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The statement was done. Press pictures had been taken. And Wilhelm disappeared as soon as he was released by his mother and their public relations advisor Minou. Erik watched as his little brother all but ran out the door, hands scrambling at the tie around his neck and wondered if he should follow him. He was worried about his little brother. They all were. Fighting at a club he wasn't supposed to be in in the first place. The acting out. The constant arguing. The never ending anger. Neither he nor their parents could not figure out what was going on or how to begin to reach him. Which only seemed to result in more fights with their mother.
Erik sighed and slipped out the sitting room they used for interviews as well while his mother and father discussed something with the reporter and Minou while other workers milled around. He gave a nod to the guards that stood near the room and headed to the privacy of their personal quarters as he unbuttoned his jacket. Erik and Wilhelm shared their own wing of the castle, a long hallway with their two rooms linked by a shared living room on one side and a private library as other rooms on the other. Each had their own bathroom and private office as well, though Wilhelm rarely used his. He could usually be found in their living room, watching television or playing video games. Erik often used the desk that was in there as well while he worked instead of his office just so he could spend time with his little brother. Still, ever since he had returned from his military service and stepped up into his role as Crown Prince officially, he didn't get to see Wilhelm as much as he did when he was younger.
And honestly, he missed that closeness. Wilhelm was the only one who truly knew what it was like to be a prince of Sweden, was the only one with the same shared experiences and difficulties that came from their positions and really, the expectations of their parents as well. There was a five year difference between the pair but Erik adored his little brother and took his role as a big brother very seriously. He had always tried to protect him, help him when he needed, and guide him to handle his role as prince better. He loved Wilhelm and knew that his little brother idealized him as well. It was just lately there seemed to be some kind of chasm between them that he didn't know how to breach anymore.
Erik let out a tired breath as he approached their rooms. Wilhelm's room was first and the door was firmly shut. A glance into the living room revealed the room was quiet, the television off and Wille’s connecting door also closed firmly. There was no noise coming from his room either which meant that either Wilhelm had put his earphones on to drown out listening to anybody including Erik or he was hiding in the bathroom. Neither option was great.
He knocked softly anyway, calling "Wille? May I come in?"
It didn't surprise him when there was no answer. Erik leaned his forehead against the door. Wille used to let Erik in even in moments like this to help. Lately though, he usually wanted to be left alone and dealt with his anxiety on his own. He had been pushing Erik away more and more lately and frankly, he was worried.
With a sigh, he pushed himself off the door and went into his own bedroom. He stripped off the official military uniform his mother had wanted him to wear for Wilhelm's statement, for what reason he didn’t know, and pulled on a pair of jeans and a long, sleeved blue shirt. Much more comfortable. He hated that he had had to be there during his brother's mea culpa. It felt like an extra layer of humiliation on Wilhelm to have to make his statement with not just the Queen but the Crown Prince and their father there as well. Wilhelm already suffered from anxiety when it came to things like this. Doing it front of literally everyone he loved plus the entire country was bordering on cruel.
He understood his brother's anger at it all.
As he slipped his shoes back on, he decided to give Wilhelm some time to calm down. Then, he would go talk to him. Maybe he could help Wilhelm see that Hillerska wasn't as bad as he thought it was. He himself had enjoyed his time there. Well mostly anyway. Maybe it would help Wilhelm find himself again. Erik could only hope. He just wanted his brother happy again.
Erik sat at his personal desk and opened up his paperwork for the foundation he was working on establishing closer to him, all the while keeping an ear out toward his brother's room, listening for any sign of distress.
****
Several hours later, Erik walked down their hallway after the evening meeting with his mother and the Royal Court. He honestly hated these meetings. They were essentially useless in his eyes. They had already met that morning and would meet again in just 12 hours. There wasn't that much that could happen in that time that they didn’t deal with during the day, was there? Not to mention, he didn't like many members of the royal court. They were too old, too traditional, too out of touch. Jan-Olof, in particular, was an old, old member of the Royal Court who had long needed to retire. It didn't help that he also didn't really like Erik and put up with him only because Erik was the Crown Prince, and a damn good one if he did say so himself or at least a discreet one, but he particularly seemed to hate Wilhelm. He constantly criticized the younger royal and nothing Wille ever did at any engagements he did do was ever enough. It had only been his mother's stern gaze and finally a few short words from herself that had kept Erik from ripping the old man a new one tonight as he lamented the latest scandal caused by the youngest royal.
Talk about kicking someone when they’re down.
Wilhelm's door to the hallway was still shut but he could hear noises coming from the living room. He peaked around the doorway and smiled. Wilhelm had changed into jeans and an orange sweater earlier and was sitting on the sofa, playing a video game, though the look on his face told Erik the younger teen wasn't really paying that much attention to it.
Erik leaned against the doorway and observed his brother for a second. The bruising on his face looked darker and more painful than it had earlier. Wille was hunched over in the light of the television, gaze fixed on the television. He looked lost and lonely and still so impossibly young. Erik forgot, sometimes, that Wille was still only 16. He felt horrible. He felt like he had been neglecting his big brother duties, leaving Wille to fend for himself when Crown Prince duties had started to take up so much of his time. Then, the friends his brother had made at his public high school had started inviting him out and suddenly, Wille was partying more and more and spending less and less time at home. Their relationship had become strained, distant. And it was none so apparent as it had been through this whole debacle.
And the truth was, Erik wasn't even sure anymore if Wille was being defiant about his life or if he was just trying to please everyone at the cost of himself. Knowing his little brother, it was likely the latter.
Wilhelm had joined them for dinner earlier that night but had remained silent, picking at his plate before finally leaving long before they had finished. Both Ludvig and Kristina had tried to engage him in a discussion but Wilhelm had sullenly answered with one worded sentences and quiet answers. Erik, who could read his brother like a book, could tell he wasn't angry anymore but more chastised and scolded. He had been made to feel small again, a very common occurrence in their lives. He knew Wille rarely felt he could do anything right. It didn't help that their mother had reminded him during dinner that Hillerska would teach him to behave like the prince he was and make the right sort of friends and that he had done this to himself with the constant partying. Each word had landed like a lash and he watched his brother shrink further into himself. He was pretty sure his father could see it as well, but Ludvig rarely said anything to contradict his wife.
Kristina meant well and Erik knew she loved Wilhelm. It's just sometimes she was more queen than mother when it came to dealing with him. And Wille had never learned to separate the two personas. As far as he was concerned, Kristina their mother and Kristina the Queen were one and the same person and that person thought Wilhlem was a failure.
Erik took a deep breath as he entered his room. He wanted to make his brother feel better. Neither Kristina nor Ludvig had ever really known or understood how to handle Wilhelm's anxiety and fears and he could see those coming out in full force right now with the looming prospect of changing schools and leaving his home. Erik had been the only one that had ever been able to calm his brother down. Glancing around, looking for inspiration, he spotted an object on his desk and smiled. He knew exactly how to make his brother feel better and hopefully remind him that they did love him.
"Hey, Wille," Erik said softly as he entered their living area.
"Hey, Erik," Wilhelm replied quietly, eyes still trained on the game though he could see that Wille's heart wasn't really in it.
He sat next to him and studied his brother. "Are you okay?"
Wille shrugged and looked down at the controller in his hand. Erik's heart broke at the sight of his beloved little brother looking so lonely and uncertain. He wrapped an arm around his brother, rubbing his shoulder lightly.
"You know that Mum and Dad are just worried, right?" he asked gently.
Wille sighed and put the controller down on the table in front of them. He stared at the television. "I know they wish I was a better backup."
Erik tightened his arm around his shoulders. "That's not true."
Wille looked away for a minute before looking back at his older brother and Erik knew that Wille didn't believe him. "Sure."
Erik gave him a small smile, trying to ease some of the tension in his brother. He hugged him a little closer as Wille looked back at the tv. He picked up the small snowglobe he had brought with him from where he had set it beside him. He chuckled lightly and turned the globe upside outside, making the glitter inside swirl. "Do you remember this one?
Wille's eyes lit up a little at the sight of the familiar snowglobe. "Yeah, Grandpa gave it to you."
Erik smiled a little wider and looked at the snowglobe. "You loved it so much. I used to catch you in my room all the time just looking at it and making it snow. I never could figure out why this one was the one you loved so much.”
Wille's smile was small at the memories of him constantly sneaking into Erik's room, not to snoop like normal children but to stare and play with the little snowglobe. He had been fascinated by the crown frog prince in the glass globe, golden glitter swirling around. There was just something about it that had drawn Wille to it. There were even a few memories of really bad days or when he felt ill and curling up with Erik while his older brother had made the globe swirl for him. The sight of the snowglobe made warm feelings swell in his chest despite the pain in his face and his head. He had long since lost count of how many times he had stared at the snowglobe when Erik had been at Hillerska or completing his military service or even now when he went away on official business for the crown. It reminded him so much of his brother, the only one who ever really loved him.
"Anyway, I was thinking you, uh, could have it," Erik continued, handing the snowglobe over to Wille.
Wille's fingers wrapped around it and he looked down at the familiar shape, turning it over in his hands and making the glitter float around. He smiled and relaxed even more. Erik felt a wave of relief wash over him at seeing his brother appear happier. He rubbed a hand across Wille's back before folding his arms over his knees.
"Thanks, Eric," Wille said, gaze still on the frog prince as the glitter fell around it.
"At least you don't have to be the Crown Prince," Erik teased gently.
Privately, he had always been glad for that small mercy. Wille would never have to know the loneliness and struggles he himself had as Crown Prince. The complete lack of privacy as well as the constant strive for perfection. He never wanted his little brother to suffer through that and deal with what he had to. He had always tried to hide his own struggles from his little brother, knowing that the younger boy needed his steadiness and calmer demeanor to help combat his anxiety and fears. He wanted his little brother to have at least some freedom and some kind of semblance of choice in his life.
Erik watched Wille cradle the snowglobe for a few more minutes as if it was his most precious possession before putting it down and picking up his controller again. Wille seemed to focus a little better on the game and he settled in to watch his little brother play.
In a few days, he would drive Wille north to Hillerska and the palace would become much quieter. He didn't want to admit that he would be losing his best friend, but honestly, he would. There was no one else he was closer to, but he genuinely agreed with his mother. Public high school had not been good for his brother. He hadn't found real friends that cared for him. Instead, he had found users who seemed to love the idea of partying with a prince to an excess and had no problem broadcasting that fact. He was not oblivious. Wille had come home drunk or high or both on more than one occasion. Not that he wouldn't party at Hillerska. He himself had had his own experiences with alcohol and drugs there. But it was different. It was just the environment was more protective. At Hillerska, his peers would look after him and make sure he didn't hurt himself whereas here...well, Erik and his bodyguards had more than a few experiences stepping in to cover and care for Wille.
Though, this last incident proved they weren't really as effective as they liked to think they were.
Erik sighed. He still didn't know the full story of the fight at that club or what had cause his brother to lash out, but it was concerning. He longed to ask Wille about it but right now, his brother looked calm and relaxed and dare he say, a little happy. Wille leaned back against the cushions and pressed his shoulder into Erik's. The older man smiled and watched the game for awhile before teasingly began to offer advice. As with most things they did, it eventually devolved into the kind of brotherly bickering that had no heat into it and often left them laughing by the end, usually because Erik ended tickling Wille to remind him who was the boss.
As their laughter subsided, Erik refused to let Wille up and instead hugged him tightly, trying to express how much he loved his little brother and would miss him. Wille seemed to understand after a moment because he quit fighting and settled against his older brother’s side. Erik put a foot up on the table and kept an arm around his little brother.
There was a minute of silence where they didn't say anything and just stared at the television before Wille broke it softly.
"I don't want to go to Hillerska, Erik," he said quietly.
"I know," he responded just as softly. "But you know once Mama makes up her mind, it's set." Wille nodded and sighed as he continued. "Besides, it won't be so bad. Hillerska is not a prison, Wille, and you'll make new friends and you can compete on the rowing team. August will be there. He'll look after you." Wille shifted away from him for a second before he tightened in arm in apology. He had forgotten that Wille was not overly fond of their cousin August. He never could understand why though. He and August got along fantastically. It had been like having a little brother at Hillerska when he was missing Wille desperately. August had his flaws and issues, of course, but he wasn't a bad guy. He wished Wille liked him a little more so both his brothers got along better. "Anyway, you can call me anytime you need to talk, day or night. I'm not abandoning you."
Wille was quiet for a moment before he looked over at him and gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Eric."
"I know right now it doesn't feel like it but I promise, Wille, things will get better," Erik comforted softly, hugging his little brother. "It'll work out in the end, you'll see."
Wille finally gave in and wrapped his arms tightly around the only person who ever even tried to understand him, who didn't seem to think he was some kind of failure as a prince. It had been a long time since he had hugged his brother so unreservedly. Usually, when they hugged, he would make a game out of it, never letting Erik go even when the older tried to pull away. It had been the only way he could get longer hugs when he as he got older. Tonight, though, Erik happily held him as long as he wanted. He rubbed his back as he returned the hug.
Erik kept his brother company the rest of the evening. Wille played video games for a while longer until he finally conceded that his heart just was not in it. Instead, they choose a movie to watch. Erik, in an effort to continue to cheer up his brother, made it a movie night like they used to have when they were younger. They changed into pajamas to be more comfortable and Erik brought out a pile of blankets they could wrap themselves in. He also made popcorn and brought in a variety of snacks from the kitchen as well. He let Wille choose the first movie and they settled among the pile of blankets and pillows on the floor just like they used to when they were younger.
When Wille began to drift off to sleep on his shoulder, Erik tucked one of the blankets around him and ran a hand over his hair before letting himself drift. He didn't know what the future held for the pair of them but he felt that as long as they supported each other and stood by each other, they could face anything. He was going to do his very best to be a better big brother for Wille, to protect him and help him with whatever he was dealing with now. He promised both himself and his sleeping brother he would be there for him more.
Erik could feel himself drifting off to sleep, lured by the comforting warmth of his brother against him and the feeling of safety and contentment he usually got when they were both home and okay. Things were changing for both of them but tonight, they were not Crown Prince Erik and Prince Wilhelm.
Tonight, they were just two brothers trying to hold on just a little longer to their normalcy. Tomorrow, they would face the world again, the expectations and the duties. Tonight, though, tonight they would remain safe and untouchable in their own little glass globe.