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Erik sighs, annoyed at himself. He’s twenty six years old, a university graduate, the Crown Prince of Sweden and he still doesn’t know how to tie a fucking necktie.
He huffs, yanking on the fabric around his neck for what feels like the millionth time, untying the wreckage of his latest failed attempt at a simple half Windsor. Normally he had a personal butler at the palace to do it for him (while he felt a butler largely unneeded he did adore Alfred, who he felt was more like the grandfather he never had than a butler- not that he would ever let his mother hear him saying that about a servant. She’d have an aneurysm!) Whenever Alfred wasn’t available Erik would just get Wille to tie his tie for him. Though his little brother struggled to master many of the skills their mother believed to be imperative to success as a swedish prince, tying a perfect tie was decidedly not one of them. Wille could tie a perfect tie with his eyes closed. Erik knew- he’d seen him do it when he was hungover and unwilling to face the early morning sunlight a second before he had too. So yes, technically, if all else failed Erik could get one of his bodyguards to go find Wilhelm, but the whole point of him showing up unannounced at the parents day luncheon was to surprise Wille. Besides, if he gave up and asked for Wilhelm’s help Erik didn’t think he could stand his little brother’s teasing. It was one of the only things Wille could reliably best him at and because of it, he milked it for all it was worth.
Erik huffed as he turned towards the mirror again, the grey tie wrinkled from all his failed knots. Briefly he toyed with the idea of simply forgoing the tie altogether, but he quickly banished the thought. He was the crown prince and he absolutely had to look the part 100% of the time, especially if the press was present- which they undoubtedly would be at the Hilerska luncheon. Erik shuddered at the thought of the hissy fit his mother would throw if he was photographed without a tie. Most people wouldn’t care but the ones that did really would and Erik didn’t feel like grovelling to her for weeks to get back into her good graces, primarily because she was always twice as strict with Wille whenever she was pissed off at Erik. He didn’t want that. His little brother was more sensitive than he was, he took things to heart too much and it meant it was far easier for their mother to hurt Wille than it was for her to hurt Erik. Half the reason Erik was here right now was because Wille had been miserable at Hilerska and had begged Erik to come get him at least once a week since he started. Since the only thing that actually had the power to hurt Erik was his little brother"s pain he’d taken the first chance he got to come visit him. He was still working on convincing their mother to let Wille come home for good- it was proving more difficult than usual. She seemed unusually determined to keep Wille locked away at the boarding school.
Then again, Erik wouldn’t even get to visit Wille if he couldn’t tie his stupid tie! His bodyguard- who was also, pathetically, Erik’s best friend- poorly concealed a laugh from where she was standing a few steps away. Malin’s pantsuit, including her tie, was immaculate as always but she didn’t offer to help, and her laughter made Erik twice as determined not to ask her. If he thought Wille’s teasing would be bad, Malin’s would be ten times worse- as soon as she was off duty and could tease Erik properly over a tub of strawberry ice cream while they watched shitty tv together in his room.
He glared at her. “You’re not helping.”
“Would you like me to, your highness?” She asked, the slight mocking note in the way she said his title audible only to him. Her eyes glittered with amusement and Erik rolled his eyes. The problem with having a best friend who was also your bodyguard was that she saw all of his lowest and most embarrassing moments and had full ammunition to tease him with. “You’d best decide quickly. I believe the lunch is starting soon.”
Shit. She was right. The sound of voices was growing louder, the click of heels on polished marble more pronounced, as Hilerska’s wealthy guests poured into the dining hall just around the corner from the small hallway with the mirror where Erik was currently hiding. If he wanted to get to the luncheon on time or at least fashionably late- as opposed to being so late it would be considered abysmally rude- he had to get his tie tied properly, and soon! Still, he had his pride.
“No, thank you.”
Malin shrugged, unconcerned with his dilemma, continuing to watch him in bemused curiosity as he wrestled with the unforgiving strip of fabric.
He rubbed a hand over his face in frustration, starting attempt number forty two when a voice spoke up from behind him.
“Do you need help?”
Erik spun around to see a kind faced, motherly looking woman in a green dress standing at the entrance of the hallway. She had glossy black hair done up in a simple yet elegant up-do, a green dress, light brown skin with laugh lines next to her big brown eyes, and a kind smile. Erik didn’t recognize her, which was surprising. Obviously this woman was here for the parents day and Erik was reasonably sure he knew every Swedish elite who was rich enough to send their kid to Hilerska. More surprising than that was the fact that she didn’t seem to recognize him either, or if she did she didn’t seem to care- not about his title or his status or his money.
He realized the woman was still waiting for a response, her brown eyes regarding him calmly, hands clasped in front of her. Erik eyed her with trepidation- his mother had taught him from a young age to be wary and expect the worst from everyone- but there was nothing cold in her warm gaze, nothing mocking, nothing that made Erik think she wanted something. Somehow, Erik could tell that this woman was just kind. Here she was, offering help to a stranger simply because he looked like he needed it.
“I would yes, if you wouldn’t mind, Ms…”
“Linda,” the woman said, waving away the title, “I don’t do any of that Ms or ma’am stuff. My name is Linda, I see no reason not to use it.”
“Very well,” Erik laughed, oddly charmed as the woman gently plucked the tie from his hand and stood on her tiptoes to sling it around his neck. He hunched down a little to make it easier for her. “Linda it is.”
“And what’s your name, hon?” She asked, as she started to tie the tie. She met Erik’s eyes squarely as she said it- like Wille she didn’t even need to look at what she was doing to tie it effortlessly.
“Er-“ Erik was usually articulate- years of decorum lessons and a lifetime in the spotlight had taught him how to remain poised- but the fact that Linda sincerely didn’t seem to know who he was threw him for a loop. It was nice in a way, the anonymity. It was nice that Linda smiled at him affectionately like he was just a silly boy, instead of a prince who couldn’t fulfill his duties. “I’m Erik.”
“Lovely to meet you. And you are?” Linda directed that question to Malin, whose mouth dropped open in surprise. Nobody ever addressed Malin when she was guarding Erik, instead they treated her like she was invisible- unless they were barking orders at her.
“I-I’m Malin.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Malin. I like your outfit- very professional!”
“Th-thank you.” Malin stammered, flushing at the praise. Erik could kind of understand where she was coming from. Linda’s warmth and her gentle mannerisms had Erik craving her praise just as much. He wished his own mother was more like Linda, then immediately felt guilty for thinking so.
“There!” Linda announced, tightening Erik’s tie with a flourish, “Now you look perfect, carinõ.”
Erik turned to the mirror and grinned. The tie really did look perfect, and Linda had tied it masterfully, in such a way that most of the wrinkles didn’t show.
“Thank you so much!” He sounded like an excited child, not a dignified crown prince, but it was almost impossible to remain dignified when Linda’s motherly demeanour put him so effortlessly at ease.
Linda laughed lightly. “You’re welcome. I do it all the time for my Simon before school. He still can’t tie a tie either.”
“Oh, is Simon your son?” Erik asked, remembering his princely training and initiating small talk as he walked with Linda towards the dining hall.
“Yes. I have him and my Sara.”
“If they go to school here, how do you tie Simon’s tie for him? Are you a teacher?”
Linda laughed again. “No, no, nothing like that. My kids do not live here. They’re here on scholarships- we couldn’t afford this place otherwise, so they live at home still, with me. Sara’s got an academic scholarship and Simon was picked specifically for the choir.”
Linda puffed up proudly, and Erik thought back to the day he’d first dropped Wille off, to the Latino boy with the angel’s voice who’d met the older boy’s heckling with defiance. He wondered if that boy was Linda’s son.
“I believe I heard him when my brother first started here. He’s got a wonderful voice.”
“Oh yes, he’s very talented.” Linda agreed, smiling, “but enough about me. You mentioned your brother- I presume that’s who you’re visiting?”
“Yes. His name is Wille- I mean, Wilhelm.”
“Prince Wilhelm?”
“Yes.” Erik sighed, fully expecting Linda’s easy conversation and comforting demeanour to evaporate when she realized that he was royalty. Instead, Linda just smiled adoringly, like a mother thinking of her child.
“Oh, Wille’s such a darling. So sweet, and he always helps me set the table. A little shy at first, but who can blame him, anxious as he is?”
Erik stopped short.
“You’ve met Wille?”
From the sound of it, Linda had more than just met Wille. He’d clearly been at her house enough to have relaxed around her and established a routine. He must have eaten dinner there more than once, if he knew to set the table, and clearly he was close to Linda if he confided in her about his anxiety.
“Yes,” Linda nodded serenely, “he and Simon are…close.”
“What do you mean?”
Linda’s gaze sharpened slightly, maternal protectiveness written all over her face.
“You’ll have to ask Wilhelm about that.”
Erik gulped and nodded. He’s wasn’t stupid enough to argue with a protective mother, and apparently Linda had sort of adopted Wilhelm in some fashion, enough that she was clearly willing to throw down for him. It brought Erik comfort in a way. God knew his own mother had done a piss poor job attempting to raise Wille and that motherly affection from her was pretty much non-existent. Wille deserved a bit of motherly love, and from what Erik’s seen of Linda so far today she clearly has enough to go around- or at least enough to shower Wille with the sort of affection he so desperately craves.
“I think we’ve lucked out,” Linda says, as they near the doors to the dining hall, “I don’t think they’ve sat down to eat yet.”
She’s right, Erik realizes, there’s the low rumble of chatter coming from inside the room but no clinking of glasses or scraping of silverware. Thanks to Linda and her amazing tie tying abilities, he is, miraculously, still on time.
“Thank you again Linda, for helping me with the tie. You’re a lifesaver.”
“I’m not a lifesaver you silly boy,” she says, waving away his thanks. Erik can’t help but think what a nice voice she has, sweet and bright, tinged with the slightest hint of an accent he can’t quite place. “You just looked like you needed help, so I helped.”
Erik blinks, not used to Linda’s brand of easy kindness. From her it sounds so simple, like she didn’t even have to think about it, like helping a stranger for no reason other than the goodness of her heart is something anyone would do. Erik knows better. In his world, the world of a prince, the world of the rich and elite, nothing comes without a price. In Erik’s world there’s no such thing as kindness, only deals, compromises, and understandings, where everything, even a gift, is something that will need to be reciprocated in some way down the road.
“Even still, thank you.”
She smiles, cupping his cheek adoringly.
“So polite, just like your brother. Speaking of your brother- go find him! I’m sure Wille will be excited to see you.”
Erik nods offering her one last smile, and Linda practically beams back at him.
It’s a nice smile, a motherly one. As he enters the dining hall, Linda scurrying in unnoticed behind him, he thinks he understands why Wilhelm has put his trust in Linda. With a smile like hers, even Erik is tempted to spill his deepest feelings and wildest dreams. Linda’s warmth makes everything seem ok, makes anything feel possible.
“I like her.” Malin murmurs to him, after Linda bids her farewell. “She’s like…the exact opposite of your mom.”
Yeah. She is. Erik doesn’t think it’s a bad thing.
Later, when his little brother tells him all about his boyfriend, Simon, he also gushes about watching soap opera’s with Simon’s sister Sara, and about the time he helped Linda bake brownies. Erik smiles to himself, wondering what he could send her- and her son- as a thank you. It’s clear that Linda’s maternal kindness has given Wille everything he needs and more. Hilerska had given Wille a boyfriend, but said boyfriend had given him a home, and Linda and Sara had given Wille a family.
That night, back at the palace, Erik doesn’t bother trying to convince his mother to let Wille come home. He knows his brother is happier where is- with a boy who loves him, and a mother who does too.