❈| Bound And Promised |❈

❈|2|❈

Silence. Was what fostered all over the corners of the kingdom and the small villages below. But once the clock achieved the right time, morning will soon take over the moonlit dusk.

As the hands of the clock stroke at seven, the radiant sun in the east peeked upon the alpine mountains of Cyria. Lighting everything that was once covered with darkness as morning was taking place.

Being a village far from the district of the palace, the people of the village of Cypress still continued on their heavenly slumber, some still in the middle of their dream while others are knocked out cold. So right on schedule, a man climbed up the stairs of a small bell tower. Once he reached the top, he rang it as loud as it can to awaken the slumbering neighborhood.

Lalisa was one of those few people who were in the middle of a blissful mirage when the familiar sound erupted. She sighed and rolled over to her other side. This was her typical morning, she would be enjoying her sleep when the annoying bell would rudely decide to interrupt it by ringing so loudly, which would proceed until half of the villagers are awake.

For three really long minutes---that felt like hours, the chiming of the bell finally stopped and Lalisa smiled in utter satisfaction as she closed her eyes once more. But before fully wafting into dreamland, another sound emitted from her house.

"Lalisa, it's time for you to wake up!" She huffed an irked breath. Of course, her dear uncle wouldn't allow her to stay laying on her bed all day. For they are much more important things in life rather than doing nothing.

Slowly sitting up on the mattress, the girl stretched her strained arms from sleeping all night on a small bed. After doing a yawn, she took a towel beside her and wore her necklace named, Calla. And yes, she names her things, a very peculiar habit she has picked up when she was little.

Done with all her morning rituals, she wore her only pair of comfy slippers and went at their designated dining room slash kitchen slash living room. As she went to the counter to prepare coffee, she felt her uncle giving her an intense glare at her back.

"May I need to remind you again, that you are expected to wake up as soon as you hear the bell strike. Now here you are, a minute late on your intended time."She hardly gulped from her uncle's strict tone.

Taking the handle of the boiled kettle, she began to pour hot water into their mugs. "Sorry, uncle. I just slept late last night, so I wasn't really able to hear it." She reasoned, yet Joon-Woo knew that wasn't the cause of her tardiness.

"Are you sure? Last time I checked your room, you were very tucked in on your covers and is fast asleep as soon as you hit the hay." Joon-Woo stated and Lalisa almost loosened her grip at her mug as her uncle caught her red-handed. Again.

Keeping her calm composure, she gave Joon-Woo's mug and casually took a long sip from her made coffee as she avoided his gaze that were probably throwing sharp daggers at her stiff figure. After the sip, she started walking away from the scene, but not before mumbling, "I hate it when you got me."

Strangely, her uncle perceived what she lowly said. "I heard that." She sighed, 'of course you did.' She muttered at her head before fleeing from their dining room.

And that is how Lalisa and Joon-Woo initiated their sunny morning.

|•|

"Where are you going this time, young lady?" Lalisa halted on tying the laces of her brown boots as she heard her uncle's query.

"I'm just going to go at the market to buy the things we need for the next week. And I was planning on meeting my friends aft-"

"Your not going." Joon-Woo cut Lalisa's sentence, his eyes narrowing into slits at the mention of Lalisa's 'friends'.

Appalled at what he said, she retorted. "Why not? I promised them I'll come." Lisa really knew the reason why, she just can't accept it. She needs to go for some particular and important cause.

Shocked that she scorned at him, he snapped a glare at her. And the two began to have an intense staring contest, both kept their sharp stares at each other and the thought of backing out didn't crossed their minds. A trait all the Manoban family has inherited, never backing out from a battle and a challenge.

Minutes passed, and Joon-Woo finally softened his eyes, for Lalisa is a very persistent girl. " Fine, you can meet them. Just don't come home late and bring one of those seven dorks again." He requested, remembering a specific memory where she went home late at night with her friends who were extremely drunk after drinking at a party.

The house was turned into a complete mess when they left in the morning. And the one who had cleaned them all was him, for his great niece secretly left the house without his knowledge and boy, was it a horrible experience.

Lisa couldn't help but to chuckle at his uncle's comment. " First of all, they aren't dorks. And lastly, I solemnly vow to you that I won't arrive late." She jokingly said, finishing the laces of her boots. Apparently, the common Joon-Woo took it seriously.

"Of course you won't. Because if you did, you'll start sleeping in the coops." Joon-Woo declared with finality coating his voice.

As for the second time this day, Lisa gulped again. Terrified to what her uncle said for she clearly knew it will and would happen once her uncle settled his consequence if she ever disobeyed him.

Taking note of the time of her journey, Lisa started to bid goodbye. "I'll be sure to remember it, uncle. Wouldn't want an old rooster for a relative? Though, a quite nice offer if you ask me. I'll never go hungry with them." She jokes before opening the door and stepping outside their diminutive house.

Joon-Woo chuckled while shaking his head at Lalisa's silliness. Not a second passing, a frown immediately appeared on his lips when his gaze saw the date on the calendar hanging on their door.

Five. Five more days and his niece will reach the age of eighteen. The age where she will be an adult. The plotted age to which his deceased brother told him to announce the affiance made between Hyun-Suk and a man with great power. And admittedly he was nervous, has been since the day the information was proclaimed to him. Who would've thought that time really does fly fast? Well, ready or not, he only knows one thing: He is predicted to tell her, no matter what.

For the deal that the necklace holds, will surely find and take her. Whether they both like it or not.

|•|