Antivan Clown

Here's a whole slow-burn plot that I mapped out in my head 😂

Emmrich gets sent to distant relatives in Antiva after he is orphaned

his relatives don't want to take care of him and sell him to the Crows

he does well with the training, especially after his magic and corpse-whispering talents are discovered

Caterina recruits him for House Dellamorte and he becomes a highly respected Crow, though his necromancy makes a lot of other Crows nervous and they generally avoid him

Lucanis knows of Emmrich but they don't interact much until after Lucanis is older and starts getting sent on contracts with him

they find that they work well together and enjoy each others' company

after a while Lucanis realizes he has feelings for Emmrich and confesses to him (with a dagger? or maybe a different gift since that didn't work with Viago lol)

Emmrich has feelings for Lucanis but thinks he's too old for him, and is slightly concerned that Caterina would literally kill him

he tells Lucanis they can't be together and then things are awkward between them for a few years while they're both pining

everything with Illario and the Ossuary happens like in canon

Emmrich is heartbroken for a year thinking Lucanis is dead

when Rook meets with Caterina and she sends them to rescue Lucanis, she has Emmrich go with them (she knew there was always something going on between Lucanis and Emmrich so she could trust him with this)

after they save Lucanis and Rook recruits him, Emmrich also volunteers to join them

when they have a moment alone, Emmrich tearfully tells Lucanis he's always loved him and regrets not telling him sooner

now having Spite with him, Lucanis is much more hesitant to act on his feelings

he tries to avoid Emmrich for a while, but Emmrich ends up helping him with Spite