Wilhelm shakes his head, fingers tightening on his knees.

"It was...complicated."

Which is why he spends a moment sorting out how to explain without forfeiting any details about his title, which he prefers to leave behind him as much as possible.

"I don't think she would've cared that I'm...you know, except that I'm supposed to get married and have kids someday. Carry on the family legacy. That's all that matters to her, legacy and tradition."

And in those narrow confines, there was no room for a crown prince who loves another boy. Bitterness bites in his voice. He had tried to balance both, his duty to his family — to Erik's memory — and his own desires. If he denied the video, the heat of the media circus would cool down, and he could continue seeing Simon in secret.

Except it hadn't worked that way. I don't want to be anyone's secret.