Marken found himself even more pleased than he thought he would be when she returned his affections, allowing himself to be pulled closer to her as they deepened the kiss. As their lips pulled apart with a small pop, sealed together, he felt very content and happy with Ella and what they'd done. Even as they caught their breath, Marken was already preparing himself to move in and assault her lips again.

Her sudden movement made him wonder what he did wrong, noticing the tears in her eyes almost immediately. Had he offended her somehow? He was left completely baffled, wondering what had gotten into her, to make her break into tears after their kissing. Maybe she thought he was repulsive, maybe he actually had been forcing himself upon her. His mind continued down these thoughts for the next few seconds, until she started speaking, Markens eyes going wide with the realization. He hadn't told her that their relationship had changed, now that her king had abandoned her. As far as she knew, after the war was over, Marken was going to throw her to the streets once more, but this time, she wouldn't have a king to return to... She'd have nothing.

He didn't know what to think for a minute, blank shock on his face as she cried her eyes out in front of him. She'd changed so drastically in only two days, and now here she was, crying because she thought he was going to abandon her too. He thought very carefully about how to say what he wanted to. "Ella, do you honestly think I'm going to abandon you, after your king already has? The terms of our agreement have changed. Before, you were to return to him, once your mission was over. Now, however, do you think I'm going to simply let you leave once this war is over?" He considered speaking more, but instead decided to allow the words to sink in, reaching over to grab her. Now he was the one consoling her. It was strange, how their roles changed so often, one to the other. But still, he took comfort in the fact that he could do such a thing.