"Prittwitz, tell me, who is it? Who is the true mastermind behind all of this?" Emperor Wilhelm II demanded. Since his attempts at swaying the rebels had failed, there was nothing left for him to do but wait for an opportunity to arise. He was convinced that this was his empire, and no one—no matter who they were—could overthrow him and take it from his grasp.
"Your Majesty, soon you will know," replied General Prittwitz with a knowing smile. His gaze was filled with mockery, and Wilhelm could not help but feel a wave of humiliation wash over him at the sight.
"Damned fool, I will see this man hanged once I escape this mess!" Wilhelm thought bitterly, his anger rising. He silently swore that if he survived this, he would ensure Prittwitz would be executed—letting him know that an Emperor of the Empire could not be insulted with impunity.
For now, Wilhelm said nothing, and Prittwitz refrained from further provoking him. After all, he was still the Emperor of the Empire, the one to whom Prittwitz had once sworn allegiance.
Time passed, and the rebellion orchestrated by the Crown Prince Wilhelm and his conspirators proceeded smoothly. Before midnight, they had seized control of the entire city of Berlin. Key locations like the train stations and government buildings had fallen under their control as well.
At a secret estate just outside Berlin, Crown Prince Wilhelm and Prince Eitel Friedrich waited anxiously.
"Brother, why haven't we heard anything yet?" Prince Eitel Friedrich asked, growing increasingly restless. After all, their lives and futures hung in the balance. If they failed, they would be doomed.
"Do not worry, everything will be fine," the Crown Prince replied with calm assurance. Having been through a near-death experience as a vegetative patient, his entire demeanor had changed. He was no longer the impetuous youth he once was. Of course, another reason for his calmness was that the coup had already begun, and there was no turning back. His claim to the throne was already lost, so even in failure, things could hardly become worse. If they succeeded, however, he would immediately ascend to the throne. This was the dream he had always longed for, and he believed that this time, fortune would favor him.
"Your Highness, we have succeeded. The entire city of Berlin is under our control. The palace has been captured as well," Marshal Goltz reported, his face alight with satisfaction.
"What about my father? How is he?" the Crown Prince inquired.
"His Majesty is also under control," Goltz replied.
"Ha! Wonderful! Brother, we have truly succeeded!" Prince Eitel Friedrich exclaimed, his voice full of exuberance. The weight that had hung over his heart was finally lifted.
The Crown Prince allowed a small smile to form on his lips. In that moment, it felt as if all the pressure that had been weighing on him had evaporated. A sense of joy swelled within him. He knew that he was now one step closer to the throne.
"Your Highness, we must head to the palace now. It is crucial that we confront His Majesty at once. The longer we wait, the greater the risk of the news leaking," Marshal Goltz urged.
"Very well," the Crown Prince nodded.
The group quickly made their way to the Berlin Palace.
As they were escorted into the grand hall, the Crown Prince's nerves tightened. After all, the person he was about to force to abdicate was none other than his father. From a young age, Wilhelm II had been very fond of him. Though strict at times, the Crown Prince knew it was for his own good. His father had always aimed to groom him into a worthy successor.
But everything had changed after Qin Tian's rise.
"The throne is mine, and no one will take it from me—especially not my own father!" the Crown Prince resolved inwardly.
The doors to the hall were opened, and immediately Wilhelm II's eyes snapped to the entrance. He knew that the true mastermind was about to reveal themselves.
But when he saw who had entered, he froze in shock.
Moltke, his former Chief of Staff and lifelong companion. Marshal Goltz, a seasoned army officer, a man he had always trusted. General Graf, another of his trusted commanders from the Imperial Guard. Duke of Württemberg, leader of the Kingdom of Württemberg, and Commander of the 4th Army Group of the Imperial Army—another old friend.
These were all men he had once considered his closest allies, but now, they were his betrayers.
Yet what truly stunned Wilhelm II was the sight of the person in the wheelchair and the one pushing it. The two of them were his sons. The one pushing the wheelchair was his second son, Prince Eitel Friedrich, and the one seated in it was his eldest son, the former Crown Prince, Prince Wilhelm.
Wilhelm II stood up from his seat, his face stricken with disbelief.
"Prince Wilhelm, you have awakened? When did you recover, and why was I not informed?" he asked.
"My dear father, you have been so focused on the war, haven't you? You are about to become Emperor of all of Europe, while I, a mere shadow of the former Crown Prince, am of no consequence to you," the Crown Prince retorted, his voice laced with sarcasm. Though Wilhelm II was once his father and a man he had respected, when he learned that he had lost his claim to the throne, all respect had turned to resentment.
Wilhelm II felt a pang of guilt. As his son had remained in a coma for so long, Wilhelm had gradually lost hope of his recovery. With the war's demands, he had been consumed with military and political affairs, leaving his son's fate in the background. However, this neglect had led to betrayal. The Crown Prince had plotted the coup, and Wilhelm found it hard to accept.
"Prince Wilhelm, Eitel, how dare you conspire against me? Who gave you the audacity to do this? Take your men and leave immediately. I will show mercy, but otherwise, you know the consequences!" Wilhelm II demanded, his voice stern.
Prince Eitel Friedrich froze, briefly considering running away. Even the Crown Prince hesitated for a moment. However, he soon regained his composure. After all, they now held the upper hand.
"Father, is there any point in continuing to speak of such things? I advise you to face the reality. You once said the throne was mine. Now, I ask you to sign the abdication decree and pass the throne to me!" The Crown Prince's eyes burned with a desire for the throne, his voice unwavering.