A Koi Fish with Wings

Golden Coins

“The story?” The brother and sister duo glanced at the older woman, who took a sip of her tea. A small glimmer of amusement the Queen had  as the sister looked at the queen, “The story, is it true?” 

“Yes, his name was Wan Nami, an extraordinary man.” The butler opened a golden box, inside a black shoe with beautiful golden embroidery shaped like koi fishes. “And this was his golden shoe.”

“So you’re telling us that the cinder girl- was actually a boy?” The brother asked. He glanced at the boot with amazement.

“Perhaps you’ll allow me to set the record straight of the true story of Cinderella. Now, what is that phrase you two use? Ah yes, once upon a time, there lived a young man and his younger sister, who loved their mother dearly….”

A young Wan was being dressed by Yao, his toothy grin bright as the sun. The older servant straightened out his hanfu. “Now hold still, Young Master.”

“I can’t believe it! I’m getting a father, a brother, and another sister all in one day! It feels like the new year!” Wan beamed at the idea of having a father. 

“Yes, yes, it’s going to be very exciting with the Nán here.” 

A girl with pink ribbons and a fluffy light red hanfu poked at Wan, “Your it, Wan!” Kaiyo giggled, and not before long. Wan tagged the girl back as they ran around the estate. “I’m going to whip you and Jaya today!” Wan tried to tag his sister, but the five-year-old was quick. Kaiyo stuck her tongue out.

“You look like a girl today!” Wan teased.

"I am a girl!"

Wan and Kaiyo busted out the door. The two ran into the fields. The younger girl threw mud at Wan. “Oh, I’ll get you, missy!” He retaliated with a fist full of mud. Both of them had their little outfits ruined with mud.

In the carriage, Bó Atsuko Nami smiled as they finally stopped at their manor. She stepped out with a man holding her hand to assist her. He had long hair and a somewhat chiseled face, “My lady.”

“Oh, Zaheer, you’re so charming.” Without a second after the Bó, the two children stepped out. Laghima, a boy no older than Wan, had red eyes and a striking similarity to his father. Next was a pretty girl named Anvi, once again having her late mother P'li's charm but a bit chunkier and less graceful than her brother. 

Zaheer glanced to see two dirtied children running to their mother, “Ma!” The two got the countess dirty with their clothes as she spun them around. “Look at you two, as I left you both, absolutely unruly!”  Atsuko pinched their cheeks. “I assume you two slaughtered each other with mud." The two children nodded. "I had hoped to send a little lady, and lord, well, you’ll do.” Atsuko turned the two dirty children around, and Zaheer made a small smile, “Hello.” 

“Hello, Sir!” The two did their appropriate bows. “May I present the Nán Zaheer Adya and his son and daughter, Laghima and Anvi.” 

“Well, I heard so much about you two. Your mother speaks of nothing else.” Zaheer said.

Kaiyo and Wan beamed while Zaheer put on a show of affection, “Say hello to your stepbrother and sister.” Their step-siblings did a slight bow to greet them.

___

Wan unwrapped a small pack to see a book in his bed while Atsuko stayed beside his bed in her night robes. “Utopia.” Wan's eyebrows arched before he turned to his mother. Atsuko chuckled softly, “It means paradise. It’s a bit big for a nine-year-old. But, since you're such a smart boy, I wanted to give it to you. You’ll always be my little man, even if I have Zaheer as my husband. I am a mother first and foremost.”  Atsuko kissed her son’s forehead, “I have a gift for you, sister, too.”