Wilhelm’s phone buzzes while he’s in class. He glances down, sees it’s Simon, and surreptitiously reaches to swipe it open.
simme @estralladoDid you all miss me? 🌚
ayub @its_ayub@estrallado go on steam!
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.
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.
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?”
🐸 @grodprinsenMy parents keep asking if I’m going out with a girl in my course even though she has a gf
simme @estrallado@grodprinsen wait do they know she has a gf
🐸 @grodprinsen@estrallado yes I’ve told them before 🙃
The direct message icon lights up.
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 during his school break, 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 echo 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 met 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…”
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 reassured I know longer judge you for being a Prince Wilhelm fanboy
Or maybe not.
ayub @its_ayubour boy @estrallado is climbing the social ladder! his bf is prolly jealous 🤣
simme @estrallado@its_ayub delete this!!