Unchosen Crown

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"Never, in the long and rich history of England, had a monarch dared to openly declare themselves gay. What gave His Majesty the courage?"

When the reporter asked the question Oliver had been expecting, he replied thoughtfully:

"Exactly. Imagine how many royal figures didn't live their lives because they were bound by centuries-old traditions. I'm not saying those rules didn't make sense in the past, but nowadays, it's pointless to keep someone captive to an idea of stability that is nothing more than a measure of social control," he stated firmly. "I am still the king, and although my position no longer has political functions, I believe that changing people's beliefs doesn't come through repression, but by example. I want them to understand that the gender of the person I love doesn't define who I am."

The next day, it was not unlikely that the photo of Oliver kissing Ian in the gardens of Buckingham Palace would be in all the tabloids. The notoriety of their relationship didn't surprise them; however, it prompted a temporary strategy of seclusion to prepare for an open dialogue with the public and the media.

The Palace had received countless calls from journalists for almost a month, but for the first time, Oliver would do things his way.

With the support of the public relations team, he called a press conference to face the public scrutiny transparently and without fear.

Responding to various questions, a young reporter dared to inquire, "Was there a lot of repression?"

"Repression is not the right word," Oliver clarified, maintaining his composure. "There was definitely resistance, but a large part of the population showed support on social media. My revelation not only challenged stereotypes but also provided a mirror in which many could see themselves for the first time." He paused significantly, staring firmly at the camera. "My goal is not to impose a new way of living, but to promote the understanding that there is no reason to disrespect someone for having a different mindset. I preach empathy above all, and as I've said before, the fact that I am in a relationship with another man does not change how I relate to my people. That should be the most important issue."

"If I may, Your Majesty, how does your partner deal with all the exposure?"

A third reporter inquired, but this question did not intimidate Oliver; on the contrary, it gave him the opportunity to talk about Ian.

"Well, he's definitely not the type of person used to the spotlight," Oliver replied, his voice full of affection. "He's not a celebrity and has no ambition in that sense. But he knew what he was getting into when he got involved with me." He paused briefly, a subtle smile appearing on his lips. "Ian is the rational counterpoint to my more impulsive nature. Once, I read that many go through life without finding that person with whom they would like to share it entirely. I am immensely grateful to have had the luck to find mine, and happy to have the opportunity to live what surely many of my predecessors could not."

"You two must have been shocked to see the photo on the cover of The Sun," one of the reporters speculated.

Oliver shook his head slightly, the tranquility evident in his posture. "Actually, it didn't surprise me at all. I knew there were paparazzi camped outside the Palace. So, I simply gave them what they wanted."

He locked his phone before the video ended, lifting his gaze to meet Ian's eyes.

His face bore a proud smile, as if he had just watched an applause-worthy performance, but it was only Oliver, sitting at the official office table, answering questions for almost an hour.

"What did you think?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

He wanted to hear it directly from Ian's lips.