When Theo finally saw the royal capital's entrance, he sighed in relief. The journey had been long, and his legs had started to cramp.
The carriage stopped at the gate. After identifying them as the Merricks, they were allowed inside.
Theo noticed the same noble crowd everywhere, watching them with mild interest. Most paid them no attention; they were just one carriage out of the many moving forward, but a few who recognized the crest glanced inside to see a young boy with sharp features calmly looking back at them.
Theo didn't realize it, but he carried himself with a kind of confidence only adults would develop later in their lives.
After a few more minutes of the travel, Theo and the group passed the familiar fountain and knew that the castle was close.
Soon, they reached another gate, this one belonging to the castle itself. Theo smiled as he watched the entrance again. The size of the structure was truly enormous, no matter how many times he would look at it.
