He had gotten so much taller than she remembered. It was one thing to see him across the fields of battle and another to come face to face with him and realise how much taller he had grown since the days of the academy. It was relief that she felt even as her body still trembled with the pure shock of seeing him again racing through her system.

He seemed so much more peaceful. Marianne leant into him for a moment, also pressing her forehead against him as she attempted to come to terms with the reality in front of her.

But then her mind - will all the good social grace and political sense she had been taught by the Margrave - caught up to her actions and she realised how grossly inappropriate she was acting. Marianne felt her face grow hot and flushed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have--" She pulled back as her eyes went wide with alarm. "Please forgive me." She requested, trying and failing to not be horribly embarrassed with her own behaviour. "I was so glad to see you again that I forgot my good manners." And she stepped back to once again put a polite distance between them, instantly sinking her eyes to the floor as she wished for the ground to swallow her up.