyl left him at the reception hall of his office, off to take care of another matter.

“I’ve a request for you, your highness,” Alae greeted him, chuckling, “One that came rather swiftly, I think.”

Jurao accepted the folder from his secretary, brows arching, “Ah. Yes, that is a swift request. They must have considered it during their trip here.”

“Is that the elf’s request to work as a botanist for the crown?” Imena asked, appearing from the second entrance to the reception hall.

“It is,” Jurao replied.

Imena nodded sagely, “Well, I helped the two of them get it all worked out since we ended up traveling together! Apparently, they’d been considering it before they got Lord Braelin’s letter since it would give them more freedom to explore the realm.”

“I thought their kingdom has strong ties to the Empire,” Alae mused, “Yet it also included a request for establishing diplomatic ties.”

“They have dual citizenship, apparently,” Imena shrugged, “The knight guy – Loge? He’s part of the nobility of a different country from the plant guy, so the diplomacy is tied to that country, which doesn’t have ties to the Empire.”

“I will have to discuss it with the other Department Heads,” Jurao nodded, looking over the rest of the packet, “But I do not foresee any issues, since Huo’a is willing to renounce his citizenship to the Etsashi Kingdom as a show of good faith. Diplomacy with the Uoshuo would be a potential boon since we have few elven allies in general.”

“Very well,” Alae smiled, “Lord Halvern is waiting for an audience.”

“Feyl said as much; thank you, Alae,” Jurao nodded.

Imena leaned on the secretary’s desk to ask, “Are you still making him think you hate Jurao, or are you done with that yet?”

Alae sighed, “Braelin said he’d spoiled the game, so I don’t see much point in continuing it.”

“I would be glad if the two of you could get along better,” Jurao hummed.

“I don’t know about that,” his secretary snorted, then smiled, “But I understand why you’d feel that way, your highness.”

“Why don’t you get along, anyway?” Imena asked, “You’re pretty similar people when it comes down to it.”

“That’s exactly why,” Alae replied, “We’re too similar.”

Jurao hummed, considering – then decided to put more thought into the matter when he was not making Lord Halvern wait. He nodded to his secretary and latest valet before stepping into his office and greeting, “Lord Halvern, I heard you wished to speak with me.”

The man rose from one of the seats before Jurao’s desk with a bow, “Yes, your highness.”

“You have my leave to do so,” Jurao said, taking his seat and waving for Halvern to do the same.

“Firstly, I would like to apologize for my gross misconduct,” Lord Halvern sighed, “Which is overdue…”

“Since there were extenuating circumstances you could not have accounted for,” Jurao said, having considered how to handle the apology when Feyl predicted it, “I will overlook it.”

Halvern bowed his head, “Thank you, your highness. There is… a second matter.”

“Yes,” Jurao asked.

“I…” Halvern sighed, shifting his weight in his seat, “I believe you may have heard Ierge and I are romantically engaged.”

“I have, congratulations,” the King replied.

“Thank you,” Halvern said, “I had… would you consider speaking to your aunt on our behalf?”

“I had not been certain Ierge would want her to conduct the ceremony,” Jurao replied.

“He says he doesn’t, but…” the older man sighed again, but this time in irritation, “Honestly, your highness, he considers your aunt his best friend – not that he’d ever admit it – and if I leave it up to him it’ll be another two centuries before he even admits he wants her to conduct the ceremony and we’ve wasted quite enough time already. As I have no established relationship with Nevve, I was not sure a personal appeal would hold much weight.”

“I can bring the matter up to her, but I cannot force her to agree,” the King smiled, “But I believe she feels much the same about Ierge, so I think she will.”

“That is… good to hear, thank you,” Halvern said, staring at Jurao’s desk. After considering a few moments, the man added, “I noticed… Lord Feyl has been speaking with Gaele. As well as his siblings.”

“Yes,” Jurao asked.

“I understand Lord Feyl doing so,” Halvern said, looking up, “I am not so clear as to why his siblings are doing the same.”

“Feyl maintains close relationships with all his siblings,” Jurao replied – then amended as he considered Apae, “As much as they let him. The others simply see Gaele as another sibling because fos is blood related to Feyl.”

“I see,” Halvern nodded – then chuckled, “This generation of Sculis is certainly an interesting one, your highness. It’s not so rare for a branch family like General Exka’s to break from tradition, but for almost the entire generation of the main family to do so…”

Jurao hummed as he considered, “I suppose it would be more evident if I followed historical court politics better.”

“Yes,” the older man agreed, “I imagine for someone who didn’t grow up in the court, much knowledge we consider ubiquitous is not so transparent, your highness. Ierge hadn’t been aware of the Sculi reputation at all until after learning of his son.”

“Oh,” Jurao said, “I believe that’s the first time someone did not simply say I am oblivious.”

Halvern opened his mouth, then closed it.

After some time, Jurao asked, “Was there anything else you wished to speak with me about.”

“No, your highness,” Halvern said, getting to his hooves and bowing, “Thank you, once more.”

“Good afternoon, Lord Halvern,” Jurao dismissed, turning to his paperwork.

Jurao brought up Huo’a’s request at the evening meal.

“Loge mentioned that,” Braelin chuckled, “I’m not surprised – they spent over a century touring the Human Realm before I’d ever met them, I’m sure Huo’a would like to be just as thorough here.”

Vajur sighed, “Well, after having surveilled them for the past decade, I don’t have any security concerns as long as they do permanently turn over their current communication devices. If they obtain new ones to communicate with the Uoshuo Kingdom, that’s fine.”

Minaz snorted, “Good enough for me – and it would be good to establish current diplomatic ties in the Elven Realm.”

“I mean, most of the historical ones are just large groups of elves moving here,” Festi snorted, “So it’s not like we’ve ever had real ties to an elven nation.”

“The Gardening Department is expanding again so soon?” Hujur mused, making notes, “My, my, perhaps it is for the best his highness made it a department instead of a branch under Groundskeeping.”

“Oh,” Jurao considered, “I suppose that would have made more sense.”

“Too late now,” Jouvi shrugged, “But I don’t mind, really.”

“Hm, perhaps I should send for books from the Pharmacy Guild,” Kloy considered, “I didn’t think the more technical ones would be of much interest for gardening, but a botanist might appreciate them.”

“Huo’a certainly would,” Braelin agreed, “Though I would also enjoy learning more medicinal properties of plants, on a more basic level.”

Jurao nodded, “It’s settled then – Huo’a Uetsua will be hired as a botanist under the Gardening Department.”