Capítulo 53: Tensions at Court
William II sighed deeply, his frustration evident as he looked at Essen von Jonalet. "Essen, I don't understand why my son has become like this. You know, I always thought he was my most outstanding son," William II's voice carried a heavy tone of helplessness.
For years, the Emperor had nurtured Crown Prince William as the future ruler of the German Empire. He had invested considerable effort into ensuring that his eldest son was prepared to inherit the throne. For two decades, Crown Prince William had excelled in his duties, outshining his peers and proving himself worthy of the title. Among all of William II's children, it was William who seemed the most promising—destined to carry the weight of the Empire on his shoulders. The Emperor had high hopes for him, believing that the future of the German Empire was secure in his hands.
But recently, William II's expectations had been shattered. Crown Prince William's behavior had taken a troubling turn. The Emperor had hoped his son would demonstrate maturity and tolerance, especially toward his younger brothers. As the eldest, William was expected to be a role model—yet his recent actions had made William II question whether his heir was truly fit for the throne.
"Your Majesty," Essen replied, his face a mask of indifference, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince probably cannot accept that Prince Oscar has suddenly risen to such prominence. After all, for so long, he has been your most favored son."
Essen's words, though neutral, were tinged with an underlying sentiment. He had his own reasons for supporting Oscar. As the general manager of the Deutsche Welfare Lottery Company, which brought in enormous profits each year, Essen had a vested interest in Oscar's success. Still, he knew better than to show any obvious favoritism, especially not to William II, who was becoming more displeased with his son's behavior.
William II nodded in agreement, the weight of his frustration pressing on him. "Yes, Essen. Oscar's rise has caused an issue. The problem with William is that he cannot make room for others, even if they are his own flesh and blood. He's fine as long as there is no threat to his position, but once he perceives one, he will stop at nothing to suppress it. I turned a blind eye when he taunted his younger brothers in the past. I let it slide for the sake of family harmony. But now, his attitude is disappointing."
Essen listened without speaking, sensing that William II wasn't seeking advice. The Emperor was venting his frustrations, and Essen knew that matters concerning the future of the Empire were not his to weigh in on.
"To be honest, Essen," William II continued, his tone heavy with thought, "Oscar's recent performance has exceeded my expectations. He used to be reserved, almost as if he didn't belong to this world. But now, he's proven himself in business and shipbuilding—he's shown real talent. If he were one of the most outstanding businessmen in the Empire, few would question it. More impressive, however, is his understanding of international affairs and his willingness to contribute to the Empire's strength. He's a rare figure. If he were my eldest son, I wouldn't hesitate to make him the heir. Unfortunately, he's not, and the Empire's laws on succession cannot be ignored."
The Emperor's words revealed a deep inner conflict. He wanted his successor to be the most capable, yet his own son was now a source of disappointment.
"Your Majesty, Prince Oscar's achievements are indeed remarkable," Essen said without hesitation, offering praise that was rare in such formal conversations. "What's even more extraordinary is that he's only eighteen years old. There's no one in the entire German Empire who can match him in his age group."
William II nodded again, agreeing with the assessment. Oscar's potential was undeniable, and as he thought about it more, the Emperor found himself comparing his eldest son's shortcomings to Oscar's accomplishments. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed that Oscar was not only more capable but more fitting to lead the Empire.
"Essen," the Emperor said after a pause, his voice turning cold, "go and tell William that I don't want this situation to happen again. If I find out that he continues this behavior, even as Crown Prince, he will have to face the consequences. It may be difficult to strip a crown prince of his title, but that doesn't mean it's impossible."
Essen bowed, a glint of approval in his eyes. He was more than willing to carry out the Emperor's order, knowing it could further his own position, especially given the growing tension between the Emperor and his son.
After leaving the Emperor's office, Essen went directly to deliver the message to Crown Prince William. The moment William heard that his father had sent someone to warn him, his anger erupted. His face turned an alarming shade of red, his expression contorted with rage.
"Why? Why is Father doing this to me? I am his eldest son! I am the crown prince of the Empire, the rightful heir! And yet, he sends Essen to warn me over that boy, Oscar?" William fumed, his hands trembling with fury. "Oscar is nothing but lucky! And now Father is favoring him. How dare he!"
In his rage, Crown Prince William swept a vase from his desk, sending it crashing to the floor. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, and soon everything on his desk had been thrown to the ground in a fit of fury. The office was now a mess, mirroring the chaos in his mind.
"Oscar, you will pay for this," Crown Prince William hissed, his eyes burning with hatred. "I will make your life miserable. Once I inherit the throne, I will make sure you regret ever crossing me."
At that moment, Cecilia, his new wife, entered the room, her concern evident as she saw the state of the office.
"Prince, what's going on?" Cecilia asked, alarmed by the scene before her.
The rage that had consumed William melted away at the sight of his wife, and he quickly composed himself, hiding the fury that had just moments ago driven him to violence.
"My dear, I'm sorry to disturb you," William said, his tone softening.
Cecilia's concern only deepened. "But Prince, what happened? Why are you so angry?"
"It's because of that bastard, Oscar!" William spat, his anger rising again. "Father favors him! For Oscar, he even sent Essen to warn me! This is an insult!"
Cecilia, aware of the growing tensions between her husband and Oscar, sought to calm him. "Prince, no matter how good Oscar is, you are still the Crown Prince of the Empire. The throne will belong to you, and Oscar will never change that."
William nodded, but his words carried little conviction. "Yes, I am the Crown Prince. No matter how good Oscar is, he is just a prince."
But despite his words, William couldn't shake the feeling of resentment that gnawed at him. The more Oscar achieved, the more William hated him. Each praise, each new success for Oscar, only fueled his jealousy and resentment. What had started as a minor annoyance was now turning into a deep-seated hatred, one that would only grow with time.
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