Cantrell Chronicles RESET, Part One
The Shaking of Foundations, a Cantrell Chronicles RESET, Part One_ Chapter One [With minor revisions] The call came in the dead of night. Reaching an arm out from underneath the covers, Joseph g...
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One More Gray Day, a Cantrell Chronicles Reset update, Chapter Eight
“I know, I know, we’ll be busy all day long again. Such is life when you’re Born on the Purple. Your parents are always running off hither and thither. Jayce, the Butler will be here to care for you. I think he even likes you, so that’s a good thing and mommy and daddy will get back home just as soon as we can. I have to put you down, now, so I can get dressed. Would be unseemly for a king to show up dressed in just a sweater and jeans, you know? Comfortable, but unseemly.”
In the scant time in between the coronation and the funeral, set for three days after her death, the royal Couturier and staff saw to it that the young princes and princess had proper outfits for every occasion befitting their station, fittings and all. The king and queen also enjoyed such a service. Each son was assigned a Valet, and Brianna and her mother both had ladies-in-waiting, to help when it came to dressing properly for each event. The king had his Gentlemen of the Privy.
Erik, for one, was grateful. Being a bit of a clothes horse, he always had too many decisions, which vexed him. “This is most suitable for today, your Highness,” the smartly dressed young man, also a noble, said holding a newly tailored uniform for Erik. Black morning tuxedo, tails, white shirt, gloves and a medal on a blue ribbon to wear around his neck. Erik stuck his cross underneath his shirt to allow for the medal. He only wished he knew what it stood for. Seems I’ve been decorated, but for what?
The young rising Rock Star had to fight the notion of being helped to dress. He’d been dressing himself since he was two years old and saw no reason for the help. But the man was here to do a job. Erik just shrugged it off. His reticence was a sign of pride. He quickly checked himself, acquiescing to what must be.
Fastening the medal underneath Erik's collar, the Valet took special care to make certain the medal lay flat, correct side up. “Thank you so much, Jeebs, I mean, Alfred.”
“Jeebs, sir?”
“Sorry, got it off an ancient comic book, before they were called graphic novels.”
“You are very learned in history, I see. I do believe they call it trivia. I shall have to remember the term comic book. Should be good for a laugh or two, later. I do enjoy your humor, sir.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Once again, the day was a gray one. As he thought about it, a melody and some words came dancing through his head, One more gray day, can’t take me down, I’ve seen gray days . . .. Before long, he and the others took the steps up to the funeral parlor, pulling him out of his muse. King Joseph took the podium. “Please come inside, everyone. Let’s get started.”
“In all of my life, and I’ve lived a number of years, now, I have never witnessed a single soul being taken by a meteorite. Not only that, but I don’t recall a single newscast that even warned about the possibility of one striking the Earth, let alone in Bellacorde. I always knew her highness the Princess Alexandra had an insatiable desire to be at the center of things. Seems her short term as the fraudulent monarch wasn’t enough. Well, my dear younger sister, you finally got your wish. You made all of the evening newspapers and broadcasts, too.” He held up the front page of the Bellacorde Review. “Look at the size of that thing.”
“On a more serious note, I did seek her out as my Chief Advisor, for which she was truly an able assistant. Her incisive advice I found to be trustworthy. She will be genuinely missed. Please join me in a moment of Silence.”
“And now I toast you, Noble sister, Chief Advisor, may the Lord find suitable tasks for you to perform in heaven.”
“I light a candle so that you may find your Way to the Light. Rest in Peace, Alex.”
“And now, I invite each of you to join me outside so that we may set off the burial canon, let’s hope we’ll have a better bit of luck than last time.” To his surprise two gnomes popped up, standing on each side of him. This was only slightly troubling. “Hm, it would seem I’ve got a few friends. Oh, hey, it went off! Would you look at that, you must be the gnomes of the canon, or something.”
Going out to the gated lawn, the group stood around Alexandra’s tombstone. Again, King Joseph found himself surrounded by gnomes. “Alix, I always knew you were a bit of a prankster but come on. Give us a break, will you? This is getting a bit weird.”
While the main group was still outside, those who remained inside, mainly Erik, Joey and Brianna, were having their own strange encounter with gnomes. Erik said, “Okay, I give up. Are you all a part of the Gnome Squad or something? At least they appear benevolent.”
As they stood around the grave, seemingly reluctant to leave, many of the guests poured out flasks of liquid. “We are headed over to NewCrest, to the Giovellia restaurant to partake in the Mercy Meal of which all of you are invited to attend.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
“Oh, I’m so thankful to get out of that rain. My goodness it rains so much in Bellacorde,” Queen Louise said, removing her hat, as she took a chair in the banquet room. She noted there was a much larger table to accommodate the royal family and guests, this time.
“My dear,” King Joseph said, “we were in Windenburg for the actual funeral.”
The group settled into smaller conversations. Erik was getting to know the Crown Prince of Thebes. The two appeared to be having a most spirited conversation.
After just a short wait, the Server came to take their orders. Erik, glanced up at the worker, “Thank you. We have decided in honor of the deceased to have Lobster Thermidor and a round, each, of Von Haute Estate Meloire if you please.”
“Thank you, for your order, we will serve it up when it’s ready.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
The family all arrived home, late; Early evening, dusk about to fall. Louise rushed up to check her baby. Erik rushed out to give a concert. Once he released his first album, he fast discovered he was in demand, or so it seemed. He prayed that being the Crown Prince with whatever duties that entailed wouldn’t leave him sorely pinched for time. They would be entering university soon.
By the time he returned a good three hours plus later, the night was dark and peaceful. Listening, not a sound could be heard. The night air was on the frigid side. Winter would soon be upon them. All at once, the air filled with a rather favorable and exotic fragrance that flirted with his nasal passage. Since it was unlike the flora and fauna to give off any scent, this surprised him. Turning around abruptly, he saw a female dressed in a skintight velour one piece, a hood pulled over the top of her head, long boots.
“You will leave these premises immediately, or else,” he warned.
“Duel me and we’ll see who gets their way.”
“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Erik whipped out his wooden sword, then took a stance, wielding his blade as if he meant business, which he did. “En garde! Burglar. Be gone from here.”
The two went at it and Erik was thankful for the many tips his father had imparted to him. "Just a suggestion, hint, my clueless one,” he said. Having defeated the intruder. “It’s not a good idea to wear such a pungent fragrance if you plan on burgling a place. That’s what tipped me off. But nobody said burglars were particularly bright.”
With his win, he phoned the police, to remove the would-be thief from the premises.
After the police had the criminal secured in their hovercraft, Erik went inside. Hot and sweaty again, he took a mindful shower, then went to bed. By the time he woke up, he checked his phone. His agent had texted him. “You okay? Heard about a duel with a burglar? Truth or hype?”
“Truth.” Erik punched in the letters for the text. “I won.”
Thanks for reading. All for now!
Okay, I give up. Are you all a part of the Gnome Squad or something?
Made me chuckle😊
Thank you. During my starts and stops to get this save going, I had one wherein these little guys just popped up from under the floors. Especially annoying was the fact that I was busy collecting the tombstones I needed to create three generations above Joseph. I would use MCCC to kill a particular Sim, and he would perish, only to have the gnomes pop up and the next thing I knew the dead Sim was alive again! Gah!
It was lovely that they held a special funeral as a tribute to the life of Alexander ❤️
It would have given them all surprises when the gnomes kept appearing around them! 🙂
The photos of them all seated together at the dining table enjoying the banquet meal are lovely 💗It is nice that they had lobster thermidor.
Congratulations to Erik on winning the sword duel against the burglar!Thank you. I loved that initial scene, too. I was about to nix the original chapter which contained it, but for the fact that at the end of gameplay, the burglar was suddenly right there.
GalacticGal Very enjoyable chapter. Beautiful funeral. And I loved the duel. 🙂 LOL at the gnomes! They added a little bit of magic though. 😊
It’s not a good idea to wear such a pungent fragrance if you plan on burgling a place. That’s what tipped me off.
Nice touch! 😄
Thank you, I'm very glad to learn you enjoyed it. Yeah, this time I found the gnomes as friendly and helpful. The Gnome Guard to keep the royal family safe.
I am glad to see this funeral went smoothly. All those gnomes would have driven me crazy!
Thank you. When I was still very much in set-up mode, they did drive me over the edge. Kept resurrecting the Sim I had killed. I needed the tombstones of eight Sims, in all. Dern gnomes suddenly popup during my fourth attempt. I was just so pleased to find four urns down in the basement/music room! Phew!
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