Third person POV
After some time, Russell parted ways with Caspian and Sylas and went to the guesthouse with his book to rest for the night. The next morning, after a nice breakfast, Russell and his party and group packed up and went to Russell's bus. Cassius hopped on his horse, ready to follow them later. Nathan was very excited to see Rossley for the first time. While his group was preparing, Russell asked about his children Elai and Belius.
"Oh, those two will be reeducated for being so selfish," Kane said to Russell and his party seriously. "I'm sorry for their actions too. I think I had failed as a father."
"N-No! It's okay, sir!" Russell frantically responded back. "You don't have to apologize again! You did a great job of raising them you know."
Azalea and Adrian then nodded in agreement.
Because of that, the duke felt forgiven and better. "Thank you."
Shortly thereafter, all of them are now prepared to leave the estate for Rossley. Russell had taken off the sign from his windshield, indicating that the trip is for personal use by the duke. Kane had prepared his entourage of 3 attendants and 2 advisors for the trip. And then, by 8:33 a.m., while Elai and Belius were being reeducated by their strict stepmother and governess, Russell, his party and group, Kane, and his entourage set out to the royal capital in Russell's bus, with Cassius following them from behind on horseback. As they leave, Elai and Belius look at them from the study room window with contempt, almost like a grudge against the young bus driver for ruining her life, before being reprimanded by Eliza and their governess for not paying attention. The duke and his entourage are on board in the back, while Russell and his party are in the front. They also gave out directions to Rossley so the young man would not get lost and delay the trip. John, as usual, was in the front compartment relaxing and lounging around.
The trip from Wallisville, Dukedom of Geran to Rossley took only 1 hour, compared to 1 day on foot or half a day by horse carriage. Along the way, Russell went around the fortified city of Fort Right via a ring of a paved road that goes around the city. Also, along the way, Kane and his entourage felt very comfortable in their seats, admiring how it was as comfortable as in an elaborate horse carriage. So, they gave out good compliments to the young bus driver.
"Yeah, yeah, thank you, sir," Russell responded back as he drove along.
But along the way, Adrian was a bit happy and a bit uneasy because of the kingdom's ruling royal family, the Passato family. Rumors said that the generations-old royal family was brutal towards their enemies but understanding to their subjects. Nevertheless, Adrian looked forward to seeing them again. What was his relationship with them?
Then, by 9:47 a.m., the bus had arrived at the gates of Rossley, and the guards saw them and blocked them so they could ask them for their identification. "Who are you?" one of them asked the group. "And what is your business here?"
"Good morning, sir," Russell responded back nicely and politely. "My name is Russell May, and I am here to take a duke and his entourage to the royal palace. Is this Rossley, right?"
Beforehand, Kane had revealed to Russell where his destination was in the capital, which was the royal palace.
"Yes, this is Rossley," replied one of the guards.
Then, Kane appeared and confirmed Russell's response.
Upon seeing the duke, the guards are a bit agitated and apologize to him and Russell for their inconvenience.
"Carry on," added another guard, before he and his comrade opened the gates for them.
"Thank you!" Russell replied back.
Then to Kane. "Alright, sir, let's go in."
He then shifted his gear to Drive and entered the capital, alongside Cassius from behind.
As they went through, many onlookers and passers-by were stunned to see a metal carriage that didn't require being pulled by a horse. Some asked each other questions about it while others pointed their fingers at it. Russell noticed the attention he unintentionally gained, and he was a bit uneasy and nervous by it as he drove through the busy market and main road that leads to the royal palace, which was located in the center of the capital. Kane and his entourage were confident that the trip went smoothly without a hitch.
Then, the bus arrived at the front gate of the royal palace. The guards there are a bit stunned to see a strange carriage. So, they approached it and asked Russell what he was doing.
"Good morning, sir," Russell nicely and politely replied back, "I am here because the Duke of Geran will be attending to some matters in the royal palace."
Kane then appeared as proof.
Seeing that man, the guards didn't suspect a thing about Russell's bus and instead, they focused on apologizing to Russell and Kane for their minor inconvenience.
"That's okay, sir," Russell positively replied back. "Thank you."
Nathan didn't snap a photo of the guards out of respect.
With that, the royal palace guards opened the gate for them, and Russell went through and into the palace grounds.
The guards then recognized Cassius as one of the royal spies of their nation and let him in.
Cassius went in on his horse, following the bus.
As they went through, they were greeted by the lavish gardens and buildings scattered on the sides of the main cobblestone path that leads to the front of the royal palace. The dragon family saw how lavish the gardens were, compared to the gardens of the Blue Jay estate. Then, the bus arrived at the front, and Russell opened the door. "We're here, sir," Russell said to Kane and his entourage. Adrian and Azalea then looked at the palace's exterior through the window. While Azalea, Rai, and Nathan were amazed to be in a royal palace, Adrian was a bit uneasy by this because…
"My adoptive family is the royal family…" Adrian's mind said, "…what they would think of my new party…"
Upon seeing that, Azalea asked him if he was okay.
Adrian then snapped out of it. "Oh! Yes, yes, I am, Azalea-chan."
Luckily, Azalea didn't suspect a thing.
Meanwhile, Kane and his entourage get off the bus. But before he would get off, Kane gave Russell another small sack of gold coins as a reward. Russell was a little bit overwhelmed by his generosity.
"Um, you gave me that much yesterday," he said to the duke, "you could just pay me the regular fare."
The duke then shook his head in insistence. "No, no, you saved me thrice. This reward is my way of saying thank you for all that."
Because of it, Russell remembered those three times when he saved him.
So, he accepted it with gratitude. "Okay then, any time, sir."
With that, the duke finally got off the bus and walked to the entrance with his entourage.
Then, Adrian stood up and walked to Russell. "Let's go in," he said to him and Azalea. Russell and the others, except for John and Cassius, were a bit surprised to hear that.
"What?"
"The royal palace? Why?"
"You'll see." Adrian smiled at them, hiding the surprise from them.
After a little bit of consideration, they said yes, and Russell added, "I'll just park this somewhere appropriate."
So, he did so and parked his bus at an empty field surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges.
Cassius arrived there and got off his horse, being excited for Adrian.
After that, he turned off the engine and grabbed his knapsack and book, before unbuckling his seatbelt and standing up from his seat. Azalea then carried John, who was still sleeping, into her arms while Adrian grabbed his knapsack and sword. Nathan and the others grabbed their minimal amount of possessions and stood up from their seats, before going to the front. All of them then got off the bus and started walking towards the royal palace. As theuy walked through, the crowned prince was looking at them from a balcony on the second floor. He was delighted to see that Adrian had come home, so he hurriedly went downstairs to meet him.