"Er, let's not talk about them anymore." Hearing her parents' remarks, Harlow decided to change the subject. Her expression brightened up. "How about you guys reveal what you'll be giving me as a present tomorrow? I'm excited for the mysterious gift sender's, but my parents' gifts are still the greatest!!"

"Are you so sure about that?" Emmelyn chuckled. "You keep calling Icecube the best thing that you've ever received. Even your father's gifts didn't seem to match with it."

"Well, Icecube is practically family at this point," Princess Harlow grinned. "So, we cannot compare him to any other things."

"Sure he is." King Mars rolled his eyes. "We keep him outside of the castle."

Princess Harlow folded her hands together. "You know I loved uncle Gewen and aunt Kira's gift too. I've started learning how to use a cutlass and if I weren't so preoccupied with flying, I'd love to go sailing. Uncle Edgar and Aunt Clara gifted me a stallion so I'm curious what you guys are getting me."

King Mars smiled. "How about we go on a trip then? You loved seeing dolphins as a child. We once traveled together when we visited your mother's homeland. Do you remember that?"

"Of course, I do, Father." Princess Harlow beamed at him. "I remember almost everything. I have an excellent memory… and I'd definitely love to go on a short sea voyage with you. You know how much I'm dying to travel the world."

"You're your mother's daughter alright," Mars rolled his eyes affectionately. "You've got her adventurer's spirit in you but we've already discussed this, haven't we, Harlow?"

Princess Harlow batted her eyes and only grinned crookedly. "I won't meet a disguised king like my mother. You have nothing to worry about, father."

"That look on your face worries me."

"Perhaps when you've met your future husband the two of you can go on trips together," Emmelyn said. "By that time, your father would have loosened up immensely and can't be strict about it anymore."

"I can't believe you've grown up so fast," King Mars said. His face looked nostalgic and people could see he regretted the fact that his only daughter was now an adult, a young woman.

"You have two other sons to think about, father," Princess Harlow pointed and then glanced at their grand banquet table. It was only the three of them. "Where are my brothers anyway? Why aren't they here for dinner?" 

"Damien is busy undergoing military training and will be coming home late," Emmelyn sighed. "Ah, that boy works too hard and he's only fifteen."

"He's taking after me," Mars chuckled. "It's great that he's already interested in the more kingly duties. How else is he going to become an expert warrior like me?"

"And Dimitri?" Harlow raised a brow. 

"...I think he's out to court Ava," Mars said. 

"Uff, I really didn't expect that." Harlow blinked. "Then again, Ava always wanted to marry a prince so I guess my brother fits the criteria."

Mars shook his head. "I think he's had one too many encounters with Gewen. That man's womanizing ways still caught on to my son even though he's already called off those days."

"It's not just Gewen but the Greenan boys." Emmelyn chuckled. "Besides, boys at that age really do start thinking about romance. You're just the unlucky lady killer so women were out of your mind."

"Fair point," Mars said. "I never really had the chance to explore."

Emmelyn narrowed her eyes at him. "I wonder, would you have been a womanizer like Gewen if you were given the opportunity?"

King Mars Strongmoor laughed and held his wife's hand dotingly. "Oh, I would have been waiting for you. You know you're the only one for me."

Princess Harlow smiled at her parent's open expression of love towards each other. She really couldn't imagine experiencing that for herself. It was such a rare kind of love.

***

ONE WEEK LATER

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Princess Harlow Strongmoor's birthday was lit up in flames. The grand celebration took place in the ballroom of Draec's castle and people from across the kingdom were invited to partake in the celebrations of their one and only princess's birthday.

However, during the festivities and the presentation of the gifts, Harlow's beloved bird suddenly came swooping in from one of the palace's windows and shattered the glass. 

After so many years, it was no longer a tiny bird. The Phoenix she called Niam was almost as big as Harlow and it was big enough to cause a commotion as it suddenly blazed up in fire and heat. 

A lot of the people started to panic, but Harlow stepped forward to her bird only smiled.

"Please don't worry guys,  doesn't really hurt anyone or anything with its flames," Harlow said confidently. She chuckled at seeing the people's reaction.

WOOOSHH!!

At the exact moment that Harlow finished speaking, her beloved Phoenix suddenly exploded in a great and wondrous color of fire, bright red, orange, and even blue. A multitude of colors that were brighter and larger than it ever did before.

"Oh, my gods!!! What happened to that phoenix?"

"Oh.. no! Niam! What is wrong?" Harlow exclaimed in shock at seeing her beloved pet explode out of nowhere. She was stunned and couldn't react immediately.

The explosion seared everyone's vision and when Harlow stared at her beloved phoenix, Niam, it was no more. What was left of the Phoenix was nothing but ashes and the princess' mouth fell open in surprise.

"I… I don't think it's supposed to do that," Damien muttered aloud, much to the embarrassment of his sister, Harlow. This was clearly a thing she hadn't expected to happen to her Phoenix as she gestured wildly at the ashes at a loss for words and then hastily took a step forward.

"Be careful, Harlow. It's probably still hot," King Mars warned his daughter to no avail.

"N… no… NOOOOOOOOOO…!!" When Harlow approached the leftover of the Phoenix, the ashes blew away and disappeared within the castle's grounds.

.

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From Missrealitybites:

Okay, let's continue with the mass release.. I  will be publishing 5 more chapters soon. I hope you had a great weekend and will have a nice week ahead!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.