When the tailor left the room, Aurora was also nowhere to be seen. Since it was summer in this land, it was still light outside. I felt a bit stuffy after eating all that food and the realization that I hadn't exercised for several days already, pushed me to make a decision to do some jogging in the garden.

The uniform I received from Raphael indeed looked small, but it was still loose on my body. I put on my sports bra and covered it with the white shirt. I tied the shirt in a knot at the front so it doesn't interfere with my movements. The pants were too long, so I had to tuck them at the ankles. The boots were also two sizes too big so I decided to put on my sneakers. My hair was already dry due to the fact that the weather was hot and my hair was short. I found a scrunchie in my backpack and tied my hair at the back of my head just so it doesn't fall on my face. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smirked.

"Well, I look kinda funny but it's the best I can do with what I have."

I sneaked out of my room and bumped into Raphael right away.

- Where are you going, miss Yoona?

- Well, I am a fitness being so I need to exercise my body a lot. I was on my way to the garden if that's alright. I didn't know if I needed somebody's permission first.

He looked surprised but not hostile. He looked me up and down and pulled a tiny smile on his face.

- S-sure, go ahead.

I waved him goodbye and ran away. He does seem a little intense but I don't think he is a bad guy.

I wasn't sure if the prince had said something to his servants, but my leaving the palace did not attract any more attention. People were looking at me weirdly, probably because of my attire, but no one dared speak to me.

"I really am inside the Imperial palace, huh? It still feels like a really bizarre dream or a hallucination."

I stepped outside the first door I saw and got slapped in the face with a blow of hot summer wind.

- Geez, this sure is a windy place!

I started looking around - there was a road leading to the high metal gates, probably the main entrance to the palace? There was a big fountain in the middle with 4 benches surrounding it. Very romantic, especially for the daytime reading. Both to my right and left, there was a huge garden, beaming with fresh summer colors of flowers and trees. I could even smell all kinds of flowery scents with every blow of the wind.

Although my initial goal was to run a few laps around the palace, I decided to take a stroll first, to appreciate the beauty of the garden. I started walking the tidy rocky path and was quickly hidden in the shadows of the garden trees. I did not know what kind of trees they were, although I was able to recognize the apple trees and small trees that resembled birches. All of a sudden I missed my home. Sure, Seoul was not the easiest city to live in, but looking at all this unfamiliar nature, I couldn't help but miss the cherry blossoms blooming every spring. The thought of not being able to see them in bloom ever again was like a brick hitting my head. The knowledge of one's certain death can bring them down in many ways, unfortunately, I was stupid enough to think my world had to stop that day, on the bridge over the Han river. I was stupid enough to not take my chance to appreciate the things that brought me joy, while I still had time. It's ironic how people are so quick to react in so many wrong ways.

While I was standing in the middle of the garden, contemplating the downfall of my spirit, I started feeling a ticklish sensation around my legs. I looked down, still halfway in my own thoughts, when I suddenly screamed.

- What is this?!

It was a huge white dog walking around me in circles and giving me occasional sniffs on my pants.

- There was a dog here? Where did you come from?

I bent over to pet the dog and I heard someone running toward me. I straightened my body and saw prince Dorian running toward me with another dog behind him. The second dog was of the same size as the white one, though its fur was raven black.

"A good match for its owner."

- Miss Yoona, what are you doing here?

- Oh, hi there. I wanted to take a walk since I felt kind of bored being locked up in that room.

The prince looked rather disappointed.

- Oh, don't get me wrong, the room is fantastic! It's just that I'm used to certain things I had in my other world which you don't have in here.

"Like my phone or a laptop. God, I'd do anything to watch some TV right now."

- Maybe you can tell me what you want and I can ask people around? You know, the Empire is quite big and wealthy, we have all sorts of things here.

He looked down with an embarrassed look on his face. Does it hurt his pride as a prince that I don't find this place so fascinating? I shook my head and smiled.

- It's alright, there are some things that should only remain in the place I came from. Say, are these your dogs?

- Yes, the white one is Merlyn and the black one is Dotty.

- Oh so the black one is a girl! I thought it looked like you, though.

I laughed awkwardly and stretched my hand to pet Dotty. She came to me without hesitation and placed her head under my hand.

- What a smart girl!

Dorian chuckled and started scratching Merlyn under his chin.

- So you like dogs, prince Dorian?

- Yes. I like animals in general - dogs, cats, horses... There used to be a kitten that lived in the palace but she ran away when she grew up, I know she still sticks around cause I bring her food and leave it at the entrance to this garden, and every evening the bowl is empty.

It reminded me of the cat that lived next to our orphanage back when I was still a kid. He was grey as if he rolled over in a pile of wooden ashes. He used to come to our yard every day and we used to sneak out some food for him. We even had specific assignments for each of us - Eun Mi would bring water, Hyun Jae brought oatmeal, and I brought meat or fish. Of course, our food acquisition would rotate every day, but it was really exciting back then... We felt like we were spies on an important mission to save a cat.

- Do you miss this cat, prince Dorian?

- I guess so... She used to sleep in my room with me all the time when she was younger, but I guess it's just a part of their nature to leave however they like.

He said this in a somewhat sad voice and I couldn't help but think that he was not just talking about the cat.

- You know, I never had a chance to have a pet back in my world. I really wanted one though. I guess it's just another thing I will regret.

The prince looked at me with a concerned look and sighed.

- If we see that your effort is beneficial to us, I will allow you to have a pet here at my palace. For now... if it's okay with you, you can play with Merlyn and Dotty. If they allow you, of course.

He laughed lightly and hugged Dotty. I watched him being so kind to his pets and felt something warm spreading inside my chest.

"Care. The word that is used a lot when talking about children. The word that I heard the least when I was a child. This guy cared for the ones close to him, be it his pets or his knights. He wanted to summon a goddess's disciple to make sure his men succeed at war."

- You should rest today, miss Yoona. I want us to start your training plan tomorrow. The Emperor and his wife are going to be busy this week, so I can't introduce you to them right away, we will have to postpone it.

I looked into his eyes and smiled warmly. Despite his shyness and awkwardness, he can sound very mature sometimes.

- How old are you, prince Dorian?

- I'm turning 21 next year... And leaving to war right after that.

The prince was not looking at me, his gaze was directed somewhere far in front of us as if he was trying to look into that dreadful future that awaits him next year.

- But why do you have to go? And what kind of war is it going to be? You know, in my world, we are trying the best we can to avoid war -

- It's a necessity.

He interrupted me so suddenly and spoke those words so coldly, that I even got a bit scared. It was the first time I saw such a cold expression on his somewhat kind face. I guessed that war was not something that he himself thought necessary.

- Miss Yoona, here, in this world, there are things that can't be helped no matter how hard you try. I have to go to war because it is my duty as a prince... Let's leave it at that.

- Sure, let's do that.

Somehow I felt like those words were not directed to me but to the prince instead. Was he trying to convince himself like that? There were so many questions I wanted to ask but it looked like today was not my chance after all.

- I'm going to take my leave now. Let's meet tomorrow, Miss Yoona.

I bowed my head and watched him leave the garden with the dogs. Once I collected my thoughts again, I stood up and started running. I did not know where I was headed, I was just following the path that was in front of me until I got to the end. I wondered if Dorian felt the same, I wondered if he was just walking on the predetermined path without knowing what awaits him or how that path would end? I thought about my cancer and how there was also nothing I could do - am I walking on the predetermined path as well? But then what about me being summoned to this world? Life is sure a very complicated matter and sometimes it really feels impossible to comprehend even the smallest part of it.