Chapter 135 - The Real Victim

"What happened to you? You were supposed to arrive just a bit later than I did," Suzuki Aki commented upon seeing the Homura International's CEO stride towards the conference entrance.

It was still early for the last day of the summit to start, but it was strange for Kazehaya Gin to arrive only now when he knew he would have left the Cedar Palace almost the same time that he did. 

"Well, I had to stay behind a bit to settle some things."Kazehaya Gin sounded vague, but Aki already had an idea what it might have been.

The older Suzuki had also recognized Gin's unusual behavior at breakfast after Ara's question about jealousy. He was not surprised that Gin had stayed behind to talk to the Koutaishidenka about it. One good thing about the Young Master Kazehaya was that he was always very protective of the Homura heir; he'd do everything to make things right for his younger cousin even at the expense of his own happiness.

It was stupid, but his loyalty was without question.

"What did Ryuu say about my sister's possible jealousy?" he asked. He was curious.

Kazehaya, on the other hand, was surprised. "You knew?"

"It wasn't hard to miss," Aki shrugged. "She wouldn't ask if she's not experiencing it."

The Homura International CEO sighed as he and Aki took their seats. After yesterday, it was already totally clear that there was some connection between their companies, and so, they had given up pretending to be strangers. Suzuki Raiden Group's and Homura International's people sat together this time.

"Well, it looks like things are okay between them," Kazehaya Gin informed the older Suzuki.

"My sister knows about Emi?" Aki was now surprised as well.

He wasn't expecting his sister to know so soon, but he approved that she did and that the Koutaishidenka was honest about it.

"You know about Emi as well?"Kazehaya's hazel eyes were wide at him.

"Yayoi told me," Aki said, and before Kazehaya became upset since the Head Housekeeper took it upon herself to inform Aki, he explained. "She just wants me to help explain to my sister in case Ara finds out and misunderstands. With Emi in the Cedar Palace, even if people don't talk, do you honestly believe you can hide it from my sister?"

Kazehaya Gin shook his head. "Of course not. It was why I felt worried this morning."

Aki shrugged again. "If my sister knows and she said she's okay, then it's fine. There's no need to worry about it."

"Are you sure?"Kazehaya Gin couldn't believe it was this easy.

"Why not?" Aki countered. "Knowing my sister, if she's unhappy about something, there's no way she wouldn't let Ryuu know immediately. She can't hide her displeasure and disapproval on things, you now? That's why we always fought before."

Remembering the reports on Ara and her infamous fights with her brother, Gin had to agree albeit reluctantly. Ara could be rational, but she also had a stubborn streak – and she wouldn't care about reason when it happened. She would always tell you what she thought regardless of how anyone would feel about it afterwards.

Kazehaya Gin, however, looked at the other curiously. "How about you? Weren't you even a bit upset about that woman staying at the Cedar Palace?"

"Why would I?" Aki frowned. That woman indeed.

He couldn't understand Gin's hostility towards Emi, despite the fact that this guy obviously liked her. The way that Kazehaya treated the poor girl was as if she did something so unforgivable.

"Because you're Ara's brother and the woman's a potential love rival of your sister."

Ah…

Gin had no idea about Emi's feelings it seemed.

"Love rival?" Aki almost laughed but stopped himself. "If Emi has even a sliver of a chance, do you think Ryuu would bother with my sister?"

"Of course," Gin answered hastily as if he was a hundred percent sure. When Aki raised his eyebrow at him, he explained.

"Didn't you ever wonder why Ara was chosen as Ryuu's wife since birth?" he asked, and Aki nodded.

Of course. He'd always wondered about that. The Suzukis was a newly prominent family in the business world. It only started with Aki's father. They had no way of having connections with an old, established clan like the Homura House, and yet, Ara was sought by the clan to be engaged to the heir.

Gin looked like he was contemplating his words before he told him the reason.

"As an old clan, the Homura House, of course, is an archaic noble family with archaic practices and traditions. You already know that since the Makura system was also one of those," Kazehaya started. "It's also a practice for the clan to ask a seer about the heir's fate before birth. As soon as the lady of the house became pregnant with Ryuu, the Old Master and his wife were given a prophecy."

"A prophecy?"

Kazehaya Gin nodded. "It was stated clearly that only by forming an alliance through marriage with a female child of the Suzuki couple will the future of the Homura House prevail."

Ha?

Suzuki Aki had never heard anything more ridiculous in his life. What mumbo jumbo in this century was that? Of course, it was awful of him to judge someone else's tradition, so he shut his trap.

"So I'm saying that regardless of what Emi's chances of attracting Ryuu are – not that I'm saying he is attracted to her of course, he will marry Ara. It's always only Ara who is meant to be the lady of the Homura House."

WHAT?

This time, Aki couldn't help the scowl forming on his face. Kazehaya Gin misunderstood. He thought Aki was upset because of Ryuu's possible superficial treatment to his sister.

"Don't misunderstand okay? Ryuu really cares about Ara. He wouldn't be that persistent or attentive towards her if not," Kazehaya Gin pacified, but the other still looked unhappy. "What?"

After considering his thoughts, Aki let out a sigh. "I'm not misunderstanding anyone. I'm confident Ryuu cares about Ara," he said as his frown deepened, imagining the sweet, hardworking girl he had seen. "What I can't understand was why, knowing all of these, did your family still take Emi in?"

Suzuki Aki was exasperated. "Poor girl. She's being treated as a villain by everyone – the other woman when it wasn't her who made the circumstances that way. Isn't she the victim in all this?"