Bab 106: The Coming-of-Age Ceremony
"Oscar, tomorrow you will come of age. It is time for you to consider your future marriage. Many noble ladies will be present at your coming-of-age ceremony. I hope you will find a suitable match among them to become your life partner," Queen Victoria said to Oscar. She had intentionally summoned him to the palace the day before his twentieth birthday to discuss this matter.
With Crown Prince William now in a vegetative state, and Oscar serving as the acting crown prince, his remarkable performance had only become more evident. Queen Victoria had to come to terms with this new reality. Though Oscar was her son, he had not been given much favor in the past. Now, however, his achievements outshone those of Crown Prince William at the height of his own success.
"Yes, Queen Mother," Oscar replied with a respectful nod.
As a member of the royal family, especially as crown prince, Oscar was well aware that his marriage would not be his choice alone. His wife would have to be the daughter of a prominent noble family in Germany or possibly a princess from another nation. The idea of marrying a commoner was out of the question. She could not be the future queen of Germany.
Oscar had no illusions about experiencing passionate love. He knew he lacked the time and experience for such matters. In his past life, he had been a bookish introvert, unfamiliar with the world of courtship. His hope was simple: to find a beautiful, kind-hearted woman to be his wife. That would be enough for him.
Queen Victoria gave a satisfied nod. "Oscar, you are the most exceptional prince in the royal family and my finest son. I hope that, this time, you will find a woman who truly captures your heart."
Oscar nodded again, but said little. Though he shared her hopes, he knew that royal life was full of intrigue. The aristocracy, despite its outward nobility, was rife with scheming and betrayal. Whether he would find a woman who truly satisfied him remained, in many ways, a matter of fate.
The next day, July 2, 1908, Oscar turned twenty. This was a significant day for the German Empire. Kaiser Wilhelm II would hold an extravagant coming-of-age ceremony for the crown prince at the imperial palace. Many of Germany's most powerful nobles hoped that their daughters would catch Oscar's eye, aiming to secure their place as the future Queen of Germany. This would bring their families prestige and immense benefits.
Oscar had already become a household name in Germany. His status as crown prince alone made him a figure of great interest, but his achievements in business had also placed him in the public spotlight. Deutsche Industries Group, under his leadership, had grown into one of the largest and most profitable conglomerates in Germany, earning him the title of the youngest billionaire in the empire.
The noble women of Germany dreamed of marrying him, and if Oscar had wished to take a concubine, he would have had no shortage of suitors vying for his attention.
Foreign dignitaries had been invited to the event as well, especially those from Germany's allies. Emperor Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had sent an envoy to discuss the possibility of a royal marriage between the two empires. He hoped that a princess of the Habsburg Dynasty would marry the heir of the Hohenzollern family to further strengthen the bond between their nations.
However, Wilhelm II made it clear that he would not interfere in Oscar's personal choices, leaving the matter entirely in his hands. As Wilhelm II put it, "The German Empire is already powerful enough; we do not need to sacrifice the happiness of the crown prince for the sake of political alliances."
Oscar was grateful for this freedom. Though he could not choose the identity of his future wife, at least he had the autonomy to select her himself. He did not want his marriage to be a mere political transaction, but rather a union with a woman who would truly satisfy him.
The ceremony itself was full of elaborate rituals, with the archbishop of the Catholic German Diocese presiding, adding an air of solemnity to the occasion.
Oscar, though restless, endured the proceedings until the end. He breathed a sigh of relief when it was finally over.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the elite of the German Empire, thank you for attending the coming-of-age ceremony of Crown Prince Oscar," Wilhelm II said, delivering a customary speech at the conclusion of the event.
While Wilhelm II still harbored a preference for Crown Prince William in his heart, he could no longer ignore the fact that Oscar, who had stepped in as the acting crown prince, was proving to be an extraordinary successor. In fact, his performance as crown prince had far surpassed that of William at his prime. Wilhelm II often wondered if it might have been better for Oscar to inherit the throne outright.
"The German Empire has become one of the most powerful nations in the world, and it will continue to grow stronger. Thank God for giving us Crown Prince Oscar, the greatest heir the world could hope for. May God bless Crown Prince Oscar, and may He bless the German Empire!" Wilhelm II proclaimed.
"May God bless Crown Prince Oscar and the German Empire!" the assembly echoed.
Yet, not all the guests at the ceremony wished Oscar well. Many of the foreign delegates, including those from Britain, France, and Russia, viewed the strengthening of the German Empire with trepidation. They had hoped for a weak or incompetent heir, but with Crown Prince William incapacitated, they now faced the prospect of an even more formidable leader in Oscar.
Among the royal family, Oscar's brothers harbored deep resentment and envy. According to the laws of succession, they should have been given the title of crown prince after William's incapacitation, but Wilhelm II had bypassed them and chosen Oscar instead. This blatant violation of tradition filled them with bitterness. After all, their own coming-of-age ceremonies had been far less spectacular than this grand event for Oscar, which only fueled their jealousy further.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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