Chapter 193 - Proposal

That's it?

Emi couldn't help but be confused. She was taken to this place to be reprimanded about her hands?

Well, she'd been hated for so long she couldn't help not having any other idea why else would she be summoned.

Seeing her expression, Kazehaya Gin chuckled, shocking the poor girl more. She quickly tugged hard to take her hands back and hide them behind her, feeling embarrassed.

"I-I'm already letting them heal Young Master."

Miss Ara and now the Young Master Gin had both scolded her about her horrible hands, and so she felt so small. But she couldn't help it. She didn't know she had allergies to soap used for cleaning, and when she tried to use gloves, she realized she's allergic to the material too. So, the skin on her hands was rough and broken.

"No cleaning chores anymore for you," Kazehaya Gin stated matter-of-factly.

But instead of making Emi happy, she looked quite alarmed as she misunderstood.

"Young Master, I will let them heal properly. I will just use a different type of gloves so please don't remove me from my work."

Emi knew her voice came out pleading and she almost flinched in self-disgust. She hated begging, but with her employment on the line, she couldn't help but succumb to this state.

On the other hand, Gin realized what was wrong, and he scolded himself for not making it clear. Emi's been raised differently and sometimes her understanding about things was not that good.

A totally naïve princess…

Yet, regardless that Homura Emi had fallen from grace even if it's not her own doing, she was still the sheltered princess of the Homura House. The pair of badly battered hands was proof of it. She was not born to do meager chores of a servant.

"No cleaning work for you," Gin repeated with finality, and he almost smiled in amusement as Emi looked like she wanted to cry but her pride wouldn't let her.

She looked totally cute with her nose red, her chocolate eyes misty, and her lips pressed into a grim line as she struggled not to complain or beg further. Gin wanted to see this cute crying girl longer but stopped himself. He was not here to tease her of course.

"You will remain doing supervisory tasks and paper works. But you are not allowed to do manual labor anymore. Do you understand?"

As if finally realizing she still had her job, Emi looked up to him in awe. "I-I understand Young Master…"

Her look of relief finally broke his control and he laughed. As expected, Emi looked confused, and if he was correct, a bit offended as well. But knowing her, she would never complain.

After a few minutes of mirth, Kazehaya Gin finally settled down.

"Sorry about that," he apologized, and Emi could do nothing but look down. 

Silence hung between them again. Gin almost sighed before he started pestering her with questions. He was totally not used to women not initiating conversations with him or not fawning over him with praises. As he was noisy, Emi was too quiet – a total contrast of personalities.

"Are you mad at me?"

Emi looked taken aback and shook her head immediately.

"Or do you still hate me for treating you so badly over the years?"

His next question followed the first one like a bullet.

"No! I never hated you!" Emi exclaimed.

Her first passionate words made him smile. At least she didn't hate him.

Emi recovered from her earlier announcement, and she looked like she's regretting suddenly yelling like that. "I-I…"

"It's fine." Gin cut her off. "I prefer you to speak your mind than being all polite with me."

The chestnut prince almost laughed again at the girl's doubtful look. "I can't do that…" she whispered uneasily, but it was loud enough for him to hear.

"Why not?" he challenged. He didn't understand, but he felt like he had to know more and more things about her today.

"Be-because you are the Young Master and I'm… I'm a servant."

Oh.

"And if I'm not the Young Master?"

Kazehaya Gin was now in a haggling mode. If he wanted to woo her, he would have to make her situation better first. He didn't want her to think about nonsense that would hinder the relationship he had in mind for the two of them.

"If I'm not the Young Master, would you treat me equally then?"

"E-equally?"

Emi stared at him as if he'd gone mad. It was understandable though. How could she treat him equally? No matter how much hard she worked, the fact that she's a servant and he's the Young Master would not change.

Kazehaya Gin knew this of course. It was why he was ready with a scheme.

Emi smiled sadly as she looked down.

"If you are not the Young Master, then yes," she said softly. But of course, it was clear that she didn't believe their status to change.

"You said that. No more taking it back," Kazehaya Gin grinned, making her confused.

"Homura Emi," he called, his voice dripping with authority.

"Y-yes Young Master?"

"You're fired."

"Huh?"

Before Emi could regain her senses after being dismissed from her job, Kazehaya Gin took her hand again and pulled her back into the Cedar Palace. He didn't give her time to think. If he did, she would come up with nonsense again.

"You know I don't court girls, right?" Gin asked lightly as he turned to her while they walked.

Emi's face grew dim, and he knew she was remembering the women that had always flocked around him. She must probably be wondering why he's asking these things. She nodded anyway.

"Then it will be my first time courting someone so be patient with me okay?" he added, stunning Emi.

Court someone? Her?

He grinned at her shocked expression.

"Y-Young Master?"

"Don't call me that. You got fired just now remember?" he reminded her which finally made Emi realize that she had indeed been relieved of her post.

She didn't have time to feel depressed however as they reached the banquet hall already. Gin continued to pull her non-stop towards the Koutaishidenka, and to Emi's horror and his amusement, he held her by the shoulders and presented her to the Homura Prince as if she was a gift.

"I'm taking claim of this one, but she's too stubborn with hierarchy," Gin declared making everyone stop and stare at them.

To Emi's further bewilderment, instead of getting angry, Homura Ryuu looked thoughtful. "What do you have in mind then?"

As if Kazehaya Gin was expecting this question, he unabashedly made a proposal. "She's already a Homura. How about adopting her as your real sister?"

Emi wanted to faint in embarrassment, but the Young Master's reply made her freeze on the spot.

"Sure. Why not?"