CINDEREKI

fanfic by: Sora Vasconcelos

Once upon a time, in a very distant land, there was a small kingdom, prosperous, peaceful, and rich in romance and tradition and there, in that kingdom was a small home where a widowed man lived with his little son called Reki.

Although he was a kind and caring father, he gave his son all kinds of luxuries and comforts, but he felt that his son lacked the affection of a mother figure. And with that idea in mind, he got married again.

The man chose a person from a good family, that person was called Hiromi Higa, better known as Shadow. Shadow, like Reki's father, was a widowed father with two children, they were named Cherry, the older brother, and Miya, the younger brother.

But sadly, Reki's father fell ill and died, leaving his son in Shadow's care. And with the sudden death of Reki's father, Shadow showed his true feelings. He was cruel and calculating, jealous of Reki's beauty. Despite Reki's sadness for losing his father he always remained beautiful.

But Shadow was not going to rest as long as he had not accomplished what he had planned for the future of his two sons, what was that they could marry a prince one day.

And so the years passed, all the fortune that Reki's father had left was spent on the whims of Reki's two stepbrothers. Meanwhile Reki, humiliated and mistreated, ended up being the servant of his own house. Reki was the one who did the hard work around the house and cleaned the fireplace every day so his clothes were always dirty or stained with ash, that's why his stepfather, Shadow, and his two stepbrothers nicknamed him CindeReki.

Luckily Shadow didn't stop him from doing what he liked to do the most in that world, skateboarding. When he was little he was only interested in skateboarding, with his father or doing it alone. He always knew everything about the subject of skateboarding and he felt alive when he got on the skateboard that his father made for him before he died. He was very grateful to Shadow for not destroying it or forbidding him from this, because without skateboarding he couldn't bear the hell he was living.

Despite everything that CindeReki was going through, he was still a kind and loving boy, because with the arrival of a new day a new hope was reborn in him, that all his beautiful dreams of meeting a handsome prince and save him from his miserable life, will come true.

The day had begun, with CindeReki waking up to the rays of light streaming into his room. He woke up at 5 in the morning and he always had a backache because his bed is really uncomfortable. He stretched out with a smile and the reason was the dream he had.

—Why did I have to wake up at that moment? Just when the dream was getting better— CindeReki complains as he changes his pajamas into his daily clothes.

Recently, CindeReki was dreaming about a boy, he doesn't know how he looks like because he could never see his face, but he knows that he was a very kind boy. Every time he dreamed with him, he treated him really nice, comprehended him, felt safe around him, and they had similar hobbies. The only thing he didn't like about his dream was when had to wake up, because everytime when he was close to discovering his face was when he opened his eyes and stopped dreaming. He really wanted to know who he was and he hoped to meet him one day.

—Reki, stop thinking about silly and childish dreams, you have to come back to real life— he told himself and CindeReki was already dressed as he always did.

His outfit was a bit simple, a dark blue headband, a yellow sweater with a blue gear design in the middle, with a red monster smiling, dark baggy pants, blue shoes, and on top of that. she put on a white apron so as not to soil the only good clothes she had.

CindeReki, being ready, went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her stepfather and his stepbrothers. Breakfast was the same as every day, a cup of coffee and toast. He took the trays to go to the rooms of his stepfather and stepbrothers.

The first room was Cherry's.

—Good morning Cherry, did you sleep well?— - CindeReki greeted with a smile like he always did.

—As if you cared.— The hairy one took the breakfast tray. —Take those clothes and bring them to me ironed in an hour.— CindeReki took the dirty clothes from his older stepbrother.

—Yes Cherry,— CindeReki left to go to Miya's room.

—Good morning Miya— CindeReki entered the boy's room and placed the breakfast tray on the boy's nightstand.

—Wow, it's about time slime.— Slime was Miya's nickname for CindeReki. The boy saw the redhead annoyed — don't forget to wash my clothes—

Just like with Cherry, CindeReki took Miya's dirty clothes.

—Yes Miya— CindeReki already had two baskets of dirty clothes, only his stepfather remained.

Unlike with his stepbrothers, CindeReki would knock on the door before entering Shadow's room.

—Come in,— CindeReki heard and came in to deliver breakfast to his stepfather.

—Good morning sir— CindeReki never called Shadow father or dad as he always forced him to say 'sir'.

—Pick up the dirty clothes, wash them and iron them,— the man ordered in a serious tone.

—Yes sir— CindeReki had a lot of work to do from early on.

That was the way every day in CindeReki's life was.

--🔥❄️--

One day at Crazy Rock Castle, King and Queen Hasegawa had a hearty conversation. Rather, Queen Nanako was raising her voice as King Oliver tried to calm her down.

—B-but darling...— the king's voice trembled.

—THERE ARE NO BUTS THAT ARE WORTH!— The woman who frightened her husband raised her voice —Our son has tried to avoid his obligations for a long time— The woman walked from one place to another very excited —It's time for him to get married and settle down— The woman stopped in front of her husband who was sitting on his throne, very nervous about his wife's attitude. When the queen got angry there was nothing or no one to calm her down.

—Of course I agree with you, darling— the king spoke with a little fear —but you have to be patient—

—I HAVE PLENTY OF PATIENCE!— Nanako shouted again —but Oliver, I feel less young every day, and I would like to see my future grandchildren grow up before we leave this world— The woman began to cry desperately and the king quickly went to hug her to comfort her.

—I understand you, dear, it is very difficult to see our only son grow up and move away from us little by little, I also feel alone in this huge palace— Oliver spoke tenderly, remembering the good times he spent with his son, and he could calm down his wife a bit, since she felt understood —but, I think it would be best to leave Langa alone—

—LEAVE HIM ALONE !?— The woman shouted, pushing her husband —With the shy personality that he has, my son needs help— The queen spoke firmly.

—But darling, in matters of love ...— the man did not finish speaking because he was interrupted by his partner.

—I... I can't wait any longer, we just need Langa to find a girl in a quiet environment, and we'll take care of the rest— the woman proposed.

—But what if Langa became suspicious?— The king reply, not very convinced of what Nanako was saying.

—He's not going to suspect anything, there may be an elephant walking around the castle, and he won't notice it— said the woman, knowing how clueless her son was —Hey, is Langa coming back to the palace today?— She asked curious.

—Yes, we received the letter from him recently— Oliver showed her the letter from her son.

In Langa's letter, he said that, that same day he was going to return to the palace after a long journey through distant lands.

—Well, what could be more natural than a dance to celebrate his return?— The woman began to think on her crazy plan. She had a mischievous smile —Well, if all the single maids come to the dance, at least the beauty of one of hers will be noticed— the woman had a mischievous smile.

—Or one of his— the king hinted, emphasizing the his, and that caught the queen's attention.

—His?— She asked confused.

—Yes, a he— replied the king.

—A he?— The queen wondered and she took a long time to understand —Huh?—

—Yes, darling, haven't you thought that maybe our son isn't interested in girls, but in boys?— Oliver asked self-confident in what he said about his son.

—Well, if that's the case, we have to invite the maids and maidens to the dance— the woman continued with a smile on her face. Apparently his parents weren't worried about their son being gay or bisexual —and when Langa finds that person, with the perfect atmosphere at midnight, with romantic music and all that together— at the end of her sentence the queen let out a scream of excitement —We can't fail, can we, darling? — asked the woman, smiling and looking at her husband.

—Yes, I mean, no, darling. We have to prepare everything for the dance to...— the king was interrupted again by his wife.

—For today, for this very night— she spoke excitedly.

—Tonight?— Asked the king, puzzled.

—Yes darling today. Langa is going to love it—

The conversation had already ended, and at that very moment Langa's carriage had arrived. The prince had already arrived.

—LANGA, MY SON!— The woman ran out to receive her son.