Despite having perfect knowledge regarding the scene she was witnessing, Princess remained attentive to every movement of the Past Medoria, who was still an innocent little girl, struggling against her cruel Fate as an orphan.

"Instead of showing me my own life, you show me your past," Princess said. "Is it not better to make me sympathize with my former self?"

"Mistress, I have a feeling that this is for the best. I'm presumptuous enough I believe my existence can remind you of what you once had."

Medoria turned to the world below her. Though she was infinitely far away from the bubble of reality, her sight magically captured everything, permeating her mind with blissful yet sorrowful nostalgia.

Minutes went by, then hours, then days, they crawled consistently without any pause. It was a feeling which she couldn't describe. The hotness in her chest, the regret at the tip of her tongue, and the anticipation in her heart, they swirled inside her, spinning like a ball of yarn which intertwined her with the world.

The seasons rose and fell. The snow of winter and the leaves of fall manifested then disappeared. Through the mundane yet difficult life, Princess felt what she perfectly knew and gained within her heart the sadness which lingered with Medoria, whose soul was deteriorating.

Princess understood how Medoria would decay until nothingness became her. She knew how much time Medoria had left inside the river of time, and how her body gradually broke down into the essence which would scatter into the vast void. Nevertheless, the pain she felt continued to increase as she witnessed the transient event.

"Medoria, you won't last until the end."

"If I can't help you, I'll get to be with you for all eternities. I've worked everything out, so please don't worry."

"Why must you go through such length for me? Have you not learnt from the tale of which you reminded me?"

"Such is what I learnt from you, Mistress. Now you understand the frustration I felt because of your selflessness," Medoria said before turning to the world below.

It gradually approached the fateful moment. For the unknowing Past Medoria, the future was increasingly darker than before. She had gone through several shops, doing various tasks in exchange for little changes and food. Though she managed to make do with only one meal a day, her young petite body couldn't handle the intensive jobs any longer.

The weather was unusually hot. The sun blasted the city with its heat and filled the surrounding with dry air. Medoria lost her way and wandered along the unknown distinct. Her steps were unsteady, her breaths uneven. Hunger and thirst assaulted her mind, yet she lacked the food and water to sate them. In her confusion, a faint perfume tickled her nose, reminding her of the restaurant of food and sweets.

Despite the sea of people in front of her, Medoria remained absentminded and pushed forwards. Her thoughts focused on the pleasant fragrance on the other side. The surrounding noises rang in her ears but failed to notify her of the unusualness of the situation. No one wished to dirty their clothes and didn't stop her, so she moved out of the crowd and stepped onto the stone pavement.

At last, the grip of exhaustion had her. Her world spun out of control. She collapsed in front of a moving carriage. Its silhouette shocked her out of the daze, but she lacked any energy to move out of its way. The illusion of a peaceful life and delicious food vanished into the murky perspective.

She sealed her eyes shut and tensed her body. The vibration from the carriage intensified before stopping. Medoria opened her eyes and stared at the towering carriage, whose size could easily crush her. She tried to get up, but a group of strong men rushed in and surrounded the carriage, watching her with their cold gaze.

Their armoured builds frightened her. Her body trembled despite her effort to hide it. Her chest felt heavy, her heart tensed. She stuttered and failed to get up, lying on the dirty ground as her hunger and thirst transformed into an all-consuming fear.

Amidst the confusion and panic, a soft, gentle bounce of a dainty footstep echoed and suppressed the turbulence. A refined maiden came out of the carriage. Her graceful air enveloped the surrounding. Her presence filled the neighbourhood with serenity.

Like the holy maiden, the Second Princess told the imperial guards to back down and walked to Medoria. She stared at the confused and nervous young girl, whose age was about the same as her. Her eyes remained unblinking, observing the dirty, unladylike appearance.

In front of the warm, comforting figure of elegance, Medoria mustered her remaining strength and courage. She raised her head to meet the Second Princess in the eyes, yet her gaze trembled and moved away in the next moment.

"Miss, I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracked.

The Second Princess noticed her agitated mindset and turned to the crowd. They swiftly retreated and increased the distance between them. Medoria struggled to speak her thought, but the growling of her stomach interrupted her. She turned red from embarrassment.

The Second Princess smiled, knelt, and patted her head. The feeling of warmth and tenderness was something Medoria had long forgot, yet now she received them once again from someone whom she never knew.

At that moment, her eyes stared at the Second Princess, recording her forever-beautiful appearance into her memory. The pain and distress from the bleak future vanished after the stroke of her hand, replaced by the newfound purpose.

"Girl, what is your name?" the Second Princess said.

"I have no name." Medoria struggled to pronounce her speech. Her mind kept slipping into the daydream where the moment which she felt love and compassion lasted forever.

"Do you have any parent?"

"No," Medoria said, her expression crestfallen, "I mean, yes."

She averted her gaze from the Second Princess. The reality came crashing against her idealistic thought. She glanced at her rugged clothes and bruised appearance, then at the Second Princess's luxurious dresses and sophisticated manner. They were a world apart.

"It's all right. You can come with me," the Second Princess said and reached out to Medoria. In her confusion, Medoria accepted the hand and stood up.

"Ah?"

"You'll take care of my well-being. Are you willing?"

"Will there be food?"

"You'll have three meal a day and a personal bedroom."

"Please let me work." Medoria perked up, her eyes glittering. "I'll do it."

"Get up and come with me."

Medoria followed behind the Second Princess, who said something with the royal guards whose gaze shunned her.

"Miss, I'm sorry," Medoria said and lowered her head, ashamed of her appearance.

"She'll sit with me," the Second Princess said to the guard with her eyes locked at him.

"I can walk. They don't want me to sit with you," Medoria said.

"You'll sit with me." The Second Princess sent Medoria up the carriage and closed the curtain. The cheering of the crowds faded into silence, leaving Medoria in the state of confusion and absentmindedness.

The Second Princess sighed and turned to Medoria. Though her facial expression shifted from a gentle smile to a tired one, her eyes remained curiously beautiful.

"Tell me about how life is outside of the castle," she said.

"The castle?" Medoria tilted her head before she tensed up as the realization kicked in. "Wait, are you a princess?"

"Of course. You didn't hear what they said?" The Second Princess giggled.

Though ashamed of her slow wit, Medoria couldn't help but feel happy at the realization of her silly dream. Somehow, she managed to secure a job with free meals and even got to be with her benefactor. She became determined to make sure this would last forever.

No matter what the Second Princess asked, Medoria answered to the best of her capability. Time passed without her notice, and the Second Princess fell asleep. Without anything to do, Medoria stared into the distance before she too entered her slumber.

"Medoria . . ." she mumbled the name her Mistress gave her before she descended into the dreamland, bumping along as the carriage moved towards the castle.

Above them, Princess watched the interaction, her eyes staring at the pitiful Medoria. Aside from the deep-rooted emptiness in her consciousness, the searing pain gradually softened. It morphed into a lukewarm feeling in her chest, filling her incorporeal body with delight.

Though she knew the detail, she couldn't help but keep following Medoria's daily life, not minding the monotonous routine. Every time Medoria smiled, the happiness infected Princess. She began to pay more attention to the past as if she was experiencing that moment with Medoria and her mortal self.

Years passed by, and Medoria had grown from a fragile little girl into the Second Princess's maid and close friend. Her demeanour changed from that of a commoner to the elegance of the nobility, yet her tenderness and gratefulness towards her Mistress had never lessened.

No matter what, where, when, or how, Medoria always remained by her Mistress's side. During the death of the Third Prince, Medoria tended to her Mistress throughout her grief-stricken period. She cried and laughed together with her Mistress, forming an ever-evolving bond, which continued to blossom no matter how cruel life was.

When her Mistress decided to break away from her Fate as a political tool, Medoria vowed with her whole heart to do everything to help her. She studied all kinds of subjects an assistant must know, yet she also never neglected her duty as a maid. In all sleepless nights where she secretly read manuals, the incorporeal Princess remained beside her, closely watching.

The real Medoria was silent throughout the journey. Her expression was cold, permeated by the acceptance of her Fate. No matter how sad or happy her younger self was, she never uttered anything which could distract Princess from her hazy vision.

Abruptly Princess turned to Medoria. In her pupils, a flash of understanding passed before fading into a frazzling memory. Though Medoria saw nothing but the confusing mist inside them, she believed that her Mistress was slowly coming back.

"Medoria, your plan works well. The frustration in my mind keeps growing, and there is no way to stop the emotions from manifesting," Princess said while touching her face. Her moist eyes faintly trembled.

"Mistress, I know that you're still in there. It is my belief and dream that will help us reunite again. Please take your time to experience all there was, is, and will be."

"Indeed. Despite how my sense of self had dispersed into the vast Originator, it somehow gathered to form me once more. Though I would fall from grace at the moment of completion, I couldn't refuse such imperfection."

"Then please, forget yourself and experienced the memory you once had with me. Please come back and let me tell you how much I miss you."

"Emotions are such illogical and imperfect things, yet I who have become perfect instead yearn for such desires. It is also why you mortals are interesting." Princess wiped the teardrops in her eyes and smiled at Medoria. "If this continues, it is without a doubt that your beloved Mistress will return, but, would she want this?"

Medoria averted her gaze from Princess and lowered her head. She gripped her shoulders and prevented herself from shaking.

"Why would Mistress not want to come back?" she said while trembling.

"Medoria, you understand what I mean. By walking me through the river of time, you're slowly withering. With your current strength, your life will disappear under the current of Fate, leaving I, your Mistress, alone in the world where you no longer exist."

Medoria froze for a moment before she started to giggle. Her hands relaxed and let go of her shoulders. Her anxious expression shifted into peace as she beamed a grateful smile at Princess.

"She wouldn't wish for such Fate to befall me, but I am just as irrational and selfish as her. She'll understand and love me, even though I cause just as much pain as she did to me."