Prologue

"Finally, today is the day I become a Poke-"

"-lette Contractor!"

A young girl screamed at the top of her lungs, sitting on a lavender bed covered with kitten-like drawings.

Veol, a budding miss of the renowned Bwen family, had finally accomplished her long-awaited dream of having turned, after what had seemed an eternity, eight years old.

". . . Honey, I know you're excited, but you're going to make your father and I lose our eardrums if you scream that loudly." A beautiful, chestnut-haired woman smiled as she teased the little girl.

Veol's cheeks became flustered as she pouted.

"Wah! I'm sorry mommy, please don't lose your ears!"

Her mother was no match for Veol's drooping lips and large, puffy eyes.

The woman couldn't help but laugh as she apologized.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself!" She leaned closer to the girl, wiping away her streaked tears tangled with auburn curls.

"You've been excited for this day since forever, so I only wanted to tease you a little bit." Her mother looked away with a painful expression.

"After all, my little baby is growing up so fast . . . Oh, soon you'll enter your angsty teen stage . . . and the boyfriend sneaking into your room while we're away! I'm getting white hairs just thinking about it!"

The little girl sniffed her nose as she rubbed her eyes. She puffed up her chest as she smiled with determination.

"Mom! I- I'm all grown up now! So you don't have to be worried about me."

Without warning, a man with rose-red hair wrapped his arms around the two.

"Honey, how is our ready-to-be-a Contractor feeling?" The man kissed Veol's mother with affection.

She whispered into his ear, the man chuckling afterwards. Veol stared at the two, crossing her arms.

"I see. So now our little pumpkin is all grown up and ready to become an independent woman?" The man gave a wide smile.

He looked at Veol, finally noticing her pursed lips and crossed brows.

"Uh-oh." He gave a nervous laugh.

" . . . Hmph. Daddy don't make fun of me! I-I am a grown up girl now!" Veol yelled, beads of water forming in her eyes.

"Ah, pumpkin, I-"

"What do I have to do to prove it to you? Do-do I need to kiss and whisper in somebody's ears? Daddy, t- tell me!"

Her father choked on air as his face reddened to a pulp. Veol's mother clicked her tongue at her husband. His eyebrows twitched. 'Really, you're blaming this on me?'

"Yes, yes, pumpkin, you are grown up! I'm sorry. Please don't cry." Veol's father sighed as he scratched his head. How did it turn to this?

Finally, her mother couldn't hold it anymore and burst out laughing.

"Oh-oh, I can't, I can't watch anymore."

The two watched dumbfounded as she continued her hysterical laughter.

After calming down, Veol's mother wiped away her tears.

"I-I'm sorry. You two were just so . . . precious. Really, nothing can be compared to my adorable daughter and my blockheaded husband."

She stopped as she noticed the duo's glares.

" . . . "