Archive of Our Own ^beta

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It was Wilhelms first day as a second grader. He had arrived at Hillerska yesterday, and had immediately called Simon. The two of them had spent most of their summer together, but the last two weeks Simon had been on vacation in latin America with his family and with the time difference they could barely speak.

“I miss you” was the first thing Wilhelm said when Simon answered. “I miss you too, but we’ll see each other tomorrow” Simon responded. “I know, but that’s not soon enough” “I have an idea” Simon said. “What if I spend the night with you, in your room?” “Yes, please!” Wilhelm shouted out loud. “Okay, I’ll be there in an hour” Simon said before he hung up.

Wilhelm waited for Simon at the bus stop. And when the bus finally arrived he ran towards Simon and hugged him tight. They spent the evening watch a movie and cuddling in Wilhelms room. 

The morning after Wilhelm woke up with Simon curled up againsty chest. If there was such a thing as pure happiness this was it, little did he know that soon the pure happiness was gonna be replaced with everything but happiness.

The first week of school was pretty chill. Or at least for Wilhelm since rowing practice hadn’t started up again and his teachers hadn’t assigned him any difficult assignments. Simon on the other hand was complaining, he already had choir practice and he went on tutoring sessions with multiple teachers.

The following weekend Wilhelm stayed at Simons house in Bjärstad. When Wilhelm was there he felt like a normal teenager. He didn’t feel the pressure the crown prince title caused him. He could just be himself, and enjoy the peacefulness in their house.

After his speech on the jubilee last semester Wilhelm had gotten everything but peace and quiet. The press had been following him nonstop and his his mom was so disappointed with him that she even at one point considered sending him away to a boarding school in Australia so he could “work on himself”. Luckily his dad convinced her not too.

And now, here he was, spending the weekend with Simon. He loved Simon so much! They spent their Saturday playing video games in Simons room. Or more correctly, Simon played and was actually pretty good while Wilhelm was mostly focusing on not dying. (He failed)

They spent their Sunday with Rosh and Ayub. Wilhelm loved Simons friends. They didn’t treat him differently because of his title, they treated him like Wille, Simons boyfriend. The four of them went to a pizzeria for dinner and just chatted about everything. Wilhelm felt free and he loved it!

When they got back to Simons house Wilhelm felt like something was wrong. He didn’t know why but he had a strange feeling that something was off. They decided to both spend the night at Hillerska in Wilhelms room, so they took the buss and then they spent the evening watching a horror movie. 

The next day Wilhelm still had the feeling of something being wrong. But having Simon curled up on his chest made things better. Gosh he loved Simon. He loved Simon so much! “I love you” was the first thing Wilhelm said to Simon when he woke up. “I love you too” Simon answered with a smile on his face. But that didn’t make the feeling that something was wrong go away.

And that was when he saw a notification on Simon’s phone. A notification that would destroy everything. "Her Royal Highness Queen Kristina and her husband Ludvig both unexpectedly passed away tonight."

Chapter Text

"Her Royal Highness Queen Kristina and her husband Ludvig both unexpectedly passed away tonight." The words echoed through Wilhelms head. He had just texted his mom yesterday. How could this be true? At that moment a part of Wilhelm died. A part of Wilhelm would always be dead. He fet numb. He felt nothing but everything at the same time. Sadness, anxiety, madness, it all came at once.

He felt mad that he got the news through Aftonbladet.

Sad that he never got to say goodbye.

Anxious that he was the only one left.

Erik was gone. His mom was gone. His dad was gone. He had no one left.

Simon still hadn’t seen his phone. But he saw that Wilhelm froze.

“What’s happening?” Simon asked. Wilhelm didn’t answer. “Are you alright?” Wilhelm started breathing heavy and fast and his hands started shaking. Tears were running down his cheeks.

“Wilhelm what is going on? You’re scaring me.”

“Mom, dad dead” was all he could say, the he collapsed on the floor. He was sobbing, and Simon didn’t know what to do, all he could do was to be there for him.

Without saying anything Simon hugged Wilhelm tight as Wilhelm cried. And the tears didn’t stop. Simon hugged him and tried to be there for him but his love couldn’t heal Wilhelm. Their love was strong. Their love was everything they could wish for. But even love can’t heal the mourning from losing your whole family in less than a year.

Knock knock knock. Three knocks on his door echoed through the room.

“Who is it?” Wilhlem managed to say in between his sobs.

“Jan-Olof, I need to talk with you. It’s important.”

“Can you please open the door” Wilhelm whispered in Simons ear. Simon nodded, and even if he didn’t wanna stop hugging Wilhelm he went to the door.

“Oh, you’re here” was the first thing Jan-Olof said when he saw Simon. But Simon didn’t care, he was used to the royal court not liking him.

“He already got the news.” Wilhelm had wiped off his tears and were approaching the door. He didn’t say anything though. He was just quiet. It was obvious that he had been crying but the only thing Jan-Olof said was “Wilhelm, I don’t know how much you know but I need you to come with me to the palace.” Not a, “I’m here for you” or even “I’m so sorry for your loss” Wilhelm was to broken to fight though. To broken to think. To broken to say anything. So he grabbed his phone and followed Jan-Olof leaving Simon in his room. That was the last time Simon saw or heard from Wilhelm in days.

When they came to the castle Wilhelm had to attend a bunch of meetings.

“Their funeral will be held in a week”

“You will take over the crown when you graduate Hillerska if you take over the crown”

“We think it’s best if you start attending more chariy events”

“Are you or August gonna take over the crown?”

“Are you or August gonna take over the crown?”

“Are you or August gonna take over the crown?” Wilhelm never wanted to take over the crown. He never wanted to be a prince in the first place and especially not a crown prince, but he certainly didn’t want August to take over it either.

“Wouldn’t it be good if you and Simon held it more low key?”

“This is what you’re gonna wear at their funerals”

“Are you even willing to take over the crown or are you gonna abdicate?”

“We’re gonna have two separate funerals”

“Do you wanna wear the same suit at both funerals?”

It was as if no one actually cared they were gone they only cared about the logistics. But Wilhelm cared. Wilhelm cared so much.

Days went by and Wilhem isolated himself at the castle. At first he had gotten a bunch of texts from Simon, but when he didn’t answer, the text got fewer and fewer. The first text he had gotten was “I’m thinking of you. I can’t even imagine how much pain you’re going through right now but I wanna be there for you. I wanna hug you and tell you that everything is going to be okay, because it is. I understand if you don’t have the energy to answer, I probably wouldn’t either. But just know I’m here for you, and if you need me I’m only a phone call away. You can call me at anytime.❤️❤️ I love you so much❤️”

The last text he had gotten was “It’s been 4 days and I haven’t heard from you, I’m worried about you Wille. Is there anything I can do for you? Please let me know what I can do. I love you so much and I wish I could take some of the pain away.❤️ Please respond❤️❤️”

Wilhelm wanted to respond but he didn’t wanna burden Simon. He was already going through so much pain and he didn’t want to put Simon through it.

Sometimes Wilhelm couldn’t help but wonder if Simon would be better off without him. Bad stuff keep on happening to him and he kept on dragging Simon down with him.

Simon on the other hand wanted Wilhelm to open up to him. He wanted to comfort Wilhelm. He never thought he would have been better off if he never met Wille. He love Wille.

Another day went by and Wilhelm didn’t received a single text from Simon. He spent the evening in his bed crying, as every other evening since their passing.

That was when he heard Jan-Olof approaching his door. Or he figured it was him since no one else was at the castle. But it wasn’t. Instead he felt someone sitting down on his bed and took his hand. It was Simon. When Wilhelm tured around Simon could see how red his eyes were from crying. Simon didn’t say anything though. Instead he laid down on the bed beside Wilhelm and hugged him tight.

“I’m so sorry for not answering”

“It’s okay”

“No it’s not, and I’m so sorry. I just didn’t want to burden you.”

“Wille, I promise you it’s okay. And I wanna be here for you. I love you so much”

“I love you too” Wilhelm whispered. Then the tears started running down his cheeks again. Simon spent the night at the castle in Wilhelms bed. But they didn’t sleep, instead they laid there talking about the future and whether or not Wille WANTED to take over the throne.

They didn’t tak about what would he the best choice but what Wilhelm wanted.

The following day Wilhelm had a meeting with the royals court about whether he was gonna take over the crown or give it up to August.

“Please attend the meeting with me” Wilhelm said.

“Of course.”

“You don’t have to decide yet.” Jan-Olof said as the meeting was ending.

“I know I don’t, but I’ve made a decision”