Void Of Grief

Continuing The Search

The room was empty.

"Where did they go?"

Reinhard whispered to no one. Not a single life was there. His friends were no longer here. He was standing alone, like always.

Suppressing his turbulent emotions, he checked the bathroom just in case, only to find it empty too. He was now confused and worried. Deciding not to waste any more time, he ran out of the room and tried to look for them.

Each room was empty. Not even a single servant was there. That is strange. Very strange. There were many servants in the banquet hall, but they couldn't possibly be the only workers in this enormous mansion.

Reinhard knew that this was probably a case of abduction since his friends weren't so careless as to go on ahead without notifying him.

There was a twisted mixture of concern, disgust, anxiety and loathing, swirling around his stomach to his throat, that felt like was being choked by invisible hands of self-hatred.

But this wasn't the time to be having all these childish and selfish thoughts. Reinhard had already messed up by not being able to save his friends. All he can do now is to atone by saving them.

After some minutes of looking around, he returned to the hall. Outside, he heard some noise. It sounded like an argument.

"Get out of my way, I suppose. Betty needs to find Subaru, in fact."

A cold voice threatened the host of this party, Baron Jeremy Eckarte. Reinhard noticed that all the Emilia-camp members are out in the hall with worry apparent in their faces.

"Do not worry esteemed great spirit, I have sent my servants to look for the missing knights. They will find your contractor in no time."

Jeremy said with an assuring smile and gentle eyes. The blonde spirit's face scrunched up in annoyance.

"Betty knows that he is in danger, and you're telling me to not worry and wait, I suppose?! I know that he is somewhere below this manor, and as the owner of this place, you are well aware of where he is, isn't that right, in fact?"

Silence spread across the hallway. Reinhard just stood and watched. Emilia tried to calm down Beatrice, who was barely controlling herself from jumping into action.

Hearing Beatrice's words, Garfiel snapped.

"What? What does this mean, hah?!"

The atmosphere grew heavy by the bloodlust he released, as he approached the man in question, who simply smiled.

"Please rest assured, I'm sure they just got lost in this large mansion of mine..."

His ashen eyes suddenly stretched to an inhumane extent that it looked painful, while his graceful smile pulled to both sides, drawing a sickening parabola across his handsome face.

"...I'm sure."

"..."

Beatrice shuddered at his words as her throat dried up. Even Garfiel's face stiffened at this maniac. Jeremy turned back around with his hands behind him.

"I shall personally see into this matter if that gives you some relief. Please go back to the hall, and enjoy the party."

He emphasized the word please, as he walked away from the camp and passed by Reinhard.

"I hope you know what you aren't supposed to do."

He glanced at Reinhard through the corner of his eye, who nodded with slight hesitation. The baron smiled and nodded back.