Too quick, too blunt — more of a verbal punch than an answer. But it's the truth. He hated the spotlight, the endless scrutiny, the ever-shrinking privacy. He hated that his title kept him from the life he wanted.
"My brother loved it," he adds quietly, trying to soften the harshness of that no. "I don't know if loved is the right word, but he cared about his duties. And I love Erik, so...I really did want to do a good job, you know, to honor him. I never asked to be crown prince, though. All I felt was...terrified of messing up. And angry that everything had to change."
Looking up from his cup, which he hasn't touched though it was topped off, he studies Rhy with a frown. He wants to go back to that golden moment when they were happy and laughing together. Although it's clear that Rhy has lugged this weight around for a long time, Wilhelm can't help but feel responsible for the dark mood louring over him now. Grasping for his approval, hoping to assuage him, he stumbles into an explanation.
"I don't know how it is where you're from, but the monarchy doesn't really have that much power anymore. All the major decisions are made by parliament. The queen or king is basically just a figurehead. 'My people' would be just fine without me."
no subject
Too quick, too blunt — more of a verbal punch than an answer. But it's the truth. He hated the spotlight, the endless scrutiny, the ever-shrinking privacy. He hated that his title kept him from the life he wanted.
"My brother loved it," he adds quietly, trying to soften the harshness of that no. "I don't know if loved is the right word, but he cared about his duties. And I love Erik, so...I really did want to do a good job, you know, to honor him. I never asked to be crown prince, though. All I felt was...terrified of messing up. And angry that everything had to change."
Looking up from his cup, which he hasn't touched though it was topped off, he studies Rhy with a frown. He wants to go back to that golden moment when they were happy and laughing together. Although it's clear that Rhy has lugged this weight around for a long time, Wilhelm can't help but feel responsible for the dark mood louring over him now. Grasping for his approval, hoping to assuage him, he stumbles into an explanation.
"I don't know how it is where you're from, but the monarchy doesn't really have that much power anymore. All the major decisions are made by parliament. The queen or king is basically just a figurehead. 'My people' would be just fine without me."