III

"The You that I’ve longed for"

Time Stamp: 11:00am

Waking up earlier than usual that morning, Yoon Chae-young sat up in bed. She had been up so late last night listening to that strangers voice that it was honestly surprising that she hadn't slept till five in the afternoon like she normally would. In a way it was to avoid everyone aside from her mother. Who speak of the devil, was currently banging on her door at that exact moment. Wanting her to get up to make preparations for tomorrow.

"Alright! God, I'm coming"

She said getting out of bed. Tomorrow one of the girls would be picked to be sent off to the village of Dionysus. Usually there was a rule that no one aside from the Elder's would know who had been chosen to be the next bride, until the exact day that they were assigned to leave. It was so none of them would have the opportunity to protest the decision but honestly no one in the village ever did.

"What do you want so early in the morning?"

Chae-young said as soon as she opened the door. Covering her eyes as she tried to block out the sunlight that was blinding her vision. Whilst her mom just looked at her in disbelief as she wandered to herself where exactly had she gone wrong in raising such a lazy child.

"I can't believe you're still sleeping at this hour. Come on we have to make you a new dress for tomorrow"

Her mom said grabbing ahold of her hand as she dragged her out of the house. Chae-young just looked at her in disbelief. Looking down at the pants and t-shirt that she was wearing, Chae-young looked back up at the woman she called mother.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

She said. Her mom just looked at her, an evident scowl invading her delicate features. With one hand, she grabbed Chae-young by the ear and started dragging her towards the house that held all the necessities needed to make the new dress.

"Everything"

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Leaning back in his chair, Seung listened to the Elder's as they all tried to imagine what the new girl would look like. Honestly, he wasn't interested but it was a council meeting, so he needed to be there. Min Jun sat beside him not really paying attention to them since he already knew who the girl would be, he just hoped that Seung listened to his warning.

"Son, I'm so proud of you, I bet you she must be one hell of a beauty"

Joo Sung said one hand around his son's shoulders. Ah how could Seung forget, the asshole was right beside him. Sighing to himself, Seung's mind wondered back to the woman he saw a few days ago. Ever since then he'd been going to the village of Eros just to see her and it seemed that they had become great friends. Seung had listened to what Min Jun had said but it wasn't as if he was romantically interested in Yoon Chae-young, to him it was just a platonic friendship, at least that's what he tried to make himself believe.

But if he had to choose someone to be married to, by all means he'd want it to be her, but something like that wasn't up to him. It was up to Min Jun. Looking at him from the corner of his eyes, Seung wondered if he could ask Min Jun for a favor. Seeing as he pretty much owed him one too many to count but he'd have to wait, at least until the thing's with Lee Sung was settled.

"She better be, or she doesn't deserve to marry me"

Lee Sung said, the comment causing both Seung and Min Jun to roll their eyes simultaneously. All the Elders cheered for him, some yelling a "that's right". While Joo Sung just looked at Lee Sung with the proudest smile he could muster. Proud.......yes, he was proud to have someone like that as his son. Seung was just waiting for the meeting to end so that he could head over to the village of Eros.

He honestly couldn't wait to see her. To see Chae-young .

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After getting rid of her mother, Yoon Chae-young ran towards her house. She needed to get ready to go see Seung. Over the course of a few days, they had become such great friends to the point that she always looked forward to the time that she went to the village of Eros.

It's not as if the time when they had met that day was the first that she'd ever seen of the Chief Deputy Seung. It's just, that was the first time she'd ever spoken to him directly. She'd always seen him and Chief Min Jun walking through the forest paths. Day after day.

She would usually stop whatever she was doing to watch their playful banter and to her, their smile always seemed to be so genuine when it was just the two of them. Nothing forced, nothing fake, their friendship was as real as the stars themselves.

The only friend she had was Tae-Ho. He was from the village of Arethusa, the Goddess of springs and mountains, located to the east. He had been her only friend at least until she met Seung but it was different with him. She felt like she had known him for years and yet they had only officially met a few days ago.

Before she could have reached her house, someone grabbed ahold of her arm. Looking back to see who it was, Chae-young's heart dropped it was one of the Elder's. What could she want with her? Did they find out that she had been secretly meeting up with someone of the opposite sex? Not that she cared though but if they found out they would have locked her up for about a month in order for her purity to reinstate itself.

"Come with me. The council is calling for you"

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Arriving at the village, Seung sat on the usual bench that he and Chae-young would always sit on whenever they met up to hang out. Looking around at everyone minding their own business and going about their day, Seung looked up at the sky.

A smile on his face as gray clouds started to invade the sky above, blocking out what little sunlight was left of the day. Biting down on his bottom lip, Seung was wondering what was taking her so long. She was late.

Back at the village of Aphrodite, Yoon Chae-young looked at the Elders in shock. Her face showcasing every emotion that she was feeling in that moment. Shock, disbelief, bewilderment and it had all been over what had been said. She had been worried about the fact that Seung would be waiting at their usual meet up spot alone. Wondering to himself whether she was going to show up or not. That was until the Elder's had broken the news to her.

"W-what?"

Chae - young said her voice stuttering slightly. The sound being nothing above a whisper. Every one of the Elders just looked at her with a blank expression upon their faces. Only her mother and her seemed to be the only people in shock. Were they serious? They had to be kidding right? Why her of all people?

As the raindrops begun to fall, Seung stood up from where he sat. It had already been two hours of him sitting there and no Chae-young.

Hearing someone yelling his name, he looked towards where the sound had come from. Only to find Jin beckoning for him to come into his house. So that he could be safe from the rain. Not thinking twice, Seung made a beeline for Jin's house.

Back at the village of Aphrodite, Chae-young was this close to yelling at all the Elders in frustration. How dare they decide what her future was and who she was meant to be with. The look her mother gave her made her shut her mouth in aggravation. She wouldn't stand for this. She didn't want to but she had no choice or say in the matter. The Elders had already decided.

"We said, that you have been chosen to be the next woman to be sent off to the village of Dionysus tomorrow"

Time Stamp: 3:00pm

"Has made my heart beat faster than a hummingbirds wing"