Conrad had been ill prepared for the darkness event. He'd only recently been turned back to himself. It was a miracle that he wasn't the young, arrogant fool he'd been before or Emma wouldn't have been safe. The young Baron had no idea how to treat a daughter, nor cared to. Conrad had since then done what he could to bridge what he had broken in the time as his young self.
Emma was safe though, as was Natalie. As she came inside he rounded the corner having just shaved the stubble from his chin, wiping it clean with the towel. He pulled her to his chest, glad that she had not been in this. "I'm glad you were not here." The darkness had tried to claw it's way into his mind, breaking down all the mistakes he'd made, but with having somewhere to focus his attention it hadn't taken him over.