Her hang stung, badly, but he pushed it away for now, looking straight up at her, his eyes blazing. He made no move to physically assault her, simply staring up at her with his piercing eyes. "Up until now, you've been following the orders of your king. Why should I have assumed you would do anything else? War strategy is more than 'kill the generals, win battles.' Think about it. If you killed my father, the people would be angry at your kingdom, and it would only further justify their presence in the war, picturing your kingdom as barbaric. Kill the kings wife, and you break the king. He won't be an effective leader, and since deaths in the family are generally bad on all sides, it would be kept a secret, more or less. You think they care that she doesn't directly impact the war?"

He was angry at her, though now it was for striking him., It was rather clear that she wasn't the one who poisoned his mother. He'd honestly doubted she had from the beginning, his rage had just... Lacked focus. He stood up, looking down to Ella and let out a small sigh. "I'm sorry, I just... I was told my mother had a week to live, and you're the only person in this castle, or this area, who would have been able to poison her, that I know of. You don't think I wouldn't suspect you?" Markens voice was much lower, as he looked back down to the ground.

"How would you explain knowing about poisons and the like to Glenn? As much as I want your hand, I'm not going to do something that will just turn around to screw us both." His question was valid. How would a noblewoman know about poisons and cures, unless she employed them? He imagined Ella had some kind of answer, however, and he waited for his, his hands shaking at his side. It was obvious, to anyone looking at him, that he was far more distraught about this then he let on.