“Actually…” He Bao interrupted. He shuffled closer. “I—uh—actually never threw her photo away. It felt wrong since she was dead. Also, I didn’t want to get haunted by her or anything, because I believed in crap like that back then. Anyway, I still have it. I kind of forgot about it, to be honest, but you should have it.” He looked uncomfortably away, and an awkward silence stretched between them. As seconds ticked by, He Bao took a deep breath and turned a proud face back to Aiden. He looked Aiden in the eyes. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you and allowed Ma to treat you.” His voice broke, but He Bao forged forward. “I swear I will be so much better as we navigate being a family.”
Zhu Zhu’s eyes widened. She stepped forward, huffing. “Me too. I’m sorry for how I let everything happen. Please forgive me.”
“Zhu Zhu, you shouldn’t apologize. You weren’t purposefully horrible like I was, and you already have a beat-up face that needs to stay iced to show for that.” He Bao, who was holding the ice pack she left behind, placed it against his sister’s face.
“Thank you.”
Aiden had stopped crying. The remaining tears clinging to his cheek he wiped away. The smoke and the fire faded in the distance, and he gazed upon the drawing Zhu Zhu gifted of a woman who threw her life for his, and for the first time since his last memory of her being alive, he could breathe upon seeing her face. His chest swelled of warmth, his hand grasped Brendan’s, and he beamed at his siblings who watched him back with trembling hands. He offered his hands. “I accept your apology. Let us be a family from now on.” As the two took his hands; Aiden pulled them in and hugged them tightly.
He was home.
• • •
Aiden breathed, looking at himself one last time in the mirror. The hanfu hugged his shoulders perfectly, and the Hui family symbol glistened in the light. The embroidered silver stars glittered, and he tied his waist tie tighter for the ideal silhouette and fit. His phone alerted him of the Uber, and he rushed out to meet the driver.
The car returned him to a familiar garden. He thanked the driver, excitedly exiting the car, and dashed past the entrance.
The photography club had booked the garden for a special party. Javier called the photo shootWalking Out of Enchantment. Some club members complained about the cheesiness, but Aiden thought there was nothing better to name the photo shoot. Even the first time after setting foot onto the pathway, he was drawn to the shape of the garden, the scent of the air, and the vibrant colors that bloomed before his eyes. It remained all the more magical as the same uplifting air hugged itself around him. Many of the photography club members were already there and busied about preparing for the party and photo shoot.
Christina noticed him and waved her arms. She skipped down the lane to meet him. Her black, flowing dress billowed out behind her. She had dark makeup painted over her face with a streak of mascara streaming down each of her eyes. She borrowed a white wig, and the pale ghostliness of her hair bounced lightly. “You definitely look the part for the theme today,” she said, eyeing him from head to toe.
“Thanks. I’m guessing you’re a witch?”
“I resent that. As you can see, I have no hat.” She held her arms out and made a movement to emulate the idea of floating. “I am a sorceress, here to either curse you or grant you your best wishes. Of course, there’s no guarantee that the wishisn’ta curse.”
“It suits you. Also, the makeup looks great.”
“Thank you! I did the makeup myself. I built this costume from nothing, too. I went shopping around thrift stores and picked up all the accessories I needed for this. I wish I found a black lace head veil, but I think that’s too much to ask with what I did manage to scavenge.”
“Behold, citizens! I am here to oust the corruption!” Javier leapt in, dressed in black. A black mask covered his eyes, and a hat sat on his head. He pulled out a fake sword and pointed it at them. The cape flailed. “It is I, Zorro of the people!”
“Zorro?” They both tipped their heads.
“Zorro! He’s a superhero. He has a whip, and he has this black horse, and he’s actually this wealthy nobleman, but he fights against corrupt noblemen as a masked crusader. Ah, forget it, I’ll force you guys to sit through some movies and shows after this.” Javier sheathed his fake sword. “I need to hurry and show my face because I am very late, even though I promised them I would be the first to arrive to help them set up.” He dashed off with a valiant battle cry, and Aiden could not help laughing at Javier’s cape magnificently puffing out behind him.
Christina stared unamused. “He was supposed to be here thirty minutes ago to help set up.” She looked carefully at Aiden. “Are you okay?”
Aiden thought back to the chaos of the days preceding this moment. The ongoing court case, the hiding of his and his stepsiblings’ identities, and even before that, just the night at Mr. Chen’s manor. “Yeah, I’m ok,” he said with such assurance that he surprised himself. He smiled at her. “I’m really excited to take pictures with my friends.”
“Hey, you two! Come on! A club photo first, and then we go have our individual fun with stalking each other for photographs!” Javier called from a distance, waving his sword in the air.
Aiden and Christina exchanged glances, and the two of them ran up to where they would take the first photo—a field of naturally growing wildflowers with vines that curled up the statues and decorations lining the side. Aiden stopped in his tracks as Brendan, still distracted with instructing other club members, came into view.
Brendan was decked in a white suit with gold buttons and epaulettes, and a blue sash tied across his chest. He slicked his hair back, and his eyes sparkled ever brighter against the sun. He looked up. Their eyes met momentarily. Brendan returned to answering a question, but stopped short.
Aiden grinned, relishing at how Brendan swiveled his entire body around to face him and stared with wide eyes. He purposefully flourished his hanfu, stepping forward to meet with Brendan. “Hey you.”
“Um—ok.” Brendan laughed, already red in the face. He scratched his head. “Hi.”
“You’re a classic prince from a fairy tale?”
“I certainly look the part. Also, my mom’s super into cosplay. It’s a thing for her. She and Dad actually met because she was cosplaying as this character—anyway, the point is, she made this cosplay after I told her about this event and insisted on me wearing it. It’s a character from this dating sim, actually? I really don’t know. I ditched the gloves though. It’s way too hot for them.”
Brendan continued rambling, but his gaze raked across every inch of Aiden’s body. Aiden drank in his attention, allowing the other boy to bumble further about how his parents met before finally placing a hand against Brendan’s mouth. “Your mom is wonderful. Zhu Zhu has loved working for her since your mom reached out to her to draw for her video game.”
Brendan straightened, and his eyes glistened. “Yeah, I know. My mom’s a total badass. Actually, she said your sister’s amazing. I’ve seen some of her artwork in the company promotions. I’m glad she’s enjoying work.”
“And you are an amazing prince.” Aiden looked down slyly. “You are my prince.”
