Alinea

Huh? I'm…what?

Emi couldn't believe her ears. Her pair of huge chocolate eyes stared ahead where the formidable prince sat; her pink lips hung open, hoping she didn't hear incorrectly.

"Homura Emi, your role as the Makura will end today. You are now free to do what you want, and go where you want," Homura Ryuu repeated, and Emi's heart was so elated she felt tears fill her eyes.

Her dainty hand covered her mouth to stifle a sob of relief.

She was free.

But the Young Master's next words filled her with despair.

"You will leave the Cedar Palace as soon as possible."

On the other hand, her attendants thought that she was horrified, well because they were. If Emi was cast away, it would be the end for them. They would have to go back being normal servants of the house. All the luxury and benefits they were able to enjoy would be lost.

"Young Master, what does this mean? Emi-sama is the Makura. She cannot just go. Her role is very important to the clan. She cannot just leave like that."

"That's right. She was raised to fulfill her duty. How can she bear your children if you will let her go?"

"Enough!" Yayoi's voice thundered, and stopped Emi's attendants' arguments. They finally realized their faux pas, and were terrified when they finally saw how the Young Master's eyes stared at them dangerously.

"I, Homura Ryuu, will only wed and have children with Suzuki Ara in this lifetime," the Young Master declared, and an unexplainable warmth filled Emi's core in spite her anguish.

Her shock finally fading, the Makura of the Homura House gave the prince her most beautiful smile as she bowed. "This servant hears and obeys the Young Master's wish," she yielded.

"Of course, you will not go without any compensation. After all, you have wasted your life staying here,"Ryuu continued. "Speak. What would you like to have?"

Silence hung in the room for a while as everyone waited for Emi to speak. Normally, one would of course ask for luxury. She was after all raised surrounded by it, but for the young girl, there was only one wish that's important for her.

"If… If the Young Master permits, this lowly servant would like to request not to be chased out of the Cedar Palace."

Emi watched as the pair of blue eyes in front of her became frosty once more. It seemed her request wouldn't be granted, and she felt desperate. To make it worse, her nannies thought she didn't want to leave because she still couldn't let go of her position. She could feel their greedy stares on her back. If she stayed at the Cedar Palace, it would be as if nothing had changed.

"As Young Master has said, Emi-sama had been raised here at the Cedar Palace since birth. She has no idea of the outside world, and to be asked to go suddenly is a little bit unfair for her."

"That's right, Young Master, have pity on Emi-sama. To be closeted all these years then suddenly being kicked out is cruel."

With her attendants pleading for her, there was a slight change in the prince's eyes. Even Yayoi who had been watching looked stricken, as if she just realized the implication of suddenly throwing Emi out of the place.

They were not wrong. Homura Emi would be like fish thrown out of the water.

"If the Young Master will have pity on this servant," Emi began, putting her all in this request. "I would like to stay here – even just as a normal employee."

Her request made her attendants gasp in horror. If it's going to be like that then there was no sense to stay here. They would still become lowly servants in the end.

Ryuu on the other hand arched one raven brow at her, his gaze challenging.

"Are you sure? If you stay here, your status and benefits will all be revoked. Your life as a princess will be over."

Emi was not fazed.

"I had been raised knowing nothing but to serve and to run the household. This servant would perish in the outside world so I humbly request Young Master to let me stay. I do not wish for luxury and other things. A normal wage would suffice, and I promise to work hard."

Yayoi who had been quiet the whole time after reprimanding her attendants earlier finally spoke.

"Young Master, this servant also requests for Emi-sama to stay. I am getting on in years, and I'd like to take Emi-sama as an apprentice. She had been trained to run the household since young, and I believe she can take my place when I retire."

"And what about Ara? She will eventually find out about the Makura,"Ryuu stated matter-of-factly, his voice unrelenting. It was obvious that the Young Master only had his fiancée's comfort in mind.

Emi's heart sank. It was true that even though she and the Young Master had never had any physical relationship, it was a fact that she was here as his concubine. Ara-sama might not be happy if she found out about her – and she didn't want to cause a rift between them.

"Then we will explain to Ara-sama,"Yayoi announced, her voice firm. "Young Master, both you and Emi-sama never asked for this situation. It was the clan's arrangement and both your wishes were never considered. I am sure if we explain well to Ara-sama, she would understand."

Seeing her chance, Emi bowed her head. "I beseech you Young Master. Please let me stay and work. I vow I will work hard and never cause any problem between you and Ara-sama."

"Young Master, please," Yayoi pleaded as well as she also bowed.

With his own nanny asking him, Homura Ryuu looked displeased but he conceded. However, it was not a permanent agreement.

"Fine. You may continue to stay here. As you requested, your status will be that of a servant under Yayaoi. You will be working as a normal employee."Homura Ryuu then looked grim. "But in the event that you do something unnecessary or if Ara finds out and decides she doesn't want you here, you will be transferred immediately to the Kazehaya House."

Hearing that, Emi was shocked.

Kazehaya House?