*Clank*

Later that same day, in the evening, Owen was finally released.

The news of Catherina's death hasn't reached Owen's ears yet since he was in the innermost part of the palace.

"Her majesty won't see you off since she said that you're utterly useless for her now." Ash, the empress's shadow stated.

"Like hell we want to see her!"

"There's only one person whom we want to see and that is Rina."

"I can finally see her."

"Let's get out of here."

As soon as the magic-restraining handcuffs were unlocked, Owen was finally free. He felt his mana flowing continuously inside him again but he still needs time to recover.

The wolf's bane scent was barely there and he was already longing to get out of that place.

But before leaving his cell, he wanted to do something.

Owen glared at Ash.

That man was the one who abducted him. Because of him, he didn't see Rina for almost two months.

"What-"

*THWACK!*

Applying all the strength that he had, Owen heavily landed a blow on Ash's face.

"Ack-!"

"I don't want to see your face again but I'll be back for you soon." Owen muttered in a cold tone.

"And tell this to the empress. Once I regain my full strength,

I will absolutely kill her."

Owen used teleportation magic and disappeared in a flash.

'Rina. I'm coming to see you.'

...

"Urk-"

Owen arrived in the Dwight territory. He was currently at the backyard since it was also the place near Catherina's balcony.

Outside the garden, he leaned on a tree for a bit.

As expected, his body was too tired to move. After all, he just got extracted from his magic and he was currently physically weak.

But he wanted to see Rina already.

That less than two months  without her felt like forever.

"Look! Rina's room is bright!"

"She must still be awake."

"I wanna see her alreadyyy."

"I miss her boohoo-"

Even the fairies wanted to meet her already.

*Pitter*

*Patter*

It started raining all of a sudden.

'I need to hurry.'

Owen speedily teleported on Catherina's balcony to check on her.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Rina?"

Back in the days, Owen told Rina that if she heard that knocking sign, it was him, waiting outside.

But there was no response yet.

He impatiently opened the balcony doors and slid the curtains aside-

"!!!"

Only to see an empty room.

"What's going on?"

*Creak* Someone suddenly opened the door.

"*Gasp* Who are you?!"

It was Emma.

Owen immediately went on guard and he was behind Emma in no time... Whilst strangling her neck slowly.

"Euk- what are you-"

"Where's the lady in this room? Why is this place empty? Answer or else I'll kill you right now." Owen coldly asked, strengthening his grip on her neck.

Emma struggled for a moment.

"I-I'll answer- urk- let me.. go for a moment-"

Owen slowly released Emma.

*Cough* *Cough* *Inhale*

"Now. Answer me."

"Hah- Why are you looking for my lady? What's your relationship with her?" Emma glared at him while massaging her neck.

"That's not the reason why I let you go." Owen growled.

He was too tired to handle anyone's bullsh't right now. He only wants to see Rina.

"My- My lady is not here anymore. The things in this room have already been moved earlier as soon as possible. I'm only here to collect the letter that madame ordered me- Ahck-!"

Owen couldn't stand it anymore and choked Emma mid-air.

"Is it that hard to answer my question? Where is Catherina right now?" Owen repeated.

"Wait! My lady has something to give you! Let me go!" Emma yelled.

Hearing her statement, Owen immediately let go of her.

"Rina? She has something to give me? What is it?" His voice suddenly softened for a bit.

*Cough* *Cough*

'This bastard is insane!' Emma quietly thought.

"*Cough* Yes. I heard it from my lady earlier. She said to give that letter to someone with sky blue hair and a person with different eye color."

Until Catherina died, Emma was outside, eavesdropping on her final moments. She wanted to hear and see how her life ends.

'This man... He must be my lady's lover or something.' Emma glared at Owen.

"A letter. It's inside that drawer." Emma pointed at the drawer.

It was the last thing that remained in this room. Other things like the bed, closets, tables and furnitures were already moved after Catherina's death.

Hearing this, Owen immediately strode towards the drawer and opened it.

There he saw a folded paper neatly kempt inside.

Emma noticed that Owen was too absorbed in opening the letter. She was afraid that he would hurt her if she stayed there any longer so she just left the room.

After all, the letter finally found its owner.

*SLAM* The door harshly closed.

Now, Owen was all alone in the room. Together with his letter of course.

He slowly unfolded the paper and started reading its contents.

[To: Owen

If this letter reached you, it means that I'm no longer here.

I didn't want to say goodbye to you so I just wrote this poem instead. Please don't be mad at me for writing this.

Owen chuckled in reading that part.

He could never get mad at her. There was no reason to. In fact, nothing about her could make him mad.

He continued to read and soon arrived at the poem part.

You looked so cute when I first saw you
I liked your eyes that had hues of blue
You were similar to the sun,
And you became my source of fun

I slowly got fond of you,
And maybe you already knew
Sad days were ahead,
But I hoped that it was just all in my head

If all that's left of me is none,
I'm sorry for leaving you alone
I don't know what to feel,
Because this doesn't feel real

I apologize for making this memory,
A memory, full of agony
I hope this poem reaches you
I like you, you don't have a clue

Listen carefully from here on,
Because I can't say it if I'm gone
Just know that this is true;

Owen, I have always loved you