Marken had gone to bed after their enjoyable kiss, able to find sleep much quicker than he had the night before. Though Ella didn't come to visit him directly after the governess left, like he'd expected her to, he still assumed she would find her way to his bed soon enough, just like the night before. He was content enough with that thought to fall asleep quickly, his form splayed across his bed in a quiet slumber.

He was jolted awake by Ella shaking him, opening his eyes groggily. "Ella? Can't you just slip into my bed before I'm sound asleep?" He sounded exceptionally tired, having just been jolted awake from his peaceful sleep. Even still, he was happy to see, her, and it reflected in his tone, just in a rather sleepy manner. In his state, he didn't see the clutched vial of poison, instead only staring up at Ella's face. That's when he finally noticed the tears beginning to drip down her face.

"Is something wrong Ella?" He said in a concerned tone, clearly worried for her now. He sat up more fully, looking directly at her. He took in her form, her worried face, the look in her eyes, and reached his hand out to grab her open hand, the one with the poison vial too far away from him to see or grab.