Work Text:
'I am too. I'm scared as well.'
Wilhelm makes a pause while people around him are anxiously waiting for the continuation of his speech.
'But that ends now.'
He’s glanced at the Queen, classmates, and the Court before making a deep inhale and continuing.
‘It was me in that video that leaked last term. The one with me and… Simon. It was the moment I didn’t want to share with anyone else, so I lied about it. But it was me.’
And everything’s changed in a minute. The camera flashes have started to flicker more often, listeners are whispering, and the Queen looks like she’s going to faint. The atmosphere is way different, and there’s the tension in the air. Nothing is going to be the same, but Wille doesn’t care about this at all right now.
He turns away and finds Simon in the choir. He, like the crowd around him, is staring at Wilhelm in shock. But this shock is different from others. In his eyes, there is the pride, love, and amusement for what Wille has done. Wilhelm sees it and barely smiles with the corners of his mouth. And gets the same reaction in response.
The Crown Prince turns back and finally sees mother’s face expression. But he doesn’t care. He knows that, no matter what, everything’s gonna be alright. Nobody can separate him from Simon now. Even the Queen of Sweden.
‘Thank you for your attention.’
The whispering changes to total silence. But then the audience bursts into applause. Some of the students have started to whistle, and some of them are shouting out supporting phrases. Wille sees it, and the doubts are fading with every moment.
He nervously takes the cards with the speech, hides them in the inner pocket of his blazer, and begins to descend from the speaker spot. It seems that he should go to the Court, but instead he’s leading to the choir. Simon’s already halfway to him.
When they have reached each other, the whole world has stopped. Wilhelm’s hugged Simon and felt another’s arms around his waist. And then he’s heard the soft voice near his right ear.
‘You know you didn’t need to say it now, right?’
‘But I wanted to. Because I can’t take these lies anymore. I love you, and you are more important to me than anything else.’
Wille squeezes Simon in his arms a little bit harder to show the solemnity of these words. And he feels how something wet is going down from his shoulder. Simon is sobbing.
‘Thank you. For everything.’
Wilhelm pats his (now, it’s officially confirmed) boyfriend and then slightly kisses him in the neck.
‘Now I’m- no, we are free. Without any buts.’
‘Wilhelm. Wilhelm! The Crown Prince!’
In this second such a tender moment fades away, because someone (Wille didn’t recognise the voice) starts to literally pull him away from Simon.
‘Stop it. Please!’
He finds Simon’s hand and grabs onto it, pulling Simon along with him. Not now, no one can take him away from his boy, not after everything they’ve come through and not after this fateful speech.
‘The Queen wants to talk with you, Your Highness, so you need to go with me.’
‘I won’t go anywhere without him. Let me go at last!’
He finally pulls out from someone’s arms, stands off to the side, next to Simon, exhales, and tightens his grip on the hand. Wille’s glanced at him and seen not tears, but a confidence and force in his eyes. Simon’s turned his head to see Wilhelm, and his eyes have softened immediately as he looked at Wille. Simon’s here with him, and it’s the main thing.
Without waiting for further words from the servant, he himself leads Simon to the Queen. Wilhelm feels like shit, because he knows what mother can say to him, even in Simon’s presence, but he’s totally confident in his decisions.
When they have finally reached the tent where the Court sits, the courtyard is half empty, most of the students don’t want to disturb the Royal Family during the confidential conversation between the Queen and her son. Wilhelm appreciates this a lot. Extra ears are not needed here.
It feels like nature also doesn't want to disturb them, because the wind’s died down, and birds have subsided. Literally everything is waiting to see what the Queen will say to Wille.
‘Wilhelm.’
The Queen is sitting on her chair, but she’s not smiling as it was before and during the first half of his speech. Her eyebrows are drawn together, the face looks fiercely. The negation and shock have gone away, now it’s time for the anger stage.
‘Do you understand what you have done?’
‘Yes,’ simple answer, but it’s the best way to respond now.
‘Are you sure that you are ready for such attention to your person? You know, as your mother, I will always be by your side,’ not really, how Wille has learned already, ‘...but I cannot keep you away from all the consequences that you may face. You could barely make a speech in front of your classmates!’
Wilhelm doesn’t know what to respond. In a moment all his confidence starts to fade away, because mother’s words start to sound quite right. What if he can't handle that much weight on his shoulders? Maybe he hurried with such a tough decision to out himself? He lowers his head and closes his eyes pretending that nothing’s happened. He wishes he was somewhere else. He wishes he was not the Crown Prince of Sweden. He wishes Simon was with him forever.
‘We are into this together, Your Majesty. I will help him to go through tough moments.’
Wilhelm opens his eyes and turns his head to Simon's side. He continues to hold Wille by the hand, though now only with one little finger. His glance is full of conviction in his words. He doesn’t look like an ordinary student, because his pose, his face – every detail shows how strong his intentions are.
‘Well, in that case I hope that you will keep your words, Simon. Wilhelm, I will talk to you in person. Later.’
‘Thanks, mum.’
Wille quickly pulls Simon away from the Queen to the palace. The hallways are empty, but he leads them into a small room near the building entrance anyway and closes the door. And then he reaches for a kiss. And he gets it.
‘Simon, thank you now for everything. I love you.’
He hugs him even stronger than it was near the speaker spot.
‘I love you too, Wille.’
They don’t bother with what they may face later. Because now they’re together, and nothing can stop them from loving each other.