"Essen, I fail to understand why the Prince has descended into such a state. After all, I once regarded him as my most exceptional son," lamented Wilhelm II, his voice tinged with helplessness.
Wilhelm II had always showered affection upon his eldest son, the Crown Prince, nurturing him as the heir to the empire. Over the past two decades, the Crown Prince had distinguished himself, outshining his peers and emerging as the most capable among Wilhelm II's numerous offspring. The Emperor held high hopes for him.
However, the recent behavior of the Crown Prince had profoundly disappointed Wilhelm II. He desired that his son would exhibit tolerance towards his younger brothers, embodying the virtues of a true elder sibling.
"Your Majesty, it is likely that the Crown Prince struggles to accept Oscar's sudden brilliance. After all, he has long been regarded as your most outstanding son," remarked Essen von Jonalett, his expression inscrutable.
Of course, as Karl was now the general manager of the German Lottery Company, generating substantial profits, Essen naturally leaned towards Qin Tian. However, he could not afford to show such bias; otherwise, Wilhelm II might question his loyalty. Having grown up alongside Wilhelm II, Essen, though not holding a formal government position, wielded considerable influence, placing him in a position of significant regard.
Wilhelm II nodded. "Indeed, Essen. The Crown Prince's gravest flaw is his inability to accommodate others, even if they are his brothers. Should he perceive anyone as a threat to his claim to the throne, he resorts to relentless suppression. I turned a blind eye to his previous derision of his brothers, prioritizing the harmony of the royal family. But now, the Crown Prince's behavior has truly disappointed me."
Essen remained silent, recognizing that Wilhelm II was merely venting rather than soliciting his counsel. Moreover, matters concerning the empire's succession were beyond his purview to comment on.
"Essen, to be candid, Oscar's recent achievements have genuinely taken me by surprise. Previously, he was reticent, seemingly disconnected from the world. Yet now, he displays remarkable talent in commerce and shipbuilding. If one were to declare him among the empire's finest merchants, few would contest that assertion. More impressively, he possesses a profound understanding of international affairs and is willing to contribute to the empire's welfare. He is undeniably exceptional. Were he my eldest son, I would not hesitate to name him as my successor. Alas, he is not the eldest, and the empire's laws of succession cannot be disregarded," Wilhelm II confessed, his expression torn. Every emperor likely desires their heir to be the most distinguished.
"Your Majesty, Oscar truly is remarkable. What is more, he is only eighteen years old. There is scarcely another young man in the entire German Empire who matches his caliber," Essen offered, lavishing praise without restraint.
Wilhelm II nodded in agreement, recognizing Qin Tian's exceptional qualities, affirming that none other could rival him in Germany.
"Essen, relay this to the Crown Prince: I do not wish for such incidents to recur. If they do, even if he is the heir to the empire, he shall face consequences. While deposing an heir is no simple task, it is not impossible," Wilhelm II stated coldly. His patience with the Crown Prince had evidently reached its limits.
"Understood, Your Majesty!" Essen acknowledged, eager to fulfill the directive.
After exiting Wilhelm II's office, Essen promptly issued a warning to the Crown Prince. His face darkened with fury, twisting in indignation at the news.
"Why? Why must Father treat me this way? I am his eldest son, the Crown Prince, the first in line to the throne. Oscar is merely fortunate. Yet Father sends someone to threaten me!" the Crown Prince fumed, pride wounded by the insult.
"Bang!" A precious vase shattered upon the floor, reduced to fragments.
Following that, everything on his desk was sent crashing to the ground, transforming the office into chaos.
"Oscar, you have truly provoked my wrath! I will not spare you. Even if you are my brother, I will ensure your suffering. Once I ascend to the throne, I shall determine your fate!" The Crown Prince's eyes burned with vengeful hatred.
"Prince, what is amiss?" At that moment, his newlywed wife, Cecilia, rushed in.
Cecilia was the daughter of Friedrich Franz III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They had wed on June 6, 1905, and she was now four months pregnant.
Upon seeing his wife, the Crown Prince's ferocity evaporated.
"My dear, I apologize for disturbing you," he said, his expression shifting to one of contrition.
"Prince, what has transpired? You seem so angry!" Cecilia inquired.
"It is because of that wretched Oscar! Father shows him such favoritism that he even sent Essen to warn me! This is nothing short of a disgrace!" the Crown Prince exclaimed.
Cecilia was aware of her husband's enmity toward Qin Tian, fully recognizing that Oscar's excellence posed a substantial threat to the Crown Prince's position.
"Prince, no matter how exceptional Oscar may be, you are still the heir to the empire. The future of the empire is yours. You need not concern yourself with Oscar," Cecilia reassured him.
The Crown Prince nodded. "Indeed, I am the heir to the empire. Regardless of Oscar's merits, he remains merely a prince."
Yet, despite his words, how could the Crown Prince not care? The more talented Qin Tian became, garnering admiration from others, the more enmity the Crown Prince harbored. This accumulating hatred would surely one day manifest into a raging tempest!