Chapter 195 - A Person

"Homura Emi…"

Kazehaya Gin's voice was serious. It was devoid of its usual sing-song tone that would give the listener an image of an easy-going guy. But because his tone was like this, it burrowed deeper than normal within Emi's mind, pulling her out of her thoughts, forcing her to deal with the present circumstance.

She looked at him with wide chocolate orbs that still showed her bewilderment over the events that happened. But she was no longer in her own world. Gin could see her anxiousness creating ripples within her eyes and he knew she was all ears to whatever he had to say.

"You are no longer a servant. From now on, you are already the Young Miss of the Homura House – the Koutaishidenka's younger sister."

In the party they just left, were the lawyers as well as officers from the Tokyo Metropolitan Building, and the mayor himself was. It wouldn't take long for Ryuu to finalize everything. Even if it's not yet official, as soon as Ryuu gave his word about the formal adoption, Emi was already considered his younger sibling, and everyone should act towards her accordingly.

"Y-Young Miss?"

Emi still looked shocked but she heard every word. It didn't mean she could accept it immediately of course even if she didn't have any choice. In the history of the Homura House, there hadn't been any adoption into the main family. There was always just one heir and some spare children but never adopted.

Emi was the first one – and Gin knew that Ryuu humored his request so that the clan could make it up to her. With this, even if she rejected Kazehaya Gin, she would still be privy to at least a part of the Homura House's inheritance, in the event that Ryuu's parents passed. That small part of the inheritance was still an astronomical amount for normal people.

Homura Emi was set for life even if she chose to spend the rest of it alone.

But of course, Kazehaya Gin wouldn't let that happen if he's given a chance. Now that he'd set the stage, he was prepared to do everything in his power to make Emi say she wanted to be with him – in spite of him being a cursed man.

Then again, he was not devious enough to force Emi to be with him. So he had to put everything out in the open and ask her properly. He swore, even if she said no, he would be gentlemanly enough to accept it.

Well, he still wished she'd say yes though.

"Yes, you are now the Young Miss of the Homura House," Gin repeated.

He watched as Emi bowed her head, looking sincerely stricken by her new position.

"Do you dislike it?" he asked.

Gin was now horrified. For someone who just promised he would never force Emi to be with him, he kind of forgotten o ask her if she wanted to be adopted before telling the Koutaishidenka to do it.

"Er…. I'm sorry. I should have asked you or told you first before I told Ryuu to adopt you."

Gin wanted to hit his head – well he'd probably do it later when he's alone. For someone who's good at giving relationship advice, he totally sucked at his.

Emi shook her head. "Please don't apologize, Young Master. This servant knows that you did it for my own good."

"Don't call me Young Master anymore," Gin told her seriously. "And stop addressing yourself as a servant. You are no longer one."

Hearing this, Emi looked sad again, and she became quiet.

Uh-oh.

Gin was now totally convinced he messed up. She's not happy. However, he couldn't tell Ryuu to take it back anymore. The Koutaishidenka's reputation would be in tatters if he suddenly halted the adoption process after the big show at the party earlier.

"Tell me why you are so unhappy?" he asked softly after. "I can't take back the adoption as I stupidly asked for it at the party, and the Koutaishidenka already announced it. Is being the Young Miss that bad?"

For most women, being the Young Miss of the Homura House was a dream come true. But of course, Emi had been in a position equal to the lady of the house but was still miserable. So he had no idea how to make her stop being so dejected.

Emi shook her head. "Being the Young Master's sister is a great honor."

Huh?

"Then why –"

"I was hoping to still work." Emi interrupted, still looking awkward and forlorn.

This gave Gin a lightbulb moment finally. How could he have forgotten this little issue?

"I – It was hard but," Emi hesitated for a bit before she continued. Gin appreciated how she tried hard to tell him her honest thought in spite of being too shy. "But I feel like a person after so long. I feel useful."

A person?

Kazehaya Gin's heart constricted in his chest. It wasn't so long ago that he had the same thought. After being sent out of the Kazehaya House to be in the Cedar Palace was the only time he started feeling like a person. Before, he was nothing more than an abomination being let to live because nobody was strong enough to kill him.

As for Emi…

Well, her status as a Makura made her into a living doll – someone groomed not to be smart but to be a concubine.

Gin bit his lip. This was another one of his regrets. Because of his bigotry, he never saw how much she's also suffering from her situation even if she was given everything.

Gin hadn't realized he had his head bowed looking depressed. He was still mentally berating himself for his stupidity in almost a decade when he felt a small hand touching the side of his face, and he looked up, startled.

Emi who had unconsciously reached out to touch him was equally stunned with her own actions. Then, as if remembering the state of her hand, her eyes widened as she tried to pull back, but Gin was faster. He held her hand in place, against his cheek firmly, not budging even if she tried to pull away again.

"Don't move." His soft voice was like a melancholic whisper in her ear. Gin knew he had a pleasant voice as women told him that over and over again. But seeing his soft command made Emi stop struggling, he felt grateful for his baritone for the first time.

"Homura Emi, do you like me?"