Third person POV
Because of this, George and Nicholas began to think about it, before eventually agreeing to Russell's suggestion. Russell was positive in response. "Okay, we hoped so during their exile. Thank you, your Highness."
"Yes, you're welcome, Mr. May," Nicholas solemnly replied back.
Adrian was stunned at how morally unique Russell was but liked that side of him.
Later, at lunchtime, all of them had a nice lunch. The same goes for the witnesses at the royal palace's guesthouses at its communal dining hall. The whole afternoon was spent informing the other high-ranking officials, some magistrates from the capital and Leafmight, and some of the nobles who had judiciary positions for the trial by the royal Passato family. The trial of the Elai party will be held at Rossley's High Courthouse. Russell and his friends, meanwhile, are now staying in the main house of the royal palace. They did various things to pass the time by training, walking around, reading books, etc. Azalea used that time to make some small-scale potions with her few equipment for potion-making. Russell honed his sword training and Metal Manipulation ability in the fields.
And then, at night, before dinner time, Russell was gazing at the stars of the bright, night sky when he saw Nicholas sitting on the cool, green grass, feeling devastated at how Elai, her former lover, had betrayed him so much. Russell could tell by looking at his expression and muttered words; so, to comfort him, Russell took off his outer business suit of his bus driver's attire and wrapped it around Nicholas. Nicholas noticed that and looked at him. "It's okay, Russell. I don't feel cold at all."
"No," responded Russell back, "it's my way of comforting you. Was it about Elai-san, right?"
As Russell sat down next to him, Nicholas nodded. "Yes, my feelings had been disregarded by her all along."
Russell understood that and replied back, "I understand. Well, it's hard to let go of that relationship, right?"
"Yes, it was," replied the crowned prince, "but I managed to move on after that brutal breakup with her."
But Russell knew that it wasn't fully an act of moving on, so he changed the topic to his assumed abilities and properties of his bus driver's attire. According to him, the outer business suit of his uniform was somehow arrow-proof, much to Nicholas' surprise and chagrin. "What? Is that so?"
Russell then nodded. "Yeah, sort of…I mean, I got struck by an arrow like thrice now."
"Wow…" Nicholas replied back while taking off Russell's business suit and hung it on his right hand, "…this one might be made of some sort of hard and resistant cloth, a cloth that we never seen before."
"Yeah, more like…"
After some time, Nicholas returned the business suit while thanking him for comforting. Receiving it, Russell responded gratefully, "Yes, you're welcome, Your Highness. I am happy to help." Then, both of them returned back to the palace just in time for dinner.
The next morning, at Rossley's High Courthouse, at 10 o'clock sharp, the trial of the Elai party was in full session. The Elai party, shackled and chained, are present in front of the judge, who was George himself. Russell and the others, alongside Adrian, Nathan, James, and Caspian, are present in court as well. George began the session by asking Elai about her and her party's criminal charges according to the following:
4 counts of betrayal of party members
1 count of attempted assault and murder
3 counts of attempted murder
6 counts of abusive use of power
5 counts of unfair treatment of party members
18 counts of defamation
1 count of damage to private property
1 count of complacency towards a royal order for service
Elai, on her party's behalf, then responded, "Yes, all of these are true." She said that with guilt on her face. The guilt she and her party had was as heavy as the heaviest anvil ever made.
"Me too," Belius added with solemn guilt.
"Us too," Aeri added as well,
And so, all of the Elai party pleaded guilty after the civil magistrates read and confirmed their accusations based on eyewitness testimonies from Russell, Adrian, John, and others. As a result, George sentenced the hero party to an indefinite exile to the Zale Valleys, and the Elai party accepted it without any hesitation. And thus, justice for Adrian and those whom the Elai party had victimized was served. But Russell, who had contributed heavily to their punishment, hoped that the hero party would reflect on their actions someday.