Teodor then explained Owen's situation next. There were four criteria one must meet in order to be selected as a chivalric bodyguard: noble birth, the appropriate skills, that their family didn't side with the first prince faction, and that they must firmly believe nothing was more important than the knight order. If something mattered more to them, they could be extorted.
Owen had no attachment to money, status, family, or even his own life. He was a bastard son, born to Baron Klein and a maid. His father's wife would often beat him. She wanted her own son, Drake, to be the one to inherit House Klein.
Owen hated everyone in the family, but he was grateful to his father for taking him in, until the day he decided to come home after being absent for a long time. Owen wanted to show him how much he had grown.
And all his father said was, "Ah, Owen. The child I had with that maid."
Owen was shocked. His father had taken him in in case anything were to happen to Drake. But now he saw no reason to keep Owen alive. Baron Klein sparked up his fire magic, saying he would kill Owen himself.
That was when Owen realized his own father thought of him as nothing more than a low-life commoner. However, when his father struck, Owen deflected it and ran away crying.
The story of Owen's past was beyond Karolina's imagination. After being nearly killed by his own father, she was sure Owen was desperate to save her.
Colette could tell she was down about Owen, but he had no intent to return to his duties as a bodyguard knight. Colette asked her to furnish Owen with her unfinished handkerchief. For a knight, a gift from the person they have sworn to protect is an honor in itself. A finished handkerchief bears the meaning, "I am grateful for your wonderful work." An unfinished one means, "Though you may be inexperienced, I hold high hopes for your future."
Colette believed Owen didn't have the means to change. As an empty man, he lacked the strength to move forward. He thought Owen could move forward with the handkerchief.
She would pay him a visit in the interrogation room. He was stunned to hear that Teodor had told her of his past. She saw his point of view. Owen had been betrayed by a loved one, and felt nothing mattered anymore.
Owen denied her empathy, saying it must have been real nice for her to grow up in a loving family. He thought she couldn't understand.
But she did. Her mother had passed away giving birth to her. Her sister resented her, saying, "If only Mother were still alive instead of a disgrace like you." If there hadn't been someone that needed her, perhaps she would have been left unable to move forward, just like Owen. She may have lived her life resenting the world.
She presented him with the handkerchief and asked that he serve her once more — not for anyone else, but for his own happiness. And if he did, she would support him all the way. Then she could finish the embroidery.
He got down on one knee and pledged his sword and his loyalty to her, vowing to protect her until his life withered away.
All the while, Flora was still losing it over her failing arcane power. She couldn't blame her sister's absence as the cause anymore. Her father wasn't helping either. She heard that Karolina was engaged and happy now, when she had thought her fiancé was supposed to be a brute who cut down women and children without hesitation.
She then realized the start of her powers weakening coincided exactly with when Karolina left the country.
And worse yet, a nefarious religious leader wanted to take advantage of the chaos going on to dominate the kingdom of Celestia and take over everything.
Since the engagement between Karolina and Edward had been declared, their wedding was now fast approaching. Karolina's maid confirmed today's schedule with her. At ten, she would be joined by Prince Edward for planning the wedding, followed by a fitting and alterations for the wedding dress.
The clock striking ten, Edward entered and cut through the stuffy formalities. He told her their wedding would be standard. However, her father was not available to attend. Karolina figured that was the case with all that was happening back in Celestia.
Instead of a bridal walk, the bride and groom would make their entrance together. Karolina got so flustered, but Edward wanted to make it clear he had no intention of letting her walk by herself. He couldn't bear the idea of his bride walking alone while he still got to walk with his father.
Karolina felt her wedding dress was so beautiful she was almost ashamed to wear it. They couldn't dawdle, though. The empress was waiting on them. Karolina needed to get fitted right away.
She was shy. The empress told her it wouldn't do. Karolina's waist was slimmer than she had imagined. She detailed for the designer all the things the dress needed to best accentuate Karolina. Edward came in and things were still shy, but he was confident enough to tell Karolina she looked beautiful.
Wedding day. Marissa told Karolina to relax, but she was a bit beside herself after hearing the whole wedding would be broadcast across the empire. Marissa told her she had been working tirelessly all the way up to this point, and spoke words of confidence to give Karolina the boost she needed.
When she met up with Edward, he told her she looked so beautiful it was almost a shame he had to show anyone else.
They went into the hall. The people clapped and cheered, many saying they were truly a match made in heaven. Karolina's only regret was that her father wasn't here, but she knew he was thinking of her.
Everything else was what you would expect. In sickness and health, for richer or poorer, to love, honor, and cherish. Edward placed the ring on Karolina's finger. She thought it was so beautiful. He lifted the veil and kissed the bride.
Her first kiss tasted like happiness.