"Crown Prince, you... how could you be here?" Moltke stared wide-eyed, almost unable to believe the sight before him.
Wasn't the Crown Prince supposed to be in a vegetative state after the fall from his horse? It was precisely because of that incident that Qin Tian had seized the opportunity, surpassing the other princes, and became the new Crown Prince. Though initially only the deputy, Qin Tian's actions in his new role had been nothing short of remarkable. His performance had been so outstanding that the "deputy" title was eventually removed, and he became the true Crown Prince.
Now, Qin Tian's position in Germany had reached its zenith. In such circumstances, who could possibly stand against him?
But the sudden appearance of Crown Prince Wilhelm had introduced an unexpected twist to the situation. After all, Wilhelm II had once promised that if his son were to awaken, Qin Tian would be obliged to relinquish the title of Crown Prince.
At the time, this was widely seen as nothing more than a convenient excuse. No one truly believed that anyone would willingly give up hard-won power. Furthermore, no one thought that the comatose Crown Prince would easily regain consciousness—otherwise, Wilhelm II wouldn't have replaced him. Yet now, everything seemed to have changed. The Crown Prince had actually awakened.
"Good evening, Count," the Crown Prince greeted, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Having been bedridden for so long, the Crown Prince's appearance had drastically changed. The once-dashing figure was now frail and gaunt, his former handsome visage giving way to an older, more worn version of himself.
"Your Highness, I never expected you would awaken," Moltke remarked with a sense of awe.
Indeed, for the Crown Prince to emerge from a vegetative state was nothing short of a medical miracle. At least, in Moltke's eyes, this seemed incredibly fortunate.
The Crown Prince nodded slowly. "In fact, I woke up half a month ago. But my condition was far worse back then. Now, I am gradually recovering. I can feel my legs again, and in a few months, I should be able to return to a state of normalcy."
"Congratulations, Your Highness!" Moltke exclaimed sincerely. His relationship with the Crown Prince had once been quite close, and he was genuinely glad to see him recover.
The Crown Prince gave a wry smile. "The unfortunate part is that during my years of slumber, everything has changed. I've lost my position as Crown Prince."
Moltke opened his mouth as if to offer words of comfort, but found himself speechless. He, too, felt that it was unlikely the Crown Prince would ever regain his former position.
"Your Highness, does His Majesty know of your awakening?" Moltke asked.
"My father is far too busy with his imperial ambitions to concern himself with his son, now reduced to a mere shell. Besides, hasn't he already found a more capable heir? Oscar, my dear brother, is now the Crown Prince of the Empire," the former Crown Prince replied bitterly, a clear undertone of resentment in his voice. It was evident that losing the title of Crown Prince had left him deeply dissatisfied.
Moltke could certainly understand his feelings. After all, an empire of such vast potential, poised to become a global power, no longer belonged to him. Anyone in his position would undoubtedly feel the sting of such a loss.
"Your Highness, there was little that could have been done. The fact that you've awoken is already a blessing from God," Moltke said, attempting to console him.
Moltke couldn't shake the growing suspicion that the Crown Prince had not informed Wilhelm II of his recovery. Clearly, he was unwilling to relinquish his title without a fight, plotting to reclaim what he believed was rightfully his. It was apparent that the former Crown Prince expected Moltke to aid him, and this left the older man torn.
Moltke still believed that, even if the Crown Prince attempted a coup, the chances of success were slim. However, should they succeed, the Crown Prince would not only regain his position but could even rise further, ultimately claiming the imperial throne. Those who supported him would undoubtedly be greatly rewarded—Moltke himself could return to his former role as Chief of the General Staff, and perhaps even gain other benefits. This was a tempting prospect.
Of course, Moltke also feared the disastrous consequences should the plot fail. The ramifications could be catastrophic, even threatening his very life.
"Count," the former Crown Prince began, "I wish to reclaim what is mine. I hope you will lend me your support. I guarantee that, once I succeed, you will be appointed as the Imperial Minister of War and Chief of the General Staff. Furthermore, your title will be elevated to Duke. I will grant you a territory in the new lands the Empire will acquire, a domain that will remain with the Moltke family for generations."
The former Crown Prince knew full well that he could no longer match Qin Tian in power. To remove him from the position of Crown Prince seemed almost impossible. His former strength had crumbled during his years of unconsciousness, and so he realized that, to succeed in regaining what was his, he would need additional support.
Qin Tian's position within the Empire had become overwhelmingly powerful, especially within the military. The Imperial Navy had already pledged its allegiance to him, and nearly half of the Imperial Army was directly under his control. Other military factions had also been heavily influenced by him.
It was clear that the former Crown Prince could no longer reclaim his position in a legitimate manner. This was why he had kept his awakening a secret from even Wilhelm II. He knew that his father, once so fond of him, had already chosen Qin Tian as his successor. If Wilhelm II knew of his recovery, there would be no chance for the former Crown Prince to regain his title. Worse still, Wilhelm II might even place him under house arrest. Thus, if the Crown Prince wished to regain what he had lost, he would have to resort to drastic measures.
Moltke continued to reflect on the situation, yet the former Crown Prince did not rush him. He understood that Moltke's decision would be difficult.
After a long silence, Moltke finally made up his mind. Ultimately, his personal ambition won out over reason.
"Your Highness," Moltke said with a solemn expression, "the position of Crown Prince was originally yours. I will do everything in my power to assist you!"