Chapter Text
Wilhelm
“What if… What if I just want to be with him?” Wilhelm asked his mom in a trying tone. Kristina looked surprised at Wilhelm as they sat in the car, driving towards the castle.
“To not say anything! Just live a normal life.” Wilhelm continued
“You are crown prince and it's a privilege not a punishment” Kristina reminded him for the billionth time.
“But I didn't ask for this!” Wilhelm said frustrated.
“No one has asked for this! You are the only one who can take over the throne after Erik. Don’t you understand?!” Wille got quiet as his mother said this to him.
Kristina sighed, “you are so young, and when you are this young love can feel like the most important thing in the world…” She carried on in a calmer tone, wanting her child to understand what she was saying.
“What I mean is, is it worth it?”
Is Simon worth it, was what she was saying. Wilhelm looked out the window. He truly did not want to address anything regarding the video.
“We have a chance of quieting this down and I encourage you to take it… It might not come again.”
Wilhelm was not really paying attention to what his mom was telling him anymore. His mind was going wild with pros and cons and what the outcome would be regarding the decision he made. Either option would have negative sides to it, it was just a matter of which he would rather have to deal with. It was either making the statement and thereby risking losing Simon, or not saying anything and the rumors would continue to threaten his privacy.
Wilhelm looked his mom in the eyes this time and said “I don’t want to make the statement”
Kristina's reaction was as he had expected. She sighed closing her eyes, looking more disappointed than ever at her not-so-prince-perfect son
“This will have consequences and I hope that you are aware of the huge amount of attention you will keep on getting if you really mean that.”
“I know.” Wilhelm said a little unsure
“Are you sure?” Kristina’s voice was getting harder and less motherly. Wilhelm dreaded this tone of voice. “Because I don’t think you do. This is your one chance Wilhelm! How will it look if we choose to just not say anything? You need to think about the massive outburst there will be if we, the Royals can’t be trusted. You must think of our family, our legacy.”
Wilhelm could tell that she was mad. She had not expected him to talk back.
“This is not just a you-decision Wilhelm! This affects our whole family. Now is not the time to be selfish! Why don’t you try to be more like erik?”
That last sentence felt like a punch in the gut. Wilhelm brought his hand away from his mouth where he had just bitten his nail. His mouth fell open as if to say something but he didn’t know what.
Kristina shook her head, having registered what she just said. “Sorry, I didn’t mean tha-” She was cut off by Wilhelm. “Yes you did.” He said in a small voice. He had always been compared to Erik. Erik the perfect crown prince who always knew what to do. What hurt was the fact that this time it was his own mom who compared them.
The silence that filled the car was deafening. After a while Wilhelm spoke up again.
“Why don’t you ever ask me what I want? You just decide for me and expect me to obey and do what is asked. I never wanted to go to Hillerska in the first place, but I had no say in it. I want to have a say in this! And I don’t want to make any form of statement. I just want the person who filmed us to get caught and get a punishment.” Wilhelm swallowed hard after saying these things that had been burdening his heart lately.
Kristina looked at her son in a way she never had before. It was a look of respect and acceptance that Wilhelm was his own person.
“Okay.” Was the only thing she said.