Chapter Text
Sara suddenly felt that she knew what she had to do as she sat on the bus headed back to Bjärstad.
She took her phone from her pocket and sent a message to Simon.
Sara: I'm sorry, Simon. I'm going to make everything right.
Then she dialed quickly and heard it ring. Suddenly there was a click and a male voice answered on the other end.
Sara: Hej, I'd like to report a crime...
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Once he looked away from his mother again and out into the crowd, Wilhelm could see the shock on the faces around him. He saw all of the phones recording him in addition to the television cameras and suddenly he cast his eyes down to the podium feeling very anxious.
He had to stop focussing on individuals so that he could finish his speech as quickly as possible without getting distracted or losing his nerve, but he didn't know what else to say then.
"...thank you."
He stepped down to head back to his seat slowly and carefully. There were no applause, just whispers that got louder and camera shutters that were clicking faster.
Jan Olof came to meet Wilhelm and accompany him back to their seats on the platform but without giving him time to sit down again. The shock in the Queen's expression had transformed into a grim stare. Wilhelm thought she looked like she might be sick.
Jan Olof discreetly waved for Anette to head back to the podium and then he began speaking to the Royal Family in a hushed tone.
"We need to leave now, Crown Prince Wilhelm. You'll come with me. Your Majesty, you and the Duke should stay until the end and then make your way out. Don't make any statements to the press. Smile, thank everyone, and wave goodbye as quickly as possible once it's done."
Wilhelm's parents nodded at Jan Olof. The Queen tried to maintain a neutral expression, not making eye contact with Wilhelm, but the Duke looked confused and on the verge of panic as he glanced around at the crowd.
Jan Olof touched Wilhelm's forearm and indicated with the other hand where they should step down from the platform to make their way to the nearest exit. Wilhelm looked down at Jan Olof's hand that touched his arm, and hesitated. He looked up and saw Malin making her way down to them from the steps where Simon stood with the choir.
Then Wilhelm glanced around at the crowd where he caught Boris' gaze and saw that he was smiling proudly. Wilhelm couldn't help but smile back before scanning the crowd some more.
Wilhelm felt and saw that everyone was still watching him and the rest of Royal Family with fascination even as the headmistress stepped back up to the podium. He ignored their stares and finally glanced at the choir again.
Wilhelm spotted Simon and thought he could see his eyes glistening. He worried that Simon was upset but then realised he was still smiling at Wilhelm. Felice stood next to Simon, touched his arm sweetly to encourage him, as she smiled out at Wilhelm too.
Wilhelm lifted his chin in acknowledgement of them both and smiled back brightly. Then he turned to face Jan Olof and thought that he should probably just go along with him for the moment and see what the Court had to say about his confession before making any decisions.
He went ahead of Jan Olof but still glanced up at the choir from time to time as they moved across the courtyard. The camera flashes became more intense as they made their way out.
Anette was nervous and clearly unprepared to speak. She turned back to the choir director and apparently asked her to have the choir sing again to buy some time. The choir director hesitated, then not having any better ideas, cued the choir into a song they knew well.
As Wilhelm and Jan Olof continued to slowly make their way out, accompanied by Malin to be sure no journalists would follow them Wilhelm heard the unexpected song and stopped. He turned back to watch the choir stood there on the steps leading up to Hillerska.
🎶Forna dagar flydda år
De säger tid läker alla sår
Det gjorde ont
Jag tappa bort mig själv
Jag var lost innan jag hittade hem🎶
Wilhelm didn't understand how it had been allowed to happen but he noticed Jan Olof's demeanor change next to him suddenly as they stopped there.
He was apparently panicking and trying to discreetly signal to Wilhelm to continue walking with him, and quickly. Wilhelm ignored him for a moment as he watched proudly from a distance, smiling as Simon continued.
🎶Det vi hade och de vi var
Kan aldrig glömma allt som var bra om ni kräver mig på svar
lever alla minnen kvar...
Vi har prövats vi fick slåss
men de vi var kan ingen ta från oss...🎶
Wilhelm saw the photographers and journalists watching him, then he glanced at Jan Olof and saw him tensing up and his mouth contorting.
He glanced at Malin who stood there with her hands folded in front of her, observing her surroundings as she paused with them but with no other noticeable reaction. Wilhelm smirked at her a moment, then continued on.
He finally turned back and slowly continued down the hill thinking that it would be better to leave so the attention could be on Simon for his song, rather than on Wilhelm for his confession. He looked straight ahead again as they went and he smiled to himself, wishing he could stay to see Simon singing for the audience now. Jan Olof and Malin followed.
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Minutes earlier...
Simon could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he saw Wilhelm smile, then turn back to the podium and hesitate. Simon's breathing was rapid but he couldn't stop smiling even as the flashbulbs were nearly blinding him suddenly. He heard the whispers get louder and the camera shutters increase in intensity.
From there everything happened very quickly. Wilhelm thanked the audience and stepped down from the podium, heading back to his seat where Jan Olof came to meet him and take him back.
There was a quick conversation that Jan Olof seemed to be leading and no one could hear, then the headmistress made her way back to the podium as Jan Olof continued speaking to the Royal Family under the canopy tent.
Simon looked to his right at Felice and she was smiling nervously but excitedly at Simon. He scoffed for just a split second to see her, then covered his mouth, trying to hide his reaction.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye to his left and turned his head slightly to the left to see Malin making her way down the steps beside the choir to meet Wilhelm who was being directed to leave by Jan Olof suddenly.
Simon saw Wilhelm look around briefly at the crowd, then smile and finally their eyes met. Simon's eyes began to water as he grinned widely at the boy he loved and who had just proven how much he loved Simon too.
He felt Felice reach out and touch his arm softly and Simon turned briefly to smile at her too. He felt as if he were on the verge of shedding tears of joy but he held himself together as he always did and watched Wilhelm turn to leave then.
Simon watched as he walked ahead of Jan Olof and Malin and down the hill across the courtyard and toward the parking lot. Suddenly the choir director made a sudden movement that brought Simon's attention back to her.
She whispered urgently to Simon in particular and said, "Simon, we're doing your song."
Simon felt as if he'd just woken from a daze. He nodded at her and waited for her to count them in then began...
🎶Forna dagar flydda år
De säger tid läker alla sår
Det gjorde ont
Jag tappa bort mig själv
Jag var lost innan jag hittade hem🎶
As he sang he watched Wilhelm and saw him suddenly stop and turn to watch and listen again. Simon began to sing louder and tried to meet his eyes although he was already quite far away. Wilhelm stood there and smiled back for a moment, then turned again and continued walking away.
Simon ended his song and the audience finally applauded. They seemed to have calmed down slightly since from Wilhelm's revelation and had actually enjoyed the song.
The headmistress stepped up to the podium again and thanked everyone for coming to celebrate Hillerska's 120 year Jubilee, most especially the Royal Family. She paused a moment as if considering saying something else to address the elephant in the room, but she seemed to decide against it and dismissed the assembly instead.
Simon felt his phone buzz in his pocket as he turned to head back up the stairs and into the school building with Felice smiling by his side and reaching out to grasp his arm as they went.
He turned to smile excitedly at her again and then stuck his hand in his pocket to check his phone, wondering if Wilhelm might already have news for him about the Royal Family's reaction to his confession.
He unlocked his phone screen and paused in the doorway as Felice walked slightly ahead of him.
Sara: I'm sorry, Simon. I'm going to make everything right.
Simon's heart began pounding and his mind raced, panicking at what Sara could have done now...
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Sara: Hej, I'd like to report a crime.
Policeman: Alright...What crime would you like to report?
Sara: Possession of illegal drugs.