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‘“How the hell did I end up here?” Simon asked, shaking his head.
“You picked me for a boyfriend.” Wilhelm answered with a smirk, ogling his boyfriend’s suit.
Simon took a seat on the bench next to Wille, threading their fingers together. It had been three weeks since Wille came out publicly and exposed the Crown’s cover-up, and Simon was still having trouble believing his current lot in life. Six months ago, he was just a regular kid going to a fancy school he felt he’d never belong at. Now here he sat outside the Queens office in Drottningholm Palace, side by side with his boyfriend the Crown Prince and heir to the throne of Sweden, waiting to meet with the Queen for the first time as his official partner.
“I think it’s more accurate to say you picked me.” Simon reminded him.
“We picked each other.” He said sappily, causing Simon to snort.
“Should I be more nervous?” Simon asked, “I feel like I should be more nervous.”
“You’ll be fine.” Wille said, “Just call her Your Majesty the first time, and ma’am after that, and you’ll be fine.”
“Probably shouldn’t be sarcastic or snippy either, I’d guess?” Simon asked jokingly.
“If she starts doing it to you,” Wille said with a smirk, “Then fuck it, the gloves come off.”
Simon snickered. The two sat there for a further ten minutes, Wille pointing at various paintings on the wall and describing which of his ancestors they depicted. Finally the door to the Queen’s private office opened, and the Queen’s assistant shuffled out. He turned to face them, a completely emotionless look on his face.
“Your Royal Highness, Mr. Erikkson.” The man said, bowing to Wille and nodding at Simon, “Her Majesty will see you now.”
The boys nodded, and stood. Wille turned and gave Simon a kiss.
“You ready?” Wille asked gently.
“Cry havoc.” Simon joked.
Wille chuckled, and the two linked their arms.
“Forward into the pages of history.” He whispered, as the two entered the office.
Queen Kristina stood in front of her desk, wearing her usual pant suit combination. She gazed at them as they approached, a tight smile on her face. Simon privately thought that it made her look rather constipated.
“Momma,” Wilhelm introduced stiffly, “This is my boyfriend, Simon. Simon, my mother, Her Majesty Queen Kristina.”
For a second, neither party moved. Simon and the Queen stared each other down. Kristina, though she would never admit it, was minutely impressed that Simon dared to glare at her with as much intensity as he did. After a further tense moment, Simon took the Queen's offered hand and shook it. He bowed as he did so, maintaining eye contact the whole time.
“Your Majesty.” Simon greeted, not an ounce of warmth in his voice or his eyes.
“Mr. Erikkson.” Kristina greeted back, only slightly more warm, “A pleasure. Thankfully our second meeting is under happier circumstances than our first.”
Simon had to restrain himself from snorting. Happier circumstances, indeed.
“Indeed, ma’am.” Simon agreed.
“Please have a seat.” She said to them, motioning for them to sit as she rounded her desk to take her own chair.
Simon silently considered sitting on Wilhelm’s lap to see what she would do, but he shook off the thought almost as soon as he’d had it. He didn’t release Wille’s hand, though.
“I think it would be beneficial if we got straight down to business.” Kristina stated.
“Yes, I think so as well.” Wille agreed. Simon nodded his agreement.
“…I will be frank with you then, Simon.” Kristina said as she turned her head to address him, “The only reason we are having this conversation is because Wilhelm took settled matters into his own hands. The choice was either allow him to publicly date you, or be forced to endure the immediate abdication of the only remaining heir to the throne. The future of the Crown MUST be secured at all costs. That is the ONLY reason I have not tried to interfere further. My son recklessly and belligerently risked his own reputation and future as King so that he could be with you. I will not lie and say that I approve, because I don’t.”
Wilhelm seemed to swell with anger the more she spoke, while Simon sat there stoically and held eye contact defiantly.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Simon replied carefully, “You’re wrong on almost every count.”
“How so?” Kristina asked with a glare.
“What Wilhelm did was what a King should do.” Simon went on to say, “He was not reckless and belligerent. He was truthful and courageous. He showed great personal courage with what he did. It takes a real man to admit to his country that he lied to them and ask forgiveness, and from what I’ve seen, most of the country agrees with that sentiment. People are calling him a role model for the youth of Sweden. His approval rating is higher than yours right now, if I remember correctly.”
Kristina’s lip curled momentarily at the reminder. It was true, her public approval rating had disintegrated after the scandal had been released. It annoyed her greatly.
“Wilhelm will be a great King.” Simon insisted, “Just because he doesn’t fit the traditional mold, doesn’t mean he’ll be a disgrace. His Kingship won’t be ruined because he has a Prince Consort instead of a Queen.”
“King Consort.” Wilhelm corrected.
“…Wille, that title doesn’t exist.” Simon pointed out.
“I’ll make it exist.” Wille deadpanned.
“Wille…”
“Simon.”
Kristina cleared her throat, lest the boys lose themselves in their banter. The boys appeared sheepish for a moment.
“…If you are to be a future consort,” Kristina continued, “You will need to undergo the appropriate training.”
“I’ll do whatever Wille needs me to do.” Simon said.
“You will need to learn etiquette and diplomacy.” Kristina said briskly, “I will not have you making a fool of yourself and the Crown in front of foreign dignitaries and officials. Part of being a Royal is being able to look into the face of people you can’t stand and smile so that progress may be made. You will have to undergo media training as well. This will teach you how to deal with the press and the paparazzi, as well as what is appropriate to say and post on social media. You will be required to occasionally attend events as a representative of the Crown, as well as fundraising for any charities you may wish to patron later. Willhelm tells me you already have a list of charities that you wish to get involved with?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Simon said, “It’s a considerable list.”
“Good,” Kristina said with a nod, “I will ask that you provide our PR team with a list of those charities by the end of the day on Saturday. They will work with you to trim the list if necessary. Any questions?”
Simon struggled to keep up with the deluge of information that had just been heaped on him.
“About the lessons…” Simon asked cautiously, “When will they be? Will I be taking them by myself, or…
“Wille will be taking all these lessons with you, and they will take place here every other weekend.” Kristina answered, “This will afford you plenty of time to keep up with your studies at Hillerska as well. We can’t have either of you failing out of school. Lastly, two more things. The Royal tailor will be dispatched to your residence so that a new wardrobe may be furnished for you for when you start attending public functions. I will not have my only remaining son’s intended Consort wearing rags to charity functions. Two personal protective officers will be assigned to guard you and your family. They will work with you and explain how they will go about their jobs with as little disturbance to your daily life as possible. Any more questions?”
Wille shook his head. Simon thought about it for a moment before doing the same.
“Well, then I won’t keep you any longer than I have.” Kristina said, “Wilhelm, will you and Simon be dining with you father and I tonight or will you be having dinner in your rooms tonight?”
“In my rooms.” Wilhelm answered as they all stood, him and Simom bowing to Kristina, “Momma.”
“Your Majesty.”
They couldn’t leave the room fast enough. Wille pulled Simon in the direction of his rooms, nodding politely at Malin as they entered. As soon as they were through the doors Wille threw Simon up against the door and kissed him savagely. They kissed all the way to the bed and collapsed onto it, breathing heavily.
“Not that I’m complaining,” Simon panted heavily, “But what brought that on?”
“You defending me to my mom,” Wille panted, his eyes blown wide, “Looking so fucking confident and hot wearing this fucking suit… how could I resist?”
“I don’t know,” Simon teased breathlessly, “How CAN you resist?”
“I don’t want to resist.” Wille breathed.
“Then don’t resist.” Simon teased back.
Needless to say, Wilhelm didn’t resist.