"Damn it, why should he be up there, receiving the blessings of the crowd? If I were the heir to the empire, the one deserving of such attention should be me!" Prince Ethel Friedrich seethed inwardly. His hands were clenched into tight fists, his nails digging painfully into his flesh.
Prince Albert and Prince August Wilhelm also wore expressions of discontent. Although, under the laws of succession, they were not next in line after Crown Prince William's incapacitation, seeing their overlooked younger brother leapfrog over them to become the empire's heir was intolerable. They could not help but question why Qin Tian was allowed to bypass the established laws of succession while they were not.
Despite Kaiser Wilhelm II having warned them regarding this issue, the jealousy and ambition simmering within them proved difficult to suppress. Once the flame of ambition ignites, extinguishing it becomes nearly impossible without complete eradication.
However, Qin Tian was no longer the same as before. Following the assassination attempt, he had come to view the throne as rightfully his. Regardless of how long he must wait to inherit it, anyone who dared to attempt to wrest it from him would be courting death. This time, he would not yield.
After the conclusion of the coming-of-age ceremony, the banquet commenced. Young noblemen and ladies seized the opportunity to mingle and connect. Of course, one could only guess how many noblewomen would secretly flirt with other men at the gathering, as life among the nobility often leaned towards licentiousness—one of the reasons Qin Tian held them in contempt.
As the undeniable star of the banquet, Qin Tian found himself the focus of many gazes, many of which were fervent. Particularly the young and beautiful noble ladies, who seemed eager to whisk him away, perhaps dreaming of one day becoming the queen of the German Empire.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince, congratulations! May I have the honor of dancing with you?" a slender, fair-skinned young noblewoman boldly asked, her low-cut gown revealing ample décolletage, creating a deep valley that tempted one to lose oneself.
"I'm sorry, miss, but I do not wish to dance right now. Perhaps you could ask someone else," Qin Tian replied, shaking his head. Although the woman was stunning and possessed an enviable figure, he did not wish to treat her as a mere vehicle of public consumption. Despite having been reborn as a German, his mindset remained rooted in Eastern ideals, and he hoped for a pure-hearted partner.
The smile on the young noblewoman's face froze. Perhaps she had not anticipated her invitation would be declined.
Witnessing this, other noble ladies who had earlier been eager to approach began to rethink their intentions.
As Qin Tian wandered through the banquet hall, he noted that while many noble ladies were indeed attractive, they were all heavily made up and exuded a maturity that did not align with his preferences. Despite numerous invitations to dance, he turned them all down, leaving many observers puzzled.
"My dear, does Oscar not find these noble ladies appealing? They are the finest young women in all of Germany," Queen Victoria remarked with evident concern.
"It appears Oscar has discerning tastes! However, let him be. If he cannot find a suitable partner in Germany, he should look elsewhere. I trust that as the heir to the German Empire, he deserves any unmarried noble lady in the world," Wilhelm II stated.
Queen Victoria nodded, her trust in Qin Tian evident. She believed that with his status, talent, and character, he was indeed exceptional.
"Your Highness, Prince, and Marshal, may I join your conversation?" In an attempt to alleviate his boredom, Qin Tian approached Count von Tirpitz and Prince Heinrich, who were chatting. Otherwise, this banquet was becoming rather tedious. As the guest of honor, leaving early was simply not an option.
"Oh no, Your Highness, this banquet is specifically arranged for you. You should seize this opportunity to engage with the noble ladies and not squander such a splendid occasion," Prince Heinrich said with a smile.
"Indeed! Your Highness, with so many lovely young ladies present, if I were twenty years younger, I would be utterly thrilled! Therefore, it would be rather unwise to spend your time with us old fogies," Count von Tirpitz exaggeratedly remarked.
"Very well, very well!" Qin Tian sighed, realizing he had no choice but to seek other means of amusement rather than joining their conversation.
At that moment, a middle-aged man clad in a black suit, his face adorned with a facade of insincere smiles, approached Qin Tian, holding a glass of wine.
"Esteemed Crown Prince, congratulations," the man said.
Qin Tian recognized him; he was Vincent, the British ambassador to Germany—a man who prided himself on the British Empire's status as the world's preeminent power.
"Thank you, Your Excellency, for attending my coming-of-age celebration," Qin Tian replied with a humble smile.
"Your Highness, as the heir to a world power, you must have your own perspective on the current global situation. The British Empire hopes you will contribute to the peace of the world. Otherwise, should war break out, it would be beyond anyone's capacity to endure," Ambassador Vincent remarked.
Qin Tian furrowed his brow. What did the British mean by this? Was it a warning aimed at him, or an attempt to influence Germany's foreign policy? If it were the former, then the British were exceedingly arrogant. This was Germany, and even though the British Empire still claimed a status of global dominance, their reign was clearly waning. What right did they have to caution the resurgent German Empire?
If it was the latter, it was nothing short of delusional. The tensions between Britain and Germany were escalating, and war loomed inevitable. Anyone attempting to obstruct this historical current would be crushed. Even as the heir to the German Empire, Qin Tian had no desire to avert the onset of war. What he truly hoped for was to ensure victory in the conflict, to dethrone the British Empire from its position of supremacy and take its place!