Chapter Text
Wille bit his lip as the car pulled into a long drive, bouncing at the rocks below the wheels. He peered out the window to see a large white building, with a group of people in formal uniforms standing in front of it.
He crossed his arms and looked over at his mom. “Do I have to go?” He asked, and his mother nodded. “But I'm the Crown Prince!” He exclaimed in protest.
This tactic did not work on his mother.
“You’re the Crown Prince.” She stated with a sigh. “And you need to learn how to act like one.”
Wille rolled his eyes. It hadn’t been his fault he had gotten into a fight. What was he supposed to do, just let those self-entitled pricks get in his face? He wasn’t a coward.
“Wilhelm.” His mother whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s time.”
Stepping out of the car, Wille took a deep, long breath. He looked out at the line of people before him, all standing straight up with serious looks on their faces. One boy with curly brown hair walked toward him, smiling. He recognized him as August, his second cousin.
“Crown Prince!” August exclaimed, pulling Wille in for a hug. “Welcome to Hillerska!” August made eye contact with Willes mom. “Your majesty.” He said with a small bow, and she laughed.
“Don't be so formal August, we are family.” She pulled August in for a small hug, which he accepted.
August looked back at Wille, and then at a woman standing confidently behind him. She stepped forward, offering out a hand.
“Headmistress Lilja.” She said, introducing herself. “It’s an honor to have you here Crown Prince.”
He put on his biggest, fakest smile. “The honor is all mine.” He said, and he felt his mother grin beside him.
For the next half hour, Wille was introduced to all the staff, teachers, and housemasters. He shook hands, took photos, and forced himself to smile so wide that his mouth practically went numb.
After a bit, they walked to the church, where the headmistress gave some boring speech about how the Crown Prince was to be treated with respect and as an equal, which felt sort of contradicting. Wille wasn't paying attention, for his eyes had wandered behind the headmistress. Standing there was a group of students, and in that group was one particular boy that caught his eye.
The boy had curly black hair that lay messily on his head, though it looked like he had spent a good hour trying to make it just right. His tan skin was shining in the sunlight, practically golden. His face was soft, so soft that Wille couldn’t help but imagine running his hands over it. And that smile. The boy had a smile that shined brighter than anything else in the room, his dimples making the whole thing about ten times more adorable than it should be.
And then Wille saw the headmistress move and tuned in as she introduced the group of students behind her as the choir. And before Wille could comprehend what was happening, the boy started to sing.
His voice was the most incredible thing Wille had ever heard. It melted him like butter, it made his knees weak. The boy was standing there, singing his heart out, eyes opening and closing as he belted lyrics Wille paid no attention to. And then, the most incredible thing happened.
They made eye contact.
This boy looked Wille straight in the eyes as he sang, and smiled. Smiled so wide that Wille felt like his heart was going to fall straight out of his chest if he wasn’t careful. They kept eye contact, Wille unable to contain his grin any longer. He smiled back at the boy, which just prompted him to smile even wider than before.
They only broke eye contact when this boy closed his eyes and sang the last line of the song, slow and beautiful and painfully attractive. Wille felt a shiver go down his spine as the song ended and everyone clapped.
As everyone exited the building, his mother pulled him aside to say her goodbyes. She lectured him once last time about behaving, and he groaned in protest as she leaned in to give him a large hug.
“I love you, Wilhelm.” She spoke, and Wille smiled at her softly.
“I love you too.”
And with that she left, leaving August to throw an arm around Willes shoulder. “So!” He asked cheerfully, smiling at Wille, though the smile seemed almost fake. “Do you want a tour?” He asked, and Wille shook his head.
“Can you show me to my room?” He asked, and August nodded.
“Yes, of course.”
August rambled as they walked, talking about how brilliant the school is and how happy everyone was to have him here. As they walked into a building and down a hall, he paused.
“Now, I know your Crown Prince, but you are still a first year, and first years have to share rooms.” He inspected Willes face for a look of protest though none came. Wille was too tired, too distracted, to bother with it.
“That's fine.” He muttered, and August led him to a door. “This is you.” He said, and knocked. “Simon!” He yelled, a look of distaste forming on his face as he did.
“Coming!” A voice rang out from the inside. A voice that sounded practically familiar.
The door swung open and a boy stood in the doorway, looking up at the two of them. The very same boy Wille had been so fascinated with in the church.
August put on another fake smile. “Simon!” He exclaimed, patting the boy awkwardly on the shoulder. “This is your new roommate!”
August looked over at Wille who was trying to hide his blush. “If you have any problems, just tell me.” He muttered before glaring at Simon and then leaving, walking down the hall swiftly as if he had something important to do.
“Crown Prince,” Simon said blandly, attempting a bow but chickening out halfway through. “Come in.” He said before turning around and walking into the room.
It was a nice room, to be fair, but Wille wasn’t paying much attention. He was too busy focused on Simon, who was looking back at him with a look of annoyance in his eyes. His brown eyes, Wille noted, inspecting the lovely warm color.
“That's your bed.” Simon said, pointing at the one on the left side of the room.
Wille smiled. “Thank you.” He stated walking towards it and sitting down. “And please, call me Wille.”