The Emperor's Empress

Chapter 30:

"Do you really like dating in secrecy?" Rina asked Keiko. They were having dinner in a restaurant near the apartment building, where she and the other two were staying at.

Keiko looked up, away from the steak she had ordered for her dinner meal. She placed her fork and knife at the side of the plate and sighed. "It's not like I want to hide it. It is just that I am still aloof at being together with Seijuro again. This is already the third time we are having this relationship and it makes me anxious or be worried that it will end the same yet again." Yes, she was really worried that it would not work out again and it would only break them more than the past two encounters.

Rina gazed at her friend in understanding and concern. But yeah, she got the fretfulness of Keiko over this relationship with Akashi and yet a smile crept out of her lips. "Did you just call him in his given name?" She giggled as she saw the blushe creeping on the cheeks of her friend.

Keiko couldn't help but feel embarrassed by the topic. Argh! Why did she even speak of his given name rather than his surname? Stupid mouth! She should have thought about it first. "Well, to clarify the given name being used, it is because I was threatened to use it rather than his last name and knowing how the instinct of the emperor works, he would know if I use his last name," she reasoned out as calm as possible.

Rina laughed softly and covered her mouth to stop herself from shrieking. "Was it a life threatening warning?" she remarked slyly. Knowing how hard it was for Keiko to call someone, especially her special someone, with his given name, she couldn't help but asked how that brooding Akashi let the stubborn Keiko call his name.

"Well, not life threatening but his glare is definitely warning me that time not to defy him or else he will make it life threatening and I think he wants to be discerned from his father," Keiko explained. "Anyway, why are we even talking about him all of a sudden?"

"Well, it looks like the father of Akashi is going to celebrate the birthday of his deceased wife and has invited my family and even Libbie and Honey's family. So, I am wondering, how you will act that day if you ever attend," Rina stated as she leaned closer and smiled mischievously to her friend.

"Well, I am still a bit undecided on that event, Friday is a busy schedule to me," Keiko answered honestly. "I don't even know if I can make it out of the office before midnight." Friday was something that the employees in the executive department dreaded the most. It was the day where they go home later than usual, by means of super-duper late time of the night because she checked all of the documents from top to bottom done by the whole week. She was sure that she was being cussed behind her back because of the Friday madness she started.

"Well, ever since we came back, we are all busy but you are the busiest among the four of us. We barely see you and most of the time. You are just dropping by to eat or even just to say hi or check on us and then you are off to la la land again."

"La la land?" Keiko muttered in bewilderment. "If La la land is the company, then I don't think I have a choice. The company is the legacy of the great great great grandfather and I will not let them down or to the closer generation, my father. He left the company in my hands and I don't want to disappoint them or make their life a living hell when they are already retired and relaxing at home or travelling the globe."