CINDEREKI

fanfic by: Sora Vasconcelos

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🔥—Chapter 2—❄

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After Langa was comfortable and his luggage was put away, his parents called him to speak with him.

—Did parents want to talk to me? — Langa asked, carefully knocking on the open door of his parents' room.

—Yes Langa, come in please— replied the king who was next to his wife.

Langa entered and could see that his mother was happier than normal, every time he looked at his mother so happy was not good for his own sake.

—What do you need? — Langa inquired seriously, that behavior was normal for the parents to see on his own son.

—We just wanted to ask you how your trip went— said the queen with a big smile.

—It was good for me, it was interesting to know the different customs that other kingdoms have, although the bad thing is that there was no snow and I couldn't do any snowboarding— Langa's expression and voice were serious and a little sad.

—What a bad thing son, it has been a long time since it has snowed in the neighboring kingdoms and here, but soon it will snow again, I'm sure of that. — Oliver tried to cheer up his son.

Langa, when he was a kid, used to snowboard together with his father and he loved it because he felt alive doing it since his heart was beating with emotion, but the absence of snow made him forget that Illusion that snowboarding gave him, that is why he tried to look for a place to do it, but in no neighboring kingdom did snow fall again. These moments he feels incomplete.

—Come on son, cheer up— the queen stands up and hugs her son carefully —I know how I can cheer you up— she caresses his cheek carefully and smiles at him —Tonight we are going to have a dance! — The woman was very excited by the plan she had in mind.

—And what is the occasion? — Asks Langa a little confused because he did not remember an important event that takes place in those days and he looked to his father for him to explain.

—Well, we are going to celebrate your return, son— Oliver replied with a slightly fake smile so his son would not suspect what the queen had in mind.

—But, father, mother, you don't need to do that kind of thing for me— Langa was a bit impressed by the reason for the dance.

—We want to do it son, besides the invitations have already been sent— Nanako informed with a sweet smile.

—So you have to be ready for the dance. Put on your best suit to greet all the guests— the king stood up and approached Langa to put his hand on the shoulder of his son.

Langa let out a long-exhausted sigh, he could no longer cancel the event. The prince loved all the inhabitants of his kingdom, but tonight he wanted to rest from the long journey he had. Maybe tonight wouldn't be that fun for the prince.

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Meanwhile at CindeReki's house, the boy was cleaning the floor at the entrance of the house and Shadow was in the music room practicing the singing of his sons. From the entrance of the house, CindeReki could hear Miya's lousy singing.

—Okay, the floor is ready, now the windows are the next— CindeReki spoke to himself.

Perhaps for many people, cleaning wasn't fun at all, or seemed to didn't have a fun side, but Reki had fun doing it, as he used his skateboard to go from one side to the other. He moved faster and didn't get tired of bringing cleaning supplies. Although he enjoyed riding his skateboard while cleaning, he would rather be out on the patio, having fun and practicing than restricting himself inside the house and cleaning everything by himself.

When he was going to get the things, he used to clean the windows, someone knocked on the door, so he went to open it, as usual.

—OPEN IN THE NAME OF THE KING! — Someone said from behind the door, and CindeReki ran and opened the door untimely.

CindeReki could see what appeared to be the royal postman, as that person was carrying a bag full of letters with the royal seal and was dressed very elegantly.

—An urgent letter from his royal majesty! — The postman handed CindeReki a letter.

—Thank you— as he took the letter, he smiled kindly, and the postman returned the smile with a small blush as he saw the boy's beauty.

CindeReki closed the door and looked at the letter curiously, because he did not know why the king would send a letter to his home.

—The King? What would he say...? — When the boy was going to open the letter, he heard the horrible singing of his two stepbrothers again —Well, I will have to interrupt their... beautiful singing— CindeReki chuckled while listening to the voice of what seemed to be Miya's voice.

CindeReki climbed the stairs to get to the music room, where Shadow, Cherry, and Miya were. He knocked on the door to interrupt them, but when he did so there was a loud sound of a loud note from the piano. The boy knew that Shadow had been annoyed at being interrupted.

—WHO'S THERE?!— Shadow shouted towards the door, and the redhead entered the room —CindeReki, I ALREADY TOLD YOU NOT TO INTERRUPT US! —

—Someone brought this letter from the palace— The redhaired boy showed the letter with the royal seal.

—FROM THE PALACE?!— Cherry and Miya screamed in excitement and ran to CindeReki to take the letter from him, knocking him to the floor.

—It sure is for me— Miya started to open the letter, but Cherry snatched it from her.

—What are you talking about? It sure is for me— Cherry was about to open the letter, but Miya lunged at him and they started fighting over the missive.

—STOP ALREADY! I'm going to read it— Shadow took the letter from them which was very wrinkled, but could be read. Cherry and Miya got up off the ground, but they gave each other a bad look for the fight they had had. CindeReki also got up and stayed in place to listen to what the letter said.

—Let's see...— Shadow began to read and little by little his eyes widened —There is going to be a great dance in the castle! —

—A DANCE! — The stepbrothers shouted excitedly.

—In honor of his highness, the prince! — Shadow continued reading the letter.

—THE PRINCE! — They were both very excited.

—And by order of the King, all the single maids and maidens must attend the palace today— Shadow's smile was so wide that it went from ear to ear.

—US! — Miya and Cherry were almost jumping with happiness.

—That means I'll go too! — CindeReki spoke from the floor and had an excited smile at the idea of ​​going to the palace and meeting the prince for the first time.

—Imagine 'this' one... 'dancing' with the prince...— Cherry started making fun of him.

—'It's an honor his highness, could you take my broom, please?'— Miya began to imitate CindeReki, mocking, while he laughed along with Cherry, both imagining the situation.

—Well, why couldn't I go? — CindeReki asked with a serious tone because he was sure of what they were going to say to him —I know that you do not consider me part of your family, but I am, and the invitation says that all single maids and maidens must attend the dance by King's order— CindeReki crossed his arms looking at his stepbrothers.

—Yes, that's what he says— Shadow glared at CindeReki because he was right, but then he smiled in a mischievous way —I don't see why you can't go...— That comment impressed his children and made CindeReki happy. —Only if... you finish all your tasks on time...—

—Yes, of course I will! — CindeReki said enthusiastically and went excitedly to the door, but he stopped because Shadow spoke to him again.

—And as long as you find a suitable outfit to wear—

—I'll find it, I can assure you! Thank you very much! — CindeReki left the room quickly closing the door behind him and began to jump with excitement and continued with his tasks with his skateboard.

—DAD! — Annoyed, the two stepbrothers went towards Shadow.

—Don't you realize what you just said? — Cherry demanded, very annoyed.

—Of course, I said if he finishes... all his tasks...— Shadow began to laugh.

—Oooh... I get it...— Miya started laughing along with Cherry and Shadow.

Shadow was not going to make it easy for CindeReki to go to the dance with them, so he gave him so many chores to do around the house as he also ordered him to help his children to be well groomed for the dance.

CindeReki had to wash, dry, starch, and iron his stepbrothers' suits, shine their shoes, and so forth.

He had a lot of chores that day, more than he always had and he didn't even have time to get himself a suit. All the ones he had were broken or full of ashes. He could easily repair one of the broken ones that he had, but his stepbrothers did not leave him alone for a single minute.