48 Chapter 48 — Breakdown.

"Marianne!…D-dear, What's wrong?!"

Faltering, unsure if it was alright to touch me, the Duke reached out to my body. Not knowing what to do, his hands stayed at some distance, hesitating. Nonetheless... After what didn't get to be a mere second, I saw how he slowly brought his hands to mine, holding them gently to bring them back, folding their extended position.

Giving them a strong squeeze, the trembling was barely muffled by his careful grip.

I was still facing to the front, with my gaze still fixed on the fallen notes, seemingly unbothered by his attempt.

"Dear… Marianne… Marianne, look at me." — He called us with a hint of distress in his voice.

Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. My shivering kept going and my chilling body was way too frozen for me to even try facing him.

A few seconds passed, and then, the Duke's hands let go of mine in weakness. The freedom from his grasp... Made me feel extremely vulnerable to Marianne's fright.