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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The Rock Star Prince, a Cantrell Chronicles Reset, Part Two update- Chapter Thirty-One
After quite the busy past three days, Erik rolled over sluggishly, to silence the alarm he’d set. “Erik? It’s Sunday, there’s no time to roll over and snooze,” Kayleigh said, through a yawn, from her side of the bed.
“Ahg, I just need a few more minutes.”
“What you just need is to find a way to slow down a tad. You’ll wear yourself out if you don’t.”
“Hm. Could be what my dad was referring to about how it is with him. Okay, okay, I’m up, he said, sliding out of his side of the bed. “The sooner we get this day over with, the sooner, just maybe, I can sleep.” Pulling open the much smaller armoire he shared with Kayleigh, he rifled around a bit, then said, “Oh, nuts, I forgot to transfer my suit from the wardrobe in my old room last night. I’ll be right back.”
True to his word, he came back with a bundle of clothes still on hangers. Angrily, he tossed them on his side of the bed. “Do you believe what that slob did? He removed every piece of clothing I had from the dresser and just threw it into a wadded heap on the floor where my bed used to be. What is with that guy? You know, we used to be close.”
Slipping out of the bed, too, Kayleigh carefully picked through the multitude of her spouse's dress suits. You are such a clothes horse. “Oh, no, he’s managed to wrinkle the decorated black suit you wore for our wedding. Didn’t that just come back from the cleaners?” Running her hands over the pant legs as if she could remove the wrinkles.
“Yeah, I was planning on wearing that on Tuesday. Guess it’s going to take the fast-track back to the cleaners, instead.”
“Oh, Erik, I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry, you didn’t do it.”
“No, but I can empathize, can I not? I’ll have words with him. This is just unacceptable — You don’t suppose he wanted to be king, do you?”
“And this is him playing out his jealousy? Maybe. Might be worth finding out.”
And that quickly, the dynasty was in the midst of a unity crisis. Erik silently fumed. In just two days he was set to take the throne. He didn’t much care for Joey’s lame attempt to hamstring him. He also knew that if he allowed his temper to handle it, the discord would only grow. What he really needed to do at this time was to put out these little fires. Get the dynasty, which had grown in prestige most recently, back on track. They now were allies with four other Dynasties, thanks to his father’s hard work. Keeping the peace was essential.
“Hey, Joe,” Erik said, as his brother emerged from the chamber they used to share. “Are we good? You don’t hate me, do you, Bud? So I got married. Look at it this way, you got your own room out of the deal. I should think that would please you on so many different levels. Me? I’m still sharing a room —”
“And a bed with the most gorgeous woman in the universe. So don’t go acting like you got the raw end of things.”
Erik’s eyes widened as he gazed at his next younger brother. Not king, husband. “You have a crush on my wife, don’t you.”
“Well, she was just your ‘girl’ at the time, but yeah. I think I’m in love with her, too.”
“So you threw my suits onto the floor in a heap to get even with me.”
With that, Erik let out a heavy sigh. “I have the accolades tonight. That suit is wrinkled and the suit I wore to my wedding is also a casualty. I was going to wear that one on Tuesday. You know for the coronation? Two days from now. Are you willing to ask the Staff to see that it’s pressed and ready to go Tuesday morning?”
“Sure, sure. And you’re not mad at me?”
“Why? Because sometimes you act childishly? You’re my brother, Joe.” Erik shook his head. “I don’t believe you. It’s not worth throwing the dynasty into a crisis, either. Date Hayleigh or Regina, different personalities, true enough, but they look the same. You better get ready for church. If we’re late you know Dad is likely to blow a gasket.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Alfred, unbeknownst to the Crown Prince, took charge of the tangled mess of Erik’s clothing. He steamed both suits, and a few others, knowing the one Erik had chosen for tonight.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Upon their return from services, Erik had just enough time to shower and dress before he and Kayleigh had to Hyper-space over to Del Sol Valley. They were greeted with salutes from those who were had arrived or were just arriving.
Erik turned to Kayleigh, “Tell me I’ll get used to this someday.”
“You’re doing just fine. Shall we get upstairs?” With that, Erik held her hand and the two beamed up to the third floor.
Before long, the others joined the royal couple. Taking seats, they soon filled up the studio. The host made her way to the microphone on the stage. “As you can see by our elaborate set, we have arrived at the HemiDemiSemiQuaver, the Album of the Year, 2277. Time went by so fast, didn’t it? I like it that way — it’s less painful. And tonight we’ll find out,” she teased.
“So, I am Kaylie Do, your host for this evening and what a night it could end up being. Will he, or won’t he? Let’s get on with it, shall we? Tonight’s contenders are Mickey Donald for his When the Lights Are Low; Maggie Renncliff for her Because I Love You; William McCaby for his Well-Worn Shoes; Natalie Romoffsky for her Pushing It; And Erik Cantrell for his The Other Side of Midnight.”
“May I have the envelope, please.” Taking it from the platter the stagehand brought out, Kaylie Do quickly blew along the slit, turned it over and out slid the denim-blue cardstock. She read it quickly, her eyes tearing up.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have another Clean Sweep! The winner is, our very own Rock Star Prince! Come on up here, your Majesty.”
“Highness — until Tuesday, that is. For now, I’m just a prince.”
“Listen to him, as if being a prince isn’t any kind of a big deal. You are, by far, the nicest, down-to-Earth royal I have ever met. And yes, I have met a few.”
“Highness — until Tuesday, that is. For now, I’m just a prince.”
“Listen to him, as if being a prince isn’t any kind of a big deal. You are, by far, the nicest, down-to-Earth royal I have ever met. And yes, I have met a few.”
Erik, already taking the microphone gazed over at the host. “Thank you,” he said, with a little nod of his head toward her.
Standing for a moment, this time gazing upward.
He then raised the heavy, glass and gold trophy above his head. Silently. To Thee O Lord.
“Thank you. Two momentous events in the past five days, I am beside myself. I must be living a charmed life. This award is indicative of all of the work Team Erik down at Taygeta Studios is capable of. Two years in a row. Wow, just wow. There was a moment in time when I feared The Other Side of Midnight might not be completed, let alone released on time to be considered. But when you’ve got certain angels on your side, anything is possible. His Royal Majesty, my father, delayed stepping down from the throne, enabling me to get the final touches on the album finished. So, Dad, this is for you, too.”
The audience burst into applause, the sound deafening. Erik gazed out at them and smiled. “Thank you. I feel guilty receiving this. I do. I’ve listened to and enjoyed the other albums. All fine work, indeed. I am humbled to be in their company. My thanks to Taygeta Studios for bearing with me. I’m telling you they pressed the midnight oil, as it were, to complete it. I owe them more than a State Dinner.”
“I thank my fans, my family, my beloved wife of five days, my priest and all those who have supported me, for this moment of validation. Trust me, success is nice but one still falls prey to one’s own demons. And I certainly have my share of them. So thank you for this. And goodnight, Everybody. Homework calls . . .”
All for now, thanks for reading!
It was good that Erik and Joey were able to talk through the real reason why Joey through Erik’s clothing on the floor. I hope that one day Joey will find his special someone❤️ It was good that Arthur was there to help to fix up his clothing.
Congratulations to Erik on winning the award!🎉 I hope that the upcoming coronation goes well👑Thank you. Erik did suggest Joey try either Hayleigh or Regina, Kayleigh's triplet sisters. Joey has danced with Hayleigh at a Grand Ball or two. Aaron danced with Regina, too. And for a very brief time, dated Dame Beatrice Capp. It didn't go too far, though. I don't think they're well-suited to each other. Oh, well. . . I hope the coronation goes well, too. I did find and install a coronation ball, so we'll see.
Sibling rivalry can be silly or serious, depends..
Congrats for win!🥂
Thank you. Yes, I have become aware that Joey has a crush on Kayleigh that he isn't even interested in trying to get over. Or, if he did try once, he failed. We'll have to see just where this unexpected possible triangle takes us. Yes, I just realized I failed to note it was a Clean Sweep again. Where is my head?
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