Archive of Our Own ^beta

Like everything else, Wilhelm finds out about it when some “friend” he only sees at parties texts him.

RG

did you see the newest sweden twitter guy? haha what a joker as if tweeting is doing something for the country

Wilhelm’s vaguely aware of the @sweden account, whose authorship rotates through ordinary Swedes every week, from whenever something particularly funny or rude that makes the news. He goes to check it, expecting something along the same lines. The account is wholly in English, and right at the top are two tweets with tens of thousands of likes.

Wilhelm scoffs: it’s yet another person who assumes they know who he is just from a couple of headlines and photos. The profile picture shows a young man who is good looking, in a smug way, and Wilhelm resents everything about him.

He starts scrolling down, so he can judge this man over the internet in full. There’s several tweets highlighting various Swedish choirs with Youtube links, tweets about the expensive rental market in Stockholm, and then —

Wilhelm videocalls Erik.

“How can they let someone say that about me? Isn’t this Twitter supposed to promote Sweden?”

Erik blinks as he catches up with Wilhelm’s thoughts. He gets that frown on his face. “You know as public figures we’ll always have detractors.”

“This guy said all I do is party!”

“Rise above them,” Erik instructs. “And don’t respond.”

Wilhelm juts his lip. “Okay.”

He opens an incognito window and proceeds to log into his anonymous Twitter account, the one he uses to follow people he can’t follow on his public account. He figures out how to make his tweets public, then tweets, in English:

This makes Wilhelm pause, because he is, in fact, paid by the monarchy. Specifically his mom. Farima rings him, probably about whatever bullshit ribbon cutting he has to do redeem his public image this week.

When he hangs up, he finds his screen taken over by notifications. He taps the top one, only for Twitter to hang as it tries to load.

Wilhelm paces in his living room. He’s mortified. He didn’t mean for others to take his anonymous tweet as some sort of rallying cry.

The first thing he does is turn his profile back to private. Then next he DMs @sweden, switching into Swedish.

Simon Eriksson

Sorry I didn’t mean to cause a riot in your replies.

He’s surprised when he gets a reply.

Didn’t you??

Sorry checked your account and you look like a Twitter newbie… don’t worry this is a normal Tuesday on Twitter

I expected some controversy but not a Buzzfeed article

Don’t take anything personally

A Buzzfeed article? Wilhelm wants to hide in his bed, in the insulated safety of a winter duvet. Still, he tries to apologize properly.

It’s my fault for accusing you first.

I don’t disagree that the monarchy can be superfluous.

You just didn’t like my attack on Prince Wilhelm

No.

Yeah I guess I was a little mean… I wouldn’t like a permanent spotlight on me at 19 either.

A one week spotlight is probably my max

No one is bothering you too much right now are they?

Lol it’s fine… I’d changed my number a while ago so my asshole ex-schoolmate failed to doxx me

WAIT WHAT have you told the police???

Don’t worry! I have social media staff right now as @sweden… they’re helping monitor it.

Not that the charges would stick because the dude is related to the royals

Wilhelm frowns. There are relatives he hasn’t met, but he knows all of the ones living in Sweden, and there are only a few around his age.

You went to school with someone related to the royals?

I went to Hillerska… the same school Crown Prince Erik attended

I’m surprised that someone who went to Hillerska would criticize the royals

Not to say that you can’t.

I was one of the “poor” students

Suddenly, the source of @sweden’s animosity becomes clear. If he’s the same age as Wilhelm, he must know August. August has never been shy about his disdain for the local day students he went to school with for three years. That disdain never seemed to stop August from dating and dumping them. Just to check, Wilhelm asks:

Who is your asshole ex-schoolmate?

What are you going to google him?

August Horn

Oh yeah total asshole

Wait you know him?

Wilhelm doesn’t want to lie, necessarily, so:

My older brother went to Hillerska with him.

So… you’re one of the rich kids

Yes 🙃

Lol you seem fine so far… no boasting about weekend trips to the French Riveria yet

If I ever do you have permission to punch me

Over the internet? I wish I had that power lol

Hey do you want my real account… I didn’t publicize it because I didn’t want the attention but a lot of other people can read these messages

Fuck, Wilhelm didn’t even think of that. He starts to panic, and then the counselling kicks in. It isn’t too bad, he tells himself. No one working at the Swedish Institute would or could reasonably look up the two hundred or so students August went to school with and then their younger siblings. He repeats it to himself once more, before focusing back onto his conversation with @sweden.

Yes

Ok it’s @estrallado

@estrallado has a fish as its a profile photo, and is locked. Wilhelm requests to be added, and chews at a hangnail until the DM button shows up.

simme

Hi

Hi! So you know a ton about me now do you mind if I ask a bit about you?

Wilhelm does, a little bit, but an age would be fine. And his university has forty thousand students so that couldn’t be very revealing either.

I’m 19 too. I go to Uppsala

Same as Prince Wilhelm lol

Wait do you know him? If you do I’m sorry for going off on you

There is no way for Wilhelm to answer that question directly without lying. He prevaricates.

I’ve seen him around

That would be weird if you did know him… though we both know that asshole August so maybe not that weird

What are you studying?

Economics.

I would have guessed business with your background 😛

You’re studying psychology?

How did you know?

Is Wilhelm being creepy? He reaches for the closest pillow, on his sofa, and muffles a scream into it. Picking his phone back up, he tries for casual.

You said so in your intro

For a sec I thought the rich kids group chat was talking shit about me

If there is one I’m not in it

Maybe you should get into one… be my person on the inside.

Wait do you mind me asking your gender? Kinda assumed you were a girl since you’re in the Prince Wilhelm fanclub but realized I don’t know

Guy actually

Prince Wilhelm fanclub really 😑

You were so passionate about defending him!

But yeah, I guess you’re right that he could be a normal guy that we don’t know much about

It’s hard not to generalize when I went to school with so many rich assholes and they’re worse out of the public eye

Were all of them that awful?

Not every single person individually maybe

As a whole… the culture of privilege encourages bullying/hazing

Hillerska and so many other ~elite~ schools have had pupils convicted for assaults due to hazing

There’s an in-group/out-group dynamic at these schools enforced through a culture of silence and violence, and it extends to later life when these students are out in wider society but still have these in-group bonds formed during their formative years

And this culture of hazing inducts these people into upholding the “old boys culture” even when they’re adults years out of school

Wilhelm doesn’t know what to say to all of that.

I hope you’re okay now

I was a day student, so it wasn’t as bad for me

Sorry for going off like that on you… you probably went through something similar

I wouldn’t know. I went to a non-boarding independent school in Stockholm so it was very different.

My brother didn’t tell me much about Hillerska

Maybe he didn’t want to worry you about it

Maybe, Wilhelm thinks.

---

---

When Wilhelm asks Erik about it later, Erik’s reticence is visible even through fuzzy video.

“It’s just a bunch of kids cooped up with nothing to do,” Erik says. “It’s nothing to write home about.”

Wilhelm feels an ember of anger rising in him. “Do you mean there’s nothing to write because it wasn’t that bad, or because there is a culture of silence that prevents the acknowledgement of the harm and trauma caused?”

On screen, Erik’s head tilts in a minute nod. “Is this something you’ve been talking about in your university-provided counselling sessions?”

“No.” Wilhelm runs a hand through his hair. “It came up in class when we were talking about organizations.”

“Corporate organizations,” Erik repeats with an eyebrow raised. He pauses, like he’s thinking it through. “I thought most of it was harmless, but I can see if some people may have felt harmed.”

“I googled it. Two students were convicted of burning another student the year before you started there, Erik. There’s no way you didn’t know about that.”

Erik looks away and sighs. “I’d like to say that the faculty and staff were more vigilant when I was there, but that wasn’t completely true. I did not see anything close to that severe when I was there, though.”

“Fine,” Wilhelm says.

---

---

The next day, Wilhelm has a monotonous lecture about cooperation and negotiation in economics. It ought to be an interesting topic, but this course makes any topic as long and dry as winter. Wilhelm’s thoughts return to what Simon said.

simme

Do you think I’m one of those rich assholes?

We’ve only talked online so I don’t really know you…

Do you want me to be honest?

Please.

A bubble with three dots appears, and disappears. Wilhelm bites at his nails. It reappears, and disappears. Then:

You seem a little sheltered? Like sometimes you’ll say something that is really privileged but if I call you out on it you’ll think about it a little bit and take what I say into account

So you’re more self-aware than the average rich asshole, at least

I’d have to meet you in person to know for sure haha

Lol

Thanks for telling me

I’ll consider it my civic duty… making sure you don’t turn out to be an asshole 😉

Seriously though if you want to meet up we definitely could

Wilhelm is definitely never going to meet Simon, or Minou might lock him in the palace.

Sorry I’m busy with school

No pressure! But we could meet over break if you want to. You could come down to Stockholm or I could go to Uppsala.

I’ll have to see

Thanks for the offer though

---

Simon Eriksson @sweden

.@chrismt Some universities have housing for international students. In Stockholm the SSSB also provides accommodation for students regardless of university but there’s a queue so some people share flats instead or sublet

Chris @chrismt

@sweden that sounds difficult

Simon Eriksson @sweden

@chrismt Universities outside Stockholm will be better 😅

---

As it turns out, Wilhelm has to be in Stockholm over the weekend. He arrives outside his flat to find a black Audi with a driver standing beside it, early than agreed upon. He goes into his flat, sets an alarm for five minutes before when he’s supposed to leave, and eats a snack until the alarm goes off.

He messages Simon as they drive out of the parking lot:

simme

Busy this weekend :( Won’t be able to message as often

Don’t get too swamped with coursework… remember to take breaks and drink water!

By the time Wilhelm arrives at the palace, the sky has darkened, a reminder of the approaching winter. His mother and Erik are both away for events, so it is just him and his father, eating a quiet meal before retiring to bed. He checks his Twitter once before bed, though there no new messages and no new tweets from Simon.

Saturday morning, Wilhelm wakes to a loud knock. He checks his phone: seven-thirty. He stumbles out of bed, dresses himself well enough for someone getting re-dressed by a PR department in a few hours, and sleepily makes his way to the private formal dining room.

“The prince will arrive at Astrid Lingen’s Children Hospital at ten,” Farima recites. “The prince will meet several children in the newly opened gardens. Here are their names, photos, and brief biographies.”

Wilhelm takes a gulp of water to wash down the bread in his mouth. “Are the biographies necessary? I’m only going to be there for an hour.”

“We don’t want a repeat of the prince’s last engagement,” Minou says, demanding his obedience with a firm look. His father, the prince consort, eats in silence.

Wilhelm returns her stare. “Let me finish breakfast first at least.” He waits, refusing to blink. A long silence later, Minou makes a gesture and Farima retracts the printout. Wilhelm resumes eating.

After, he changes into the outfit the PR department have chosen for him and studies the profiles he’s been given. He rarely remembers everything he’s told to memorize, but he goes over them a few more times as Minou orders the hair and makeup artist around.

Once he’s in the car, he’s finally able to check his phone. There’s a notification from Twitter right at the very top.

simme

Glad I don’t have to be on campus this weekend… Prince Wilhelm’s fanclub has staged a takeover

Wilhelm plays dumb.

What, why?

They say he’s visiting ALB? Half my class are convinced they can be the Swedish Kate Middleton

People are totally embarrassing themselves for 137 million kr a year

Judging by Prince Erik they should probably try webcamming first

Wilhelm winces at the reminder. It’s brought up whenever Erik’s gone without scandal for too long, and although Wilhelm was too young to notice when it happened, he now understands that his mother’s public and private opinion on Erik’s exes are polar opposites.

Wilhelm types several responses, and eventually goes with what he thinks is the most neutral one.

People have gone on reality TV for less

Don’t tell me you watch Paradise Hotel! I’d have to stop talking to you

jk I watch it when I’m bored

Without thinking about it, he writes:

Wow, you weren’t who I thought you were

He presses enter before he fully realizes what he’s written. He panics. What if he’s offended Simon? What if Simon stops talking to him?

Lmao gotta keep our relationship exciting

Now that you’ve mentioned it, the royal family is kind of like a reality show

You could play a game with Aftonbladet headlines: Paradise Hotel contestant or royal?

Ugh imagine if Mos were a royal

See? It could get worse

Don’t remind me that August is almost a royal

Wilhelm grimaces at the thought too.

Yeah I’m pro-Wilhelm now… anything to keep August out of the line of succession

I suppose I’ve convinced you to my side?

I guess 😂

Wilhelm arrives at the hospital, where he’s ushered to a photo op with a few child patients in the garden. The photos don’t take much time. He thinks about what Simon’s said about the royal family, and spends a few more minutes than usual talking with each child before they leave the garden.

He doesn’t have to be anywhere the rest of the day, so he turns to Farima and asks, “Could we tour of one of the wards? Not if it’s too much of a hassle of course.”

A genuine smile appears on Farima’s face. “If you could accommodate the prince,” she says to the hospital director beside them.

“Of course, of course, the children would love it.”

Wilhelm surprises a few parents, who likely would have snapped a photo of Farima wasn’t there to glare at them. The children, however, greet his presence with a pure and simple joy. He’s a storybook hero to them, one happy to chatter away about their treatments and their best friends, human or otherwise. One gap-toothed girl gives him a well-worn plush lion, telling him to take good care of it. He touches his thumb to hers in a solemn promise.

Wilhelm keeps the toy snug against his chest all the way back to the palace. He only lets go of it once to place it by his bed, where his frog prince once sat. Tomorrow it’ll join his frog prince in Uppsala.

---

Wilhelm returns home in the mid-afternoon, when the autumn sun is shining full-tilt through his curtains. He’s barely changed into his home clothes when his phone chirps.

Wilhelm can’t help but tease.

simme

“Stockholm isn’t that small” and yet your university is beside the hospital

🤫

Also it takes me 30 minutes to get to campus by bus so no Stockholm isn’t that small

That’s a bit of a commute

All of the closer dorms require at least a year of queuing 😢

Isn’t it also hard to find student housing in Uppsala?

My parents arranged mine 😬

Lucky

Class warfare abandoned if you can get me a flat within walking distance of KI

You are not immune to upward mobility.jpg

😆

I love sleep more!

There’s a knock on his door. “It’s me,” comes Erik’s voice.

“Come in!”

His phone chirps again. Simon’s sent him a meme of a cat sleeping across two tram seats, captioned ME IRL.

“Who are you texting?” comes Erik’s voice from up close.

Wilhelm startles, his phone falling onto his bed with a muffled thump.

“Um,” he says. “A friend.”

Erik grins, poking at Wilhelm’s cheek. “A friend.”

Wilhelm sputters, looking down as his cheeks pull into a shy smile.

Erik pulls him and ruffles his hair. “I thought I’d never get to tease you over a crush,” he says cheerily.

“Erik,” Wilhelm protests. “It’s not like that! We just talk online.”

“But you think they’re cute?”

Wilhelm stares at the scruffy lion plush beside his bed. “Maybe.”

Erik smooths the duvet and sits beside Wilhelm. “I’m happy for you, you know? You should live your life a little bit. You don’t have to be so serious all the time.”

With a groan, Wilhelm falls back and collapses into his pillows. “It’s not like that,” he insists.

“But it’s a little like that?”

Wilhelm makes another noise of despair, covering his face with his hands. He shakes his head a little. “He doesn’t know who I am.”

Erik hums, considering his words. “You’re getting to know him as a person rather than as a prince. That’s more honest, right?”

“But I’m lying to him about who I am?”

“A lie of omission is not too bad. I’m sure you’ll be able to explain.”

“Erik,” Wilhelm whines. “We’ve talked about me before! Me as in the prince.”

“Okay,” Erik says. “That is not so great.” He tries to cheers him up. “But I’m sure he would understand.”

Wilhelm looks back to the lion. “I hope.”

---

Wilhelm’s phone buzzes while he’s in class. He glances down, sees it’s Simon, and surreptitiously reaches to swipe it open.

He manages to wait until dinner to message Simon, partly because he needs to focus but mostly because he doesn’t want to look like he’s a desperate person who’s turned on notifications for his crush.

simme

How is being not famous on Twitter?

Back to normal…

I have a written exam next week 💀

I want to never think about unconscious perception again

If you think about it, isn’t it conscious?

STOP

If you mention psych again I will open a wikipedia article about economics and paste it here

No 😱

Fine, truce

😊😊

Should I not complain my course then?

You can talk about your course but not mine

And vice versa?

“Vice versa”??? ok YOU have been studying too much

Yeah and vice versa

---

Wilhelm has not, actually, been studying enough, because his written exam on costing is coming up and he still cannot remember a single one of these mind-numbing cash flow diagrams.

First, though, he has a group assignment to do. One of their group mates has dropped off the face of the earth, so it’s down to him and Stella. They’ve claimed a corner in one of the smaller study halls in Carolina Rediviva for their books and notes, and with a wool hat on people don’t even notice Wilhelm. If anything, they’re more likely to notice the enormous pink pom pom on Stella’s pencil.

simme

Why does this old dude keep going on about bats I’m starting to think he might be a batphile

Batophile?

Stella pokes him with a puffy pom pom. “Friend messaging you?” Her whisper is too loud for a library, and someone across the room makes a loud shushing noise. Stella ignores them. “So?”

Wilhelm, brain still in Simon mode, blurts out the truth. “Kind of? On Twitter.”

“Huh, didn’t expect you to be so online,” Stella says. “You’re like the only person in our course who never brings a laptop.”

“They’re clunky,” Wilhelm says.

“Well, Mr Folding Phone, stop being distracted by Twitter drama and help me list examples of traceable costs.”

They have to list three to five examples, with a paragraph of explanation each. It takes a while to write everything down while through their notes and textbook. Wilhelm manages not to look at his phone once. Stella is first to cave to her curiosity.

“So, is there new Twitter drama?” she asks, still slightly short of a whisper. “Should I pretend I don’t know that you’re the subject of one?”

“It’s not like it really involved me?” Wilhelm says uneasily, biting his lip. “I mostly just ignored it.”

Stella gives him a speaking look. “Just so you know, that’s not what your cousin August is claiming.”

Wilhelm’s face flickers from neutral to grimace. “That’s definitely not true,” he says. He stops himself before he accidentally reveals his opinion of August, because much as he gets along with Stella, he doesn’t really know her. He knows that she’s in love with her best friend, and that she attended Hillerska like Erik, August, and —

“So you know Simon?” Wilhelm asks Stella.

The pom pom lowers, Stella taken aback. “What?”

“The person who made the tweet about me?”

Stella furrows her eyebrows. “Yeah, actually. How’d you guess?”

“I heard that he’s from Hillerska too,” Wilhelm says as casually as possible.

Fortunately, Stella fills in the wrong gaps. “August should keep his mouth shut,” she mutters. She leans over the table and pokes him emphatically, such that the pom pom feels more pencil than pom. “Look. I know it seemed like Simon was attacking you personally, but I’m friends with his sister and he’s really nice when he’s not picking a political fight. Don’t, like, go after him for it okay?”

“I’m not going to,” Wilhelm says quickly.

“I mean it. I’ll tank your grade if you dare.” Her plastic of her pencil clacks against her laptop in emphasis.

“Got it,” Wilhelm says.

Stella nods forcefully. “So. Mobile costs?”

---

The direct message icon lights up.

simme

Sorry that your parents are homophobic

They’re not homophobic, they support gay marriage and all

They just think everyone is straight

That’s another form of homophobia tho

Just because they say they’re okay with it, doesn’t mean they actually accept it

I suppose

Not much you can do about that generation

I don’t believe that

I mean, my mom has always been super supportive long before I came out to her, so I’m lucky in that way

But also if you believe you can’t change people’s minds, you’re never going to change them

There are a lot of people who are dedicated to their own ignorance or out to harm others

But I think the majority of people just need a push

I’m glad that your mom is supportive!

My parents aren’t like yours. They don’t consider my opinions worth listening to. To them I might as well be a five-year-old child

Over a long minute, a typing bubble appears and disappears.

You’ve moved out right? So you have a bit of distance from your parents?

I moved out for uni but I didn’t move far enough

Not that moving across the Atlantic would stop them either

Helicopter parents?

Wilhelm supposes that’s as accurate as any label.

Yes. More or less

The typing bubble reappears. It hovers for a long while, three blinking dots of unease.

Are you and your brother close? Does he know about you?

I guess he knows, but we haven’t really talked about it

Is he supportive?

Wilhelm blushes, as he remembers Erik teasing him about his online friend, Erik’s non-chalance at Wilhelm’s use of he.

He is

Maybe he could help ease your parents into it?

Maybe? He’s the good son out of the two of us

He’s kind of the peacemaker

You should talk to him about it!

Up to you of course, but I think it would help

---

Wilhelm, of course, does not talk to Erik about it. First he has to study for an exam, then they’re on to accounting and he wants to rip his hair out over debits and credits.

Because it’s been a slow news month, apparently, the morning papers are continuing to discuss Simon’s take on the monarchy’s spend. Namely: that Wilhelm has reached an age where he could have his own official household soon, with an official budget on top of what the Royal Family currently receives. His antics, as his mother calls them, have fomented antipathy towards him receiving his own earmarked taxpayers’ money.

“Why can’t I just not take the money and use mom’s?” Wilhelm complains to Erik. “It’s not like I’m never going to need it.”

“You’ll have to take up your full duties after school,” Erik counters. Erik, as usual, is lounging in the armchair in his sitting room. “You’ll need your own full-time staff.”

“Farima is already full-time and she’s part of the Queen’s Household.”

“Yes, but convention dictates that once you’re an adult in society you should have a full household, not just one — frankly overworked — press person.”

Wilhelm rolls his eyes. “That’s such a stupid convention.”

Erik sighs. He leans forward, blocking the sitting room from view. “Wille, I know that you don’t want to deal with this, but the Royal Family is short on representatives even compared to families of other countries with similar GDPs. It is unfortunate there are few members of the Royal Family to share the duties, but we must show that the Royal Family is a stable and lasting institution. Mamma would never cut you off, of course, but one day you must be an adult Prince with the Household that accompanies it.”

Wilhelm scoffs. “Until your first child turns eighteen. And then I’ll be back in yours or Mamma’s household.”

Erik rubs his forehead. “Why even bring that up? I’m not even engaged yet. You always say I sound like Mamma, but you sounded like her right then.”

A weight makes itself known in his throat. “I’m sorry,” Wilhelm mumbles. He bites at a knuckle.

Erik sighs again. “It’s fine. I just want you to remember you’re not alone in this.” His fingers tap at an upholstered armrest. “Look, there’s a Lucia morning choir filming at the main palace this year. It’s not an event we usually attend, especially since you’re at school, but a ‘spontaneous’ appearance would make a good headline. I’m sure Farima would be happy to arrange it.”

Waking up before dawn is not exactly what Wilhelm wants to be doing over the weekend, but he acquiesces. “Okay, I’ll go. I’ll phone Farima.”

“Great,” Erik says. Leaning back into the camera, he smiles. “So. Enough about the press. How’s that online romance of yours going?”

Wilhelm sputters. “It’s not a romance! We’re still just friends!”

“Okay.” Erik raises an eyebrow. “But you message all the time.”

“Yeah, but, friends do that too don’t they?”

“Do you message any of your other friends this much?”

“Well, no…” Wilhelm says, trying not to sink into his bed.

“And does he message you just as much?” Erik asks, a playful lilt to his words.

“Maybe? I guess so?” Wilhelm says, fully one with his duvet now. “Maybe he has a lot of free time in between classes.”

“I’m sure he’s just as busy as you are with classes. Unless you’re not telling me something?” Erik teases.

“Hey! I do study!”

“I know you do; PrinceWilhelmUpdates posted a grainy photo of you in the library yesterday.”

Wilhelm sputters. “Why are you following a stalker account of mine!”

“I don’t. It’s in the daily press briefing that you should be thankful you don’t attend.”

Is this why Farima is overworked? If so, Wilhelm will gladly tell her to stop following fan accounts.

“I’m sure he’s interested,” Erik says, being a supportive older brother. “Since you’re less abrasive online than you are offline.” The least supportive older brother ever, Wilhelm grumbles. Erik pretends to think, and adds: “Or maybe not, since you got into an online fight the other day that, you know, caused this whole issue.”

“Like I said, I didn’t cause it,” Wilhelm insists. “Simon did.”

The teasing smile fades from Erik’s face. “Don’t tell me you’re stalking your online nemeses now,” he says, and Wilhelm knows he’s holding back a sigh.

Wilhelm doesn’t know if it would be better or worse if Erik figures out Wilhelm’s online antagonist is the same person as Wilhelm’s online friend. “Stella went to school with him,” Wilhelm mutters.

“I’m not going to ask you how you know that, for the sake of both your and my plausible deniability,” Erik decides. “Maybe if you start dating your internet friend, you’ll have of a less chance to cause internet outrage.”

Given that Simon doesn’t know who Wilhelm is, and Erik doesn’t know who his internet crush is? Wilhelm can only hope.

---

Lucia morning comes sooner that Wilhelm expects. He arrived back in Stockholm late last night, and barely had three hours of sleep before he had to wake up again so a makeup team could prep him.

As this isn’t an official appearance, he’s found a shadowed corner a few pews from the front as the film crew finishes setting up around him. There’s a false start as a chorist starts moving before their mark, and another reset when something comes into shot that isn’t supposed to. Wilhelm is valiantly managing to stay awake, mostly thanks to the icy and stiff bench he’s sat on.

Slowly, a united hum starts around him, echoing through the eaves: Natten går tunga fjät…

A Lucia leads a candle-lit procession down the aisle, shuffling slowly towards the crossing as white-robed singers flow behind her. Singer and candle and candle and singer pass by in a tranquil haze, when a silhouette catches Wilhelm’s eye. His eyes follow the figure, all the way to the apse, until they stop beside the Lucia. They turn; the candles coruscate upon their cheeks.

It’s Simon.

As the choir carries away, vitklädd med ljus i hår, Wilhelm finds himself stock upright, trying to get a good glance of Simon. He regrets choosing such a hidden seat; he had no idea Simon still sung, never mind that he would be hear today. He’s never heard Simon’s voice before today, and he curses himself as he tries to pick Simon out in the layers and layers of harmony. Perhaps the clear tenor is Simon, ringing across the chapel to him; så hon ett underbart ord till oss talar.

The last chorus of Sankta Lucia echoes through the chapel. Wilhelm wakes from his daze when a loud “Cut!” rends the ethereal calm. The film crew shuffle their way to wherever film crews go in the palace. The Royal Photographer is still here though, and Farima’s heels click on the ground towards Wilhelm.

“The prince didn’t need to choose such a good hiding place,” Farima says, quiet so that only Wilhelm would hear.

“I didn’t want to take attention away from the choir,” Wilhelm prevaricates.

Farima’s lips quirk, and Wilhelm is not sure if she approves or is judging him. “Well,” she says, “it’s the prince’s turn now.”

Wilhelm rises. Farima takes a moment to fuss over his hair and smooth down his lapel. He follows her out of the shadow and towards to the bright apse of the church, where the chorists are chatting amongst themselves. The choirmistress is already looking his way. Wilhelm rolls his shoulders back, once, and looks straight ahead.

“May I introduce His Royal Highness Prince Wilhelm,” Farima says. “The choirmistress, Anna Johansson.”

“Good morning, Your Royal Highness.” The choirmistress shakes his hand. “I’m so grateful you’ve come to see our performance today.”

“I couldn’t miss it, of course,” Wilhelm says, with a polite smile. He thanks her with some rote complements, rushing his way through so that he can ask: “May I be introduced to your talented chorists?”

“Of course, of course!” the choirmistress says. She begins, “Here is our Lucia, Ebba.”

Ebba is shaking and has stars in her eyes, which makes Wilhelm anxious in turn. He reminds himself that it’s a much bigger deal for Ebba, meeting someone she’s a fan of. She will probably think of Wilhelm fondly no matter what he does. It doesn’t really help his anxiety, but he focuses on her shaking hand and holds it firmly between both hands. “Hi Ebba, it’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s — it’s really nice to meet you too!”

The choirmistress moves Ebba on with a gentle, practiced hand. “Our lead tenor, Simon.”

Wilhelm tries not to bite his tongue as he places his hand in front of Simon. A stranger, he reminds himself.

“It was nice to see you today,” Wilhelm says, wrapping his hand around Simon’s. He corrects himself. “Your voice was nice.”

“Thanks?” Simon says.

“It was nice,” Wilhelm repeats.

Silence descends upon the chapel, and Farima and the choirmistress are both looking at him strangely. Simon raises his eyebrows and looks down at their hands, where Wilhelm still stiffly clutching onto Simon.

“Sorry,” Wilhelm says.

The line moves along. “Our lead alto, Josefine…”

---

simme

I met Prince Wilhelm today

I can’t believe I met him before you, Prince Wilhelm fanboy #1

I am not Prince Wilhelm fanboy #1!!

Wilhelm wants to say he is not a Prince Wilhelm fanboy at all, but he thinks that Simon might ask questions about why he knows so much about the Royal Family otherwise. A Hillerska alum of an older brother can only be so much of an excuse. Simon continues messaging him.

Uh huh

So you don’t want to hear how I met him?

Wilhelm already knows, seeing as he was there himself. To allay suspicion, he asks Simon anyway.

How’d you meet him?

My choir performed at an event he attended

He seemed a little nervous, it was cute

Wilhelm blushes at the idea of the cutest boy he’s ever met calling him cute in any way, shape, or form. He tries to recover the conversation.

I didn’t know you sung!

Still sung that is

Yeah, my choirmaster in Bjärstad recommended I audition for it, so here I am

Pretty impressive if your choir got chosen to perform at the Royal Palace

They like to choose a different choir every year but I guess so? Didn’t expect the prince to show up though, we weren’t told about it until he was already in front of us!

Haha I guess to prevent people like you from bringing a protest sign

I wouldn’t have brought a protest sign, I don’t want to be kicked from a choir I enjoy!

I’m just kidding

Maybe if I saw him on the street

Nah, he seems like a pretty normal guy irl. Not what I thought about him?

Definitely less of an asshole than August Horn

Wow setting a low bar there

No he seems nice

I’m not issuing a public apology though 😝

Maybe Wilhelm could have a chance with Simon, he thinks.

You can rest assured I no longer judge you for being a Prince Wilhelm fanboy

Or maybe not.

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