Chapter Text
The only good thing about going to Hillerska was that he would get to be with his brother again. Ever since Erik started the school he almost never saw him. He was either doing his crown prince duties or with his friends when he was home. His second Cousin August was going to be there too, so he would have family with him. How many kids there could say that?
It was scary though; he had never been away from home for more than a vacation. Now he was going to live away from his parents. He was a little excited about being able to decorate his room the way he wanted though. Even though he was going to have a roommate he was fine with that. He had never shared a room before; he thought it would be exciting. A ready-made friend, he didn’t have any of those. When you’re a prince most of your friends are through parents and advisors.
He was a little nervous about the initiation, he had overheard his cousin and brother talking. Now that his brother’s class was the third years he hoped it wouldn’t be so hard. For once in his life, he felt like he was going to be close to his brother again.
On the ride to school, his parents kept talking with Erik about his last year. They hadn’t even asked Wilhelm anything about how he felt. Maybe they were just excited about Erik, next year it would just be him and then he could have his parents’ attention. He shook his head with disgust, why was he trying to take attention from his brother? Sometimes Wilhelm could be so selfish.
“My two boys, I’m so proud,” his mother said as they all got out of the van. Wilhelm noticed all the other kids who were arriving were looking at them. Did Erik get embarrassed like how Wilhelm was feeling now?
“Thanks, mamma,” Wilhelm said, wanting to get back in the van with her and go home.
As his parents left, he watched them until they were out of sight completely. Why was he such a baby? Both Erik and August were here, they would make sure everything was ok.
“I’m going to put my stuff in my room. You’re going to be in Forest Ridge with me and August. The housemaster will tell you where your room is. We’ll see you at dinner,” Erik said, patting him hard on the back.
After he was gone, Wilhelm looked around for August but didn’t see him. So, he headed in the house and looked for the housemaster. It was a madhouse inside, boys coming and going moving their things in. Most parents had just dropped their kids off and left like his, but some were still around.
When he found the housemaster he was relieved to find out he was on the ground floor. He didn’t have anything against heights, but he felt better there, mostly so he wouldn’t have to navigate steps when he was barely awake in the mornings.
The door was open to his room and a woman was standing in the doorway. She had her arms full of clothes.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to be a bother, but these bags are heavy. May I put them away?” he asked her politely.
She turned and looked at him, at first she smiled but then she realized who he was, and her smile dimmed by quite a lot.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be in the way.”
She moved and he was able to bring his things inside. The room was a good size and his roommate had already taken one side of the room. The boy was just finishing making his bed and then turned around. Wilhelm thought he never saw a more beautiful boy in his life.
“Hi, I’m Wilhelm,” he introduced himself, he hoped his palms weren’t sweaty.
The boy smiled and shook his hand. “Simon.”
Later they were at the dinner table, everything was so different here. He wasn’t able to eat with his brother or with his cousin. Erik was with the third years at the top of the table, then second years like August. Then the last, the first years, he and his new roommate Simon and the other new boys. So far he had met Henry and Walter, followers, he knew the type. Then there was Alexander, he seemed nice if a little quiet, but who was Wilhelm to judge people being quiet, it was his go-to.
“My sister went here, she said the boys’ initiations are brutal, are you worried?” Walter asked the other first years.
“A little bit. It’s not like they’re going to hurt us. My dad said that his initiation was just getting drunk and being left out in the Palace without any clothes.” That was from a boy that Wilhelm didn’t know yet.
“They don’t initiate kids on grants,” a second-year boy said, sneering at Simon.
What did that mean? So what if Simon was living here because of a grant, he was still here.
“Good, I can’t think of anything less I would want to be than initiated into a bunch of rich idiots,” Simon said.
Wilhelm liked him so much. The initiation scared him, but he would do it because he knew his brother would protect him. He was also kind of glad that it didn’t look like Simon would be there. If the one boy’s dad was right and they took his clothes, he didn’t want to be naked in front of his new roommate.
Later that night, Wilhelm had just fallen asleep when his door banged open, and he was grabbed. He didn’t see who had him and something was put over his mouth and he was stripped of all his clothes but his underwear, he was so glad when the boys took him out but never touched Simon or his bed. It would have been so embarrassing if he saw him. He didn’t know why he was so worried; Erik would never do anything bad to him, he loved him, August too.