When they returned to their suite, Braelin asked, “Did you think of your mothers again?”

“Was I obvious,” Jurao sighed. Given their extended evening meal, he’d sent a message for Feyl not to wait for their return. As such, they were alone.

“Probably not to anyone there but me,” his partner replied, joining the King in bed.

“It has been so long,” Jurao sighed again, “I do not know why this sadness persists now.”

“I never stopped missing my parents,” Braelin said, “And there were many times that I had no idea if they lived or not. It’s more miraculous that they are alive, I think. I don’t see why you should stop missing yours.”

“I do not remember much of them,” the King said, “I was… very young when I lost them.”

Braelin hummed, then patted the mattress next to him, “Lie down here.”

Jurao did – surprised when his partner maneuvered him to lay his head on the human’s stomach.

Braelin cautiously carded a hand through the King’s hair, “Tell me what you do remember… my heart.”

Jurao closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort – then said, “Vaokis’s blank face. I suppose most people remember their parents’ smiling, but… with Mom and I was the only time Vaokis wasn’t smiling, so I remember that better,” then he chuckled, “I suppose it’s similar to Feyl – I am more at ease when he’s not smiling, since it means he’s relaxed.”

His partner chuckled as well, “I noticed that. What else?”

“… Mom’s back,” Jurao said, picturing it in his mind, “She was a little over ten feet – tall even for a trollish demon. She reminded me of the mountains – sturdy and beautiful. When I clung to her back, I felt like I was on top of the world.”

“That’s common for demon children, right?” Braelin asked, still finger-combing the King’s hair, “Clinging to their parents’ backs.”

“Yes – we are able to do so at only a month or so of age,” Jurao agreed, “I feel I did so more with mom than vaokis – vaokis moved too much.”

Braelin laughed, “From Nevve’s stories, I can believe that. Though Henes might be getting too big for Malson to keep carrying, even if fos is still young enough for it…”

“Fos is a little over half his size already,” Jurao smiled.

“He says it’s good strength training,” his partner snorted, “But – anything else?”

The King hummed, “Vaokis used to sing to me. I don’t remember what. Auntie tried Mesescima songs when I first arrived, but none of them seemed right to me. I’ve heard most beast hunter songs as well – Ena recalled them when training me in the sword. Perhaps it has simply been too long.”

Braelin considered, “Your vaokis traveled most of the Mortal Realms, right? It could have been a song from any of them.”

“Yes, that is also true,” Jurao agreed, “Auntie also said she may have just made up her own – perhaps I should ask Omarri if he recalls next we meet.”

“I could sing you the song my mother used to sing to me for now,” his partner offered.

“I would like that,” the King replied.

Braelin hummed, then softly sang:

Come rains, come rains,

Flowers need to grow,

Come rains, come rains,

Planted in a row

Come sun, come sun,

Flowers need to sprout,

Come sun, some sun,

Petals curling out

Come you, come you,

Flowers we will see,

Come you, come you,

Smiling with me

Jurao chuckled, “I am not surprised it is about plants.”

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Braelin hummed again, “I miss her, too – my mother. Sometimes, doing things with Eweylona would make me sad growing up because I love her, but she isn’t my only mother. Whenever that happened, she would ask me what I remembered like this.”

“Ah,” the King yawned, content to lay as they were, “It does make me feel better.”

“Now, I do other things to remember her – like planting zinnias, since they were her favorite, and honoring Dwarla like she did,” Braelin shifted slightly before settling, “My frost garden was a way to try and connect with Eweylona in the same manner.”

“Are there other plants you tended for your family,” Jurao asked.

“Roses were always Malson’s favorite since they symbolize romance,” Braelin chuckled, “But I would also plant gardenias, which Dad said were his mother’s favorite. Ayelma loves snowrise flowers – they’re an elven species that only grows in the snow. They’re the symbol of Wylylendra, too – and being true to one’s self. Meir’ril preferred mint leaves for teas to help him focus while studying, though lavender flowers were a good addition. Blackthorn trees are the symbol of the Ealdwine family – we would all pick the berries together, since it was a tradition for the royal family to do so anyway.

“Dad also drank teas made from the flowers – most drank them to help with colds,” Braelin snorted, “So he insisted his good health was from drinking it preemptively.”

Jurao hummed, “Perhaps I should join a hunt next time the Mafokuraes band is in the area.”

“I think that’s a fine idea,” his partner said, then yawned, “You could also put more of Feyl’s weapons to use…”

“Mm, yes, that’s true,” the King agreed, as they both drifted off to sleep.

The next morning after training, a package was waiting for Braelin – received by Forvi before they returned.

“Ah, that was faster than I thought,” his partner said, opening the small box to check the contents.

“What is it,” Jurao asked.

“A shaving kit,” Braelin replied, “I suppose it’s easier to get a hold of smaller items like this than pounds of dirt…”

“Shaving kit?” Forvi asked, “Are you going to shave, then?”

“Well,” Braelin hummed, carrying the kit back with him, “Jurao was curious what I looked like shaved when Ayelma brought it up.”

Jurao’s tail swayed as he followed, “This is true.”

“Could I watch the process?” Forvi asked, “It appears different than what demons use for hair.”

“Probably, and I don’t mind,” Braelin replied, setting his supplies out in the washroom, “This method was introduced by one of the past Champions, but it’s popular in both the Human and Elven Realms.”

“Not Kinfolk?” the prince asked, standing nearby.

Braelin chuckled, “Most kinfolk are very proud of all their hair – it’s a symbol of health and prosperity for them, so shaving isn’t very popular itself.”

“Ah, I suppose it would be odd if beastkin were to shave their fur,” Forvi chuckled.

“Yheor said some do, but usually only to create patterns, not fully off,” Braelin agreed, unscrewing the lid of a small clay jar full of a white substance. He ran a short, thick-bristled brush under the water from the siren-engineered plumbing before swishing it over the white substance – causing it to lather.

“What is that,” Jurao asked.

“Soap,” Braelin replied, continuing to swirl the brush until he’d gathered some of the lather onto the brush. He then set the rest of the soap aside and picked up a small bowl, adding a bit more water before swirling some more, “The lathered soap makes your face softer, which makes it easier to shave.”

“I didn’t realize the process would be so intricate,” Forvi said.

“I guess it might look that way if you’re not familiar with it,” Braelin chuckled, “But it’s fairly straightforward.”

Once the soap was thickly lathered, the human spread it over his beard, covering it all. Then he took out a straight-edged blade. He held it in an unusual manner to Jurao and used only short strokes down the side of one cheek. Jurao and Forvi both watched silently as Braelin continued shaving, which took several minutes. When he was done, the gardener used cold water to wipe off the remaining soap and loose hair.

He ended with a salve before turning to face them both, asking, “Well?”

“Younger,” Jurao said.

It was true – strangely, the lack of facial hair made his partner look younger than he had before. He resembled his father more, but his face was actually more rounded than Ebener’s.

“Oh my,” Forvi snorted, tail swishing, “You’re definitely going to get more attention.”

Braelin sighed, “I was worried about that…”

“Were you coming to the Heads of Staff breakfast today,” Jurao asked, hesitating before reaching out to touch his partner’s cheek.

Braelin leaned into the contact, smiling, “Does it feel weird?”

“A little,” the King replied, reaching with a second hand to cup his partner’s face. While he could not feel more subtle variances in texture, such as callouses, the difference between hair and smooth skin was obvious.

“And I had intended to, yes,” Braelin said, seeming to find the inspection amusing, “Well, better sooner than later, I suppose…”

“What’s better sooner than later?”

They all turned as Feyl entered the washroom. The valet paused, staring.

“That,” Braelin sighed, “The reaction to my shaving.”

Forvi snorted, stepping over to elbow Feyl, “And to what do we owe the early morning visit?”

Feyl shook off his surprise and cleared his throat, “Since I didn’t get a chance to say it last night, I thought I would tell you Kloy and I are sexually courting now.”

“What?” Forvi asked.

“I brought up attending the Royal Orgy together, and that was his response,” Feyl shrugged, “And I didn’t see why not.”

Braelin snorted – then laughed, “Sorry, it’s… still odd to hear that said so… casually.”

Jurao took his hands back, still finding it hard not to stare.

“What?” Forvi asked.

“Royal Orgy, I’d assume,” Feyl snorted, walking over – then, tail swishing, asked, “May I?”

Braelin snorted again, and turned his face toward the valet, “I don’t mind.”

“It’s really all gone,” Feyl said, similarly cupping the human’s face, “I mean, I knew it could be, but…”

“You’re reminding me of my sister now,” Forvi observed dryly.

Feyl rolled his eyes, pulling his hands back, “I didn’t squish, and it’s not because I think Braelin is cute.”

“Handsome, though,” Forvi teased.

“I wouldn’t have let you if I thought you would squish my face,” Braelin chuckled, “Though really, I’d only allow close friends such an inspection besides Jurao.”

“Well, thanks for that,” Feyl snorted, then said, “You don’t look like you.”

“Humans have the same reaction when they’re not used to seeing someone without facial hair,” Braelin said, “So I’m not surprised you all feel that way. In any case, congratulations on your courtship, Feyl.”

“Thank you,” the valet snorted, “Unexpected as it may be.”

“Well, I suppose we should let the two of you wash up,” Forvi sighed, “I’ll pick out your outfits while you do.”

“I just came to share the news so you weren’t surprised,” Feyl said, following the prince out, “Though I doubt Kloy would bring it up at breakfast; one never knows, really.”

“Might be a good way to distract from your change in appearance, Braelin,” Forvi suggested.

“I’ll consider it,” the human replied wryly, as he and Jurao went to wash up.