There was a mixture of relief & horror at Marken's explanation of the night before. She was happy that the two of them hadn't done anything I ruin her reputation as the crown prince's fiancée, but at the same time, she was reeling over having told him of her scars. What had he thought of them? Did Marken think she was hideous now? "My scars..." Ella mumbled quietly, "They weren't... too unsightly, were they?"

He shook his head, rubbing the temple as the headache pounded in his skull. "Well, I still slept curled up right next to you, so I'd take that as a hint to a no." He found a glass pitcher and poured two glasses of cool water carrying them to the bedside. "Drink up, it'll help the headache." He took a long sip of his and smiled to Ella afterwards, as if amused by her question. "I've been attached to you quite fiercely, I don't want you to think a few scars will get you out of your punishment!" He was making a joking reference to the very first time they'd met, how she'd originally been a spy against his father. It showed something to have the anger he'd held at the situation originally be dissolved in the cheerful look he held now.