CHAPTER 56: TRAFFIC CLEARANCE

How could he have forgotten about that part?

Riley should have remembered that Kael Dravaryn had never actually driven himself anywhere in his life. Not once. Not ever.

"Before you start blaming me, understand that this is not my fault," Kael said, tone dripping with the kind of effortless arrogance only a rich CEO could pull off. "Why would I need to operate a motor vehicle when I can simply go wherever I wish without one?"

Riley gave him a flat look, both hands gripping the wheel. "Translation: I’m rich, I’m powerful, and I can fly, so driving without a driver is for peasants."

Kael inclined his head slightly, as if this were the most reasonable thing anyone had ever said. Riley sighed. Of course. Dragons could just fly over traffic jams. Why would they bother with licensing, roads, or the concept of parking fees when he could bypass those or have someone else bother with it?

So, the odd trio reshuffled their roles. Riley was now the driver. Kael took the passenger seat like it was a throne, radiating silent authority. The black duffel bag containing Orien sulked in the middle, occasionally thumping in protest.

At first, everything was fine. The streets directly outside the ministry were quiet, eerily so. No reporters, no flashes of cameras. Riley almost thought they might actually get out clean.

That illusion shattered when they reached the barrier’s edge.

Like moths to a flame, the paparazzi descended. They weren’t even subtle—hovering drones, levitating cameras, and reporters in every shape and size swarmed the nondescript vehicle like it had a neon sign flashing "Breaking News Here."

"My lord," Riley muttered, eyes narrowing at the growing crowd, "just agree to whatever I’m about to say. If possible."

Kael arched a brow, the picture of skeptical nobility. Still, he gave a single shrug, granting permission without a word. He had no idea what Riley was planning—and he didn’t expect it to be this.

Riley took a breath and rolled the window down.

Instantly, a dozen beings surged closer. Microphones, recorders, and magical light orbs thrust forward like weapons, each reporter convinced "she" had the scoop of the year.

Riley leaned out just enough to smile politely. "Excuse me, what’s going on? Why is traffic this bad? Was there an accident?"

Kael’s brows drew together. The voice didn’t exactly sound like Riley—lighter, sweeter, almost airy.

"No, no!" one reporter said eagerly. "But there’s something far more interesting than an accident! Aren’t you from the ministry? How could you not know?"

Riley tilted his head, looking confused. "Huh? No, we only went to register our marriage. My husband’s mixed, so it took forever. We haven’t heard anything—can’t use our phones inside, right?"

A collective ripple of surprise ran through the reporters.

"Tsk, so you really have no idea what happened?" another pressed.

"No," Riley sighed. "But is there a way out of here? We’re newly wed and we have a honeymoon reservation. If we miss it, we might lose it."

The act was flawless. Riley even reached over and grabbed Kael’s hand, looking up at him with teary eyes that could melt ice. Kael’s own eyes widened slightly in shock, but before he could react, Riley turned back to the crowd.

"You see, my husband needs a very special room because of his constitution," Riley whispered conspiratorially. "So I was hoping you could tell us a way out of here."

Understanding dawned across the reporters’ faces. They all looked like they knew. They pitied the sweet, devoted spouse who had a husband with a... magical "condition."

Kael opened his mouth, ready to cut through this ridiculous charade—only to snap it shut when Riley’s hand pinched his own thigh. The sharp sting was mirrored over to Kael, who hissed in annoyance.

"See?" Riley said softly, turning his wide-eyed gaze back to the reporters. "We’re really in a bind here. Is there no way?"

The reporters glanced at each other, silent communication passing between them. Then, without a single warning, the entire vehicle lifted off the ground.

"What the—?!" Riley’s knuckles went white on the steering wheel. He had expected maybe a path to open, not to be picked up like a toy cart at the market.

Hovering eight feet in the air, the car drifted smoothly above the heads of the crowd. Riley had the ridiculous urge to thank them like they were traffic wardens... so he did. "Uh... thank you!"

A few of the reporters actually nodded back before gently setting the car down on the road beyond the jam created by these crowding beings. The tires hit the pavement with a light plop, and Riley blinked, unsure if that counted as the strangest thing to happen today or just another Tuesday.

He drove on, slowly rolling the window up. Being seen now was no problem.

"For someone who has been insisting on dissolving this, you managed to get us married fast enough," Kael said from the passenger seat, his voice smooth and infuriatingly calm.

"Sir!" Riley almost swerved.

"Eyes in front," Kael replied without looking at him. "With that kind of driving, how are we even supposed to get there?"

Riley’s face twisted like he had just swallowed muddy water. The sheer audacity of this smug dragon was going to kill him before a traffic accident ever could.

But he couldn’t just kill him here, because if they had an accident, wouldn’t the other party end up decimated instead?

"Sir, is it okay if we stop by the stores first? My family likely left without packing much. They’ll likely need essentials. And if someone’s already camping by your estate, then it’ll be hard to get out once we get there."

What Riley didn’t say was that he wasn’t about to terrify Liam by forcing him into a diet of magical plants and beasts just because dragons could eat them without blinking.

In the middle, the duffel bag rustled. "Uncle! I just want to say something!" Orien’s muffled voice was urgent.

"Then say it like that," Kael answered, pressing one large hand down on the bag. "Do you have to be out in the open to use your mouth?"

Orien grimaced but conceded. "If we’re going to the place where we get those things, remember to get what I need, okay?!"

"Huh? Why are you not coming?" Riley asked without thinking.

The bag went still. "...What, I can actually come?!"

Riley glanced at Kael. Since he didn’t say no, Riley took that as approval. "Well, it’s not a good idea to leave anyone in the car. It’s not really safe, especially inside a parking lot. But you have to follow a few rules, my lord."

"!!!"

"Say it now!" Orien demanded.

"If there’s something you want, you need to signal discreetly," Riley said, already suspecting this dragon’s wish list might get out of control.

"Huh? Is it not just possible to buy everything?" Orien asked with the kind of innocence that made Riley’s eye twitch.

"..."

"How many things are there that we can’t just buy everything?"

Apparently, an entire store. Or more like stores.

Because the moment Riley carried the bag—with two small holes now cut for Orien’s eyes—into the shop, the little dragon discovered the full meaning of "shopping." And judging by the sharp intake of breath from inside the bag, Riley knew they were in trouble.