Chapter 3

Eléonore was furious, it seems that there was a rumor about her… that she was dating a kid younger than her, not only this was a misunderstanding (Al and her were NOT dating) but… what she did with her life was NOT anybody business; ever since she found about the rumor, she became so angry that her coworkers allowed her to get the rest of the day off, in order to prevent her killing someone (or if she did, it wouldn't be one of them).

So she found herself walking without a place to go, it was too early to go to the bar and she wasn't sure if she should go there anymore, she definitely did not want to give the rumor more steam…

"I swear if I ever caught whoever spread that stupid rumor… he is going to pay…"

The reason for that interruption was because she just saw something that made her forget all about the rumor and made her depressed enough to want to drink… a lot.

Later, Alphonse came into the bar looking forward to his meeting with Eléonore tonight, he had something important to tell her and wanted to get there before she did, he couldn't do that though as when he arrived he saw her… or at least what seemed to be her all depressed in a chair, surrounded by several bottles of wine, drinking as if there were no tomorrow.

"Elle chan what's wrong you look terrible"

"Nothing…" She said that in a rather pathetic tone, he had never seen Eléonore like this and he became very worried about her.

"Of course it's not 'nothing' come on tell me what's wrong with you"

"…I saw him today... My ex fiancé with his new wife…. "

"So… I thought you said you were over that guy"

"That's not my point, she… her wife… was young… probably less than 20, had breasts the size of her head and she looked and talked like an obedient woman that couldn't think her way out of a paper bag without her husband telling her how… in other words she was everything I'm not "

"Elle chan…."

"I mean… is that what replaced me?, it's that what men really want?, Some stupid pretty girl that just do what they say without questioning, a couple of breasts that just sit there looking pretty waiting for them to say the word… I could never be like that…"

After ending her rant she tried to order another bottle but Alphonse stopped her, she had drank more than enough liquor today and was better off going home, sure to actually convince her of doing that proved to be pretty difficult, but eventually he managed that feat and now they were both out of the bar, walking silently towards Eléonore's home.

"I must admit you continue to surprise me, you drank several bottles of wine and you can still walk perfectly, it's like you are immune to it…"

Alphonse was trying almost desperately to break the ice they had ever since they started walking, Eléonore was very depressed and he wanted to cheer her up at all cost.

"Al… I'm never going to get married am I…?" Alphonse tried to answer but she continued as if she wasn't expecting an answer in the first place.

"You know I hate my life… ever since I was a kid, all I ever wanted was to start my own family, to be a wife, a mother… but… I always had a difficult personality and because of it boys never really got close to me, so I poured all my hopes for marriage into my engagement… but then he came and shattered my dreams… at first I thought I could get over it, I accepted that job in order to distract me, but in the end it only made me feel more miserable… and… you know deep down I always kept the hope within myself, that one day I'd be married to a decent man, I could start a family and search for happiness with him… but now I realized… it's never meant to happen… it's impossible… because I'm just not good enough… "

He had to interrupt her as he hated seeing her like that.

"That's not true, Elle chan, it's true you are a difficult person, but to say that you are no good it's ridiculous I …"

"Lies, you know it's true, there isn't one man in this world that would want me as his wife"

"I would" he said without hesitation, something that made Eléonore stop to look at him.

"Hmpf… don't lie, we both know that all you want is a quick tour of my bedroom" She said coldly

"Ok I'll admit that was true when we first met, I thought you had this unapproachable aura around you and I wanted to see how far could I get…, but the more I got to know you the more I realized you are far more than a flirt, you are the most unique and interesting woman I ever met… and I'd be honored if you were my wife…"

Al then hugged her and holding her tight in his embrace he continued.

"…Because Elle chan… I think I'm in love with you…"

Eléonore then turned to face him while still in his embrace.

"You… love me…?"

"Yes, I do, and that's why I can't stand seeing you like this, you know, not all of us want a trophy wife… heck if I wanted someone like that I would have picked one off my mother catalog"

He had previously mentioned this on one of their conversations, since his mother wanted to have more grandchildren and his older brother wife could only bear two, she was obsessed with him marrying someone and even went as far as to prepare a catalog with potential wife candidates.

"So what do you think? If I were to propose to you, would you accept me?"

"It's not that easy, even if you proposed to me the difference between our status, race and age would get in the way"

"And what if I could make them all unimportant… would you then accept me?"

"I don't know… I just don't think I can return your feelings… but… if you proposed to me… I'd… probably accept"

After saying this Eléonore felt his face getting closer, she remained immobile as his lips came into contact with hers… her first kiss… it felt so passionate, her heart nearly stopped as she went weak on her knees and she felt for the first time in a long time that… she was loved… and wanted… she allowed herself to get lost in this feeling and wanted more of it… it was funny she had remained pure until this age for marriage, yet right now… if he said the right words… she might just forget about everything and become his woman… her mother would kill her if she ever heard that.

A few moments later their lips separated and Al created a little distance between their faces, he wanted her to hear his next words carefully.

"Elle chan listen, I have to go back to Germania for a while, but don't worry, I'll send my proposal to you as soon as I can … so please look forward to it"

"Ok... I will wait for it… so don't forget or I'll get mad…" Eléonore said while trying to recover her characteristic frown.

"Sure I promise, I won't forget it"