Gone as the hope that once filled his heart. Gone was the future or care to see the morning. Gone was the color that made life worth living.
He had broken down, sniveling and crying. It had been countless hours since they had been out in the night, searching, seeking, calling out for the children and his betrothed. But there was nothing. No sign of a struggle, no sign of a run. In fact, the hounds seemed to only be guiding them in circles.
He felt as if they must've combed the entirety of the forests surrounding his home. But as his men convinced him it was wise to return home and they'd do a better search when there was dalight, he had dropped to his knees and sobbed. It took several men to convince him his child was okay, all of the children were. That his fiance would be alright, and they'd find them later that day. That he needed to rest, and that they could continue their search efforts then.
He went on, sobbing and demanding they go into town, knock on every door to see what everyone had to say.
"Surely someone has seen them!"
But even when they allowed Lord Draven to start this venture, he was breaking down, going off on men and was over whelmed with fatigue and despair. When he finally was ushered home, he felt empty. And couldn't even bring himself to open the door, as he stood outside, weary and trembling, before eventually his maid opened the door and rushed to bring him in.
He was guided to a chair, because he himself could not remember going there. Tea must've been placed in his hands, his boots removed, a blanket thrown over his shoulder, and his eyes staring listlessly at the flames. If his maid was saying anything of importance, he wasn't fully hearing it, just nodding numbly as he felt the crushing weight of his failure close in on him within his own home.
Somewhere in the middle of his maid's conversation, Lady Gray was mentioned. And it was only then did he feel completely crushed, as his hands went limp and his tea cup toppled to the ground. He didn't remember what happened next, just that he was in her room, sitting at her bed side as he shook.
"Gods... Dahlia... I'm so sorry." He didn't even know if she had been awake, if he woke her or anything. The world was just a numbness he existed in, and he felt a crowned fool.