#Wille and Simon don't even have to actively participate in anything they are just enjoying their relationship

[heartbreakprincewille]

I was just thinking about how Erik's death, although very tragic, was important for many plot-related reasons. Not only to Wilhelm's character and Wilhelm and Simon's dynamic, but also because Erik was the Crown Prince everyone wanted.

If Erik would have been alive and became the King, I highly doubt that it would have brought any sort of conflict to the table. He was described as a "perfect" royal by almost everyone (despite S2 giving us insight about him struggling as well). The traditions would have went on as usual, the lies and secrets and toxic high-society solidarity finding a safe abode under Kristina and then Erik's succession. Even if Wille and Simon would have been together, it wouldn't have been much of a deal, Wilhelm was a spare after all, right? Erik was carved straight out of the image the Royal Court wanted him to be, but in reality it would just have been private therapy sessions and secret realizations about your surroundings but too "duty-bound" to act on them.

But Wilhelm is the Crown Prince everyone needs. Even if they don't realize it. Everyone in that damn school and even the Royals need a severe reality check. I agree, everyone is entitled to their worldview and it's not wrong to harbour a certain belief, but they need to realize how stifling they are. They made Wilhelm deny the video even though saying nothing about it was the right option! And then proceeded to offer the throne to the same person who filmed and uploaded that video. How infuriating is that? You are offering power to a person who can commit literal crimes as soon as its intoxication seizes his brain? Just because the current Crown Prince is non-conforming to your toxic systems and would potentially not bear future heirs? DO YOU GUYS EVEN HAVE MORALS?

I actually hope Wilhelm and Simon's relationship rock the foundations of Hillerska and the Royalty's beliefs. I hope Wilhelm's speech make them introspect what is right and what is not. Everyone needs some sort of discomfort in their worldview to grow, and I really hope Wilhelm and Simon's unabashed love makes everyone's centuries-old solidarity with stoic traditions twist and turn in its grave. I hope Wilhelm's growth as a person becomes so tangible that people like Nils and Stella are never afraid to be loudly themselves if they want to.

RIP Erik, you would have been an absolutely charming King. But trust me, your brother is here to start a revolution.