Lucelle had been running non-stop for a couple of days in the forest, while carrying the box. Her feet were severely bloated due to the branches and vines along the way. Her clothes were quite torn up and stained. Her face was messy as well as her blonde hair.
Her eyes were also swollen as her tears never stopped flowing. Her stomach ached so much and she could feel the pain in her dried throat. Indeed, she neither eat and drink anything.
She endured it.
She endured everything. From her family's tragedy up to her current state. She endured too much to the point that she couldn't help but to become sentimental.
And it was a miracle that she survived. Even for her, she couldn't believe it. However, that was the truth.
Even the blazing red cloak her dad gave her became normal as she already ran out of magic power.
The cloak wasn't as blazing as sun anymore. It became ordinary. So, should I not call it blazing then? A red cloak, perhaps? Whatever!
Yes, the red cloak needed magic power to be usable. The higher the magic power of the user had, the more it could withstood or absorb the opponent's attack. In short, it could be used as a defense artifact as long as one had magic power.
'Maybe this cloak is dad's gift to me to my upcoming birthday next week?' She thought.
The memories of her dad along with her mother and two elder brothers came rushing imto her mind. It was enjoyable and unforgettable moment of her life with them.
Yes. It was last year. Her debut.
~~FLASHBACK~~
"Are you ready, Lucy?" her mother, Niña asked while putting down the make-up on the desk.
Niña wore a stylish light red dress coat and light red heels, and with ruby earrings, bracelet and  necklace as accessories.
"Yes,"  Lucelle simply answered with a smile as she was still facing in front  of the body-size mirror, "Am I gorgeous, Mom?"
She was wearing an elegant red dress, a 3-inch heels, a crystallise crimson bracelet, necklace and earrings coupled with her blonde hair. It was a perfect combination. For her, of course.
"If there is a word above gorgeous, then that's you, my daughter," Niña sweetly replied as she caressed her daughter's hair, "But you can't surpass your mom when it comes to beauty."
"Of course, I can't  because I inherited this beauty of mine from you.b But still, thank you, Mom," she uttered while secretly smiling, and then she turned to her mother to kiss her but stopped when she realized what her Mom was doing, "Mom! If you continue doing that, my hair will become messy. So do you think I have the face to meet my friends and guests?!"
Her mom laughed as she stopped caressing, "Okay, okay. I will stop."
"That's good," she said as she brushed her hair again, then she looked around, "By the way, where's Dad and my brothers, Mom?"
Before her mother could speak, the door opened.
"I'm already here, Lucy. As for your brothers, they are already below at the party," her father, Marquis Cyril, uttered as soon as he entered the room, "So shall we go down the stairs right now?"
He was wearing a bloodshot tuxedo, a black pants and a black shoes. His expression became more light, unlike his usual self.
Then together, they walked down on the stairs while Lucelle was in between  of her parents.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's now welcome our gorgeous girl for today's special event, who celebrated her 18th year birthday, a debut, Lucelle Anne Esclamado along with her parents, Marquis Cyril and Lady Niña of the Esclamado Family!" the host of the party shouted in a jolly voice.
Lucelle was widely smiling as she waved her right hand to the crowd. She then elegantly bowed down while lifting the sides of her dress as a sign of respect to the guests.
Most of the guests at the party greeted her a happy birthday, while she joyfully responded either with a smile, a nodding or a welcome word. Even some guests who were stranger to her greeted her.
'Maybe they are my dad's friends or vassals who I didn't know?  She thought, 'Well, it doesn't matter anyway."
"We will first excuse ourselves, Lucy, as we have to greet the guests especially highly nobles and officials of the kingdom."
"Alright, Mom and Dad." she responded.
"Enjoy yourself!"
"I will," she simply said and before they leave, she kissed them.
Then out of nowhere, someone who she didn't expect to be at her party, suddenly showed up in front of her.
A man in his twenties while wearing a golden yellow royal clothes spoke out, "My birthday greetings, Lucy."
She was shocked with his presence.  Yes, but she more felt disgusted when 
she heard him saying 'Lucy'.
'Only my beloved loved ones could say that to me, and he was not! How dare!' She thought.
But she composed herself as she bowed down respectfully."Oh? Your highness, the first prince, it's my honor for you to be here for this simple event.
"There's no need for you to bow down, Lucy, as this is your special night. And hmmm... we are not even stranger to each other," the first prince, Jun Armando, uttered as he licked his lips with his tongue and as he took a glance on her body.
The first prince was known as a disgusting pervert, and ultimate playboy throughout the kingdom. He used his status to forcefully take women and bully others. While the king let him do anything as he pleases. He was being spoiled by the king!
"Such a pervert! Why's he here when I didn't invite him?" she mumbled to herself, "Like father, like son."
"What are you talking, Lucy?" Prince Armando asked as he didn't clearly hear her.
"N-no, it's nothing, Your Highness," she replied as she put a distance between him, "And please, don't call me Lucy as I'm not deserving for the First Prince to say that."
"No, it's okay. It sounds better if I call you Lucy," he insisted.
Instead of arguing more, "Please excuse, Your highness, the First Prince as I need to entertain my guests," she then quickly turned around, ignoring him completely.
"Wait..."
"Mind your etiquette, Your Highness," Lucy reprehended him as she looked at Prince Armando's right hand, holding her arm.
"Oh?" he uterred as if he didn't know what he did, then he let his hand go.
She let out a heavy sigh as she tried to calm herself. This man is no ordinary, afterall. He is the first prince of the Feronia Kingdom and the first child of King Jefferson. So it would be bad for herself especially for her family if she mistreated him.
"So what do you want, Your Highness?" she coldly uttered.
"Because this is your birthday, I prepared something special to you," Prince Armando arrogantly clapped his hands and out of the sudden, his servants showed up carrying different kinds of gift.
As shocked as she was, she quickly refused even before seeing the insides of the packages ---well, she already predicted that those were luxuries items, "I don't need anything, Your Highness. Your presence here is more than enough."
On her mind, she wanted to vomit for the latter words she spoke out. ---It's better if he'll disappear instantly out of my sight.--- But she couldn't say it, really.
"Are you even going to refuse my gift for you, Lucy?"  Prince Armando asked seriously, but it sounded like a threat for Lucy.
Her shoulders were slightly shivered. It was undeniable but, yes, she was scared, even though it was not the first time she saw First Prince Armando getting angry and messing with other people. But for her, it was miserable.
However, she tried to compose herself and took a deep breathe, "If that's what you want, Your Highness, I will gladly accept your gifts."  ... reluctantly rather, she thought.
She called her servants to put aside the luxuries gifts, without even giving a single thought of opening them. While she was busy ordering her servants, the host suddenly spoke out.
_TRAVANGEL_