Crown Prince William's patience with Oscar had finally run out. The throne was something he viewed as his exclusive right—an irreplaceable treasure, a symbol of his destiny. No one, not even his own brother, had the right to take it from him. The thought alone made William's blood boil. If anyone dared to challenge him, he would stop at nothing to eliminate them, even if that person were his own flesh and blood.
"Oscar," he muttered to himself, his thoughts twisted with rage, "even though you are my younger brother, you've developed ambitions you shouldn't have. The throne belongs to me, and you cannot take it. You think you can take it from me, but that is a mistake. As the elder brother, I have no obligation to show you mercy."
These words, though feebly constructed, were enough to convince him of his cause. In reality, it wasn't merely ambition that William feared, but the growing threat Oscar represented to his claim. The young prince's wealth, influence, and power were growing too rapidly, overshadowing William's already tenuous grip on the throne. If Oscar was allowed to continue, it wouldn't be long before he would become a legitimate contender.
Determined to resolve this threat, Crown Prince William hastily penned a letter, one that would seal his brother's fate. He sent it to Friedrich Franz III, his father-in-law, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin, a powerful figure with his own ambitions. The letter contained a single demand: that Friedrich send someone to eliminate Oscar, ensuring William's throne would remain secure.
"Once Oscar is gone," William mused, "no one will stand in my way. My father will have no choice but to support me, and the throne will be mine. My reign will be unchallenged, and I will become the ruler of Germany, without hesitation or opposition."
A more sinister thought followed. "Oscar still holds vast wealth. If I can reclaim that after he dies, I'll have the funds to enhance the navy with more ships, the army with advanced weapons. My forces will be unbeatable. I'll crush the British, the French, the Russians… and I'll be a greater emperor than even William the Great."
Consumed by jealousy, William fantasized about how he could leverage Oscar's riches for his own gain. The thought of it filled him with an intoxicating sense of power, but it also clouded his judgment. He failed to consider the consequences of his actions, blinded by greed and the certainty that his destiny as king was within his grasp.
Meanwhile, Oscar had no idea of the impending danger. Though he was well aware that Crown Prince William resented him, he never imagined that his brother would take such extreme measures. After all, this was Germany—under the rule of Emperor Wilhelm II. The idea that a crown prince would resort to assassination was almost unthinkable. Such a scandal would rip apart the Hohenzollern family, making them the laughingstock of Europe, a stain on their legacy for generations.
Oscar believed that as long as Emperor Wilhelm II stood behind him, nothing could harm him. He had worked tirelessly to strengthen Germany's military, investing vast sums into the army and navy. All of his actions had received the tacit approval of the Emperor himself. With Wilhelm II's support, what could Crown Prince William possibly do? Surely, even if William was displeased, he would never go to such lengths to eliminate him. After all, it was the Emperor's will that Oscar's actions were justified, and to challenge that would be a dangerous move for anyone, even William.
However, when Friedrich Franz III received the letter from Crown Prince William, he immediately recognized the danger of the situation. The Grand Duke was a powerful and influential figure, and his daughter marriage to Crown Prince William meant that his family stood to gain significantly when William ascended the throne. But the rise of Oscar had created a dangerous imbalance. His growing wealth and influence had put William in an awkward position. While the Crown Prince remained the heir apparent, his status was overshadowed by Oscar's accomplishments, particularly his ability to amass a fortune and invest it in industries that supported the military. This had garnered him favor with the armed forces, making him a direct threat to William's claim.
Friedrich Franz III sighed deeply as he read the letter. "I thought Cecilia's marriage to William would bring us great advantages, but now, it's become a perilous gamble," he lamented.
Despite his unease, Friedrich knew that rejecting William's request would come with devastating consequences. Refusing to act could lead to resentment from the Crown Prince, which would jeopardize his family's future. The investment they had made in William, their support for his claim to the throne, would have been in vain.
After much internal struggle, Friedrich Franz III made a decision. He would send someone to eliminate Oscar. He told himself that if the deed was done quietly, it could be covered up, and even if it was later revealed, the perpetrators would be difficult to trace. In his mind, it was the only option available.
Meanwhile, the autumn season had arrived in Germany. The weather had turned cool, and the crisp air seemed to promise change. For Oscar, this period marked a time of relative peace. With several of his business ventures now set in motion, he had little to do but wait for the companies to grow. His investments were poised to make him one of the wealthiest men in Germany, and soon, his influence would rival that of the state itself. The future seemed limitless.
On the afternoon of October 24th, Oscar and his aide Karl left the Deutsche Welfare Lottery Company building, ready to return to Potsdam. They were standing outside, waiting for their driver to pull up, when a young man approached them. The man held a map in his hands and asked for directions to the Brandenburg Gate.
At first, Oscar was about to answer, but suddenly, an inexplicable sense of danger washed over him. His body tensed, and every hair on his body stood on end. Something was terribly wrong. Instinctively, he took a step back, his mind racing to assess the situation.
Karl, too, felt the change in the air, then they noticed that the young man who came up to them and asked for directions was actually holding a pistol in his hand under the map.