Between love and affection

That morning, Alphonse came to check on Eleanor and took her for a walk in the imperial garden, she was wearing a light blue dress that length her ankle and wore a ballerina shoes.

"So, where did you run to, last night?!"

".....I am sorry for disappearing like that, I was trolling in the garden."

"No need to apologize, I am relieved that you are okay. Tell me, did you enjoy your night or did something happen because you don't really look well."

'Is it showing on my face?...I couldn't stop thinking about it since I woke up, I cried without even knowing because every times I think about it, it hurt too much...' She looked at the flowers in a daze and finally answered with her eyes still contemplating the flowers,

"I saw your brother at the lac...and...that's all."

"Eh? He didn't say anything?!"

She looked at him suspiciously and said,

"No, and it seem like you intended for us to meet at the lac....you, mean liar."

"Ahahahah! I am really sorry, I didn't mean to trouble you, I just wanted to tease Francis, since he is always so stiff."

"Well...I would have preferred to be warned not to go....like that I wouldn't have to feel this way." She wispered with her tearful eyes, she looked away and blinked her eyes to stop tears from flowing on her cheek.

"What?! did you say something Lea?" He say without noticing her expression.

She put on a bright smile and said,

"Next time you lie to me, I will never talk to you Al."

"Ah! That will never happen my lady, I am deeply sorry." He said bowing toward her playfully.

"Hahaha! I guess you learned your lesson."

"Yes I can't afford to lose a precious friend after all."

"I am honored..." She said and then with a concerned expression she continued

"By the way, Francis left the empire, did you manage to see him? since you will be leaving soon." she asked because she wanted to know if she was the only one who didn't know and if it were true it would really mean that he avoided her.

"Yeah, I did meet him this morning at the gate of Clausius to wish him a good trip. Why? did he not tell you?!"

"...No, he didn't."

"Sigh! this guy doesn't change, I knew that it was weird for him to go so soon like that because he never liked the tour around the empire, he always used to push it back to one week after his birthday." While scratching the back of his head, he tried to figure out her thought. As he was looking at her expression he continued,

"Did something really happen at the lac?"

"....we kissed." She said after a moment of silence while trying to hold her tears.

"Why do you look so sad then?"

"I.....he said that he didn't want to accept my feelings."

"And do you have feelings for him?" He said with an indecipherable expression.

"uh, Huh?....Well, yes I guess, since he is the first person I kissed, and I didn't hate it so....I.."

'Wait, why am I confused about my feelings?! I just thougth that since I feel happy and didn't hate his kiss, that he must be my one and only beloved like I learned in Eilhem. But why, am I confused now.'

"If I kissed you now and you happen to not hate it, does that mean you love me too?!"

"Eh?! Well that's..." She said with her eyes wide from surprise at his affirmation and clenched her fist on her dress.

Then an unexpected situation happended, Alphonse leaned toward her face and grabbed her chin to lift it and put a light kiss on her lips. When he looked at her eyes, she froze from the surprise attack of Alphonse. He smiled and in the light of the sun, he looked incredibly handsome, in that aspect he was equal to Francis. Maybe because of the fact that they were brother, they were both terribly good looking.

As she continued to face his gaze, she slowly figured out what happened and became bright red.

"Duke Alphonse,....What are you doing?!" She said while holding her face with her hand and looking even more like a tomatoes. That made Alphonse laugh and he said with his usual gentle face,

"I am just helping you to figure out what you really feel....so? did you hate my kiss?"

"No, but even so how could you...." She began to say with anger but stopped because of the answer that came out of her naturally. 'I really didn't hate it like with Francis, but what does that mean?!' She thought while looking aimlessly at all the flowers.

"You didn't hate it yes, but Eleanor that doesn't necessarily mean that you love him. Right?"

"I...I know, but then what did I just feel?"

"This just mean that you don't hate the person, you feel affection toward me and Francis but it is different from love. There is difference between love and just mere affection."

"...."

Eleanor couldn't utter another words feeling confused about the obvious fact.

"Lea, you have plenty of time to think about it while you are here. I just don't want you to feel sad, because of feeling you may not even have for Francis and torment yourself while he is away." He took her face with his hands and smiled for her as he continued,

"There's no need to feel hurt like that. Now get your strengh back and have fun at the palace while you are alone and free do not think about anything else."

She managed to smile at him and said,

"Yes, I will do that. Thanks Al."

"I will have to go back and do preparation for the emperor's stay at Oasius, so I must take my leave." He said and as he kissed her cheek he wispered those few words beside her right ear.

"But do think about my confession too. I am talking about the kiss of course."

He quickly left before she could say anything and she stood there with her flushed red face and her hand on her ear.

"Wasn't he flirting with you?!" Said Anne with an excited tone. Miel and Anne were following them from a little distance, even if they couldn't hear what they were saying, they could at least see, so now they were talking about it in Eleanor's room.