Away from her

Eleanor spent most of her time with Cain to do some research and learn more about medicine, like that she was hoping to forget about her complicated feeling for Francis. And during these three week, another person suffered greater grief than Eleanor, the poor Sebastian. He escorted Francis around the empire and had to take care of all kind of tasks. His biggest trouble was of course none other than his majesty Francis Kein Klaus. Since they left the palace and to Sebastian's surprise earlier then expected, he found Francis to be calm for the first three days after they left the palace. But one morning, he got up and was in a dangerously angry state, the reason for his mood was of course a mistery. Sebastian and Val tried all they could to improve his mood but it was in vain. Every times they asked why he was in this state, he either ignored them or make them leave. And it was like that for the whole trip around the empire, nobles and beautiful womans all tried to get his attention but didn't even get a glance from him. It was a habit to ignore the annoying nobles but for him to ignore even the beautiful ladies.....that made Sebastian and Val speechless. So, two day before returning back they tried to understand what was on his mind and had a conversation with him. Only then, did he reveal his worries.

"I didn't know, what went through my mind to act the way I did."

"Wait, so if I summarize, you kissed a woman twice in her room and once at the Lac. Because of that, you made us go through a hellish month with your murderous state?!" Said Sebastian, with astonishment as he looked at Val who looked even more shocked then him. Val cleared his throat and said,

"Why do you complicated the situation?! just do as you always did....I mean just have fun and get over it."

Francis flashed a piercing glare at him and answered,

"I can't do that to her, that's why this situation bother me this much. I am confused about my feelings.....But I don't want to play with her feelings just for my selfish need."

Sebastian tilted his head in wonder and uttered, "well, that's what we have trouble understanding. Until now, you never bothered about woman's feelings so why is it different now..."

Francis looked at them for a while and thought, 'yeah why is it different?! I left the palace to clear my head and forget about all the incidents that happened between us. But since I stepped a foot out of the palace, the only things that went through my mind are her face, her smile, her enchanting blue eyes, our long discussions.....The more I thought about her, the more I missed her. Thus resulting in my mood getting worst days after days. I just wanted to see her. I did the opposite of what my heart and mind desired, that was staying beside her.'

As Francis didn't answer and stayed quiet for a while, Sebastian continued,

"Is she different?! Are you perhaps in love with that woman?! by the way who is the person you are talking about? do we know her?!"

Francis shut his eyes while smiling sarcastically and said,

"I was so stupid not seeing what was in front of my eyes and wondering about it all this time like a teenagers. Heh! ridiculous don't you think?"

"Did you finally figure it out?!" Said Val while carefully measuring his words so that he will not stir his anger.

"Yes, so I think it is time to return to the palace. Shall we go and prepare to depart?"

Sebastian sighed in frustration while putting his hand on the back of his neck and said,

"You can't be serious, they still need to take a break from the long trip nonstop you made us go through."

"You have one hour, after that those who can't keep up can just stay behind. It is not my problem." He said and left the room.

Sebastian stayed blank for a moment, then burst in anger, frustration and depression. Val smiled awkwardly at his and told him to get used to their friend's unreasonable request.

That's how they could come at noon at the palace, travelling all night long until morning. The knights were all exhausted as well as Sebastian and Val that looked like two slave that didn't sleep for the whole trip since they had to support Francis's mood and arrangement.

All the servants and butlers, nobles and knights were in front of the palace entrance to welcome the emperor. Though, Francis didn't really care about all the ceremonious welcome, his eyes looked left and right through the crowd and didn't find the only person he wished to see for the whole trip.

He got down from his horse and instructed some arrangements to Val and Sebastian. He turned around and found Cain standing in front of him, smiling happily and trying to hug him. He avoided his attempts and said,

"Seem like our dear doctor doesn't have much works to do for him to come here and play around....maybe sending you to Alphonse wouldn't be a bad idea."

"Haha! your jokes are as funny as ever Francis. About my work, it went smootly thanks to a smart lady."

"Do you mean..."

"Yes, Lea often visited my office for three week." He winked at him and continued, " We had a lot of fun." It was obvious to the eyes of the witnesses, that Cain was trying to tease Francis. Sebastian standing behind Francis gestured him to stop infuriating him but it was too late. Francis grabbed him from the collar of his shirt, drawing him towards him and said,

"And can you specify what you mean by that?"

Cain understood the gestures that Sebastian was making a moment ago and said while smiling jokingly,

"Ahahah! well you know, it was of course all about work and nothing else. She helped me big time in the medical garden and my disciples were there too." He said to assure him of the fact that they were not alone.

"It better be the case." He let him go while patting his shoulder and continued, "How is she?"

"She is fine, always working hard but there was times when she seemed absent minded. Maybe something or someone is tormenting her. If I knew who the bastard was I would have punched him to make him pay for making her sad." He said dramatically, clenching his fist in from of his face and making an angry face like a good actor while been clearly aware of the identity of the man in question. Francis understood his message and viciously smiled as he said,

"Right, I would have done the same too, but I wouldn't forget the guy who didn't do anything to comfort her and only looked at her while she was depressed. Don't you think that he need a good punching too?!"

"Eh? hahaha,....No way, he is a gentle guy, he at least didn't leave her alone like some other man."

"Heh! seem like we must settle this then..."

Francis put his arm around Cain's shoulder and they entered the palace while laughing and joking. Sebastian couldn't figure out if those two were joking or not some times, but he knew that Cain was the only one who had the guts to tease Francis all the time without fear, wether he was angry or not.