Once Marcus stepped into the house of Beta Gerwulf, he was aware of Thessalia's presence among the other members of the house but tried his best to avoid making eye contact with her. He couldn't bring himself to face her after what had happened between them. He was struggling with his own conflicted emotions towards her.
When Thessalia greeted him with a polite bow and extended her hand for a handshake, Marcus couldn't bring himself to look at her. He felt a mix of emotions–anger, hurt, and confusion, but also a longing to be near her. He could sense the conflict in her as well, and it only added to his confusion.
He felt uncertain about how to react and decided to disregard her gesture, adding to his feelings of regret and guilt over his cold behavior. When he walked by her without ack
