Chapter 53: Crown Prince's Enmity
The mounting tension within the royal family, fueled by Crown Prince William's jealousy and resentment towards Qin Tian, created a tumultuous atmosphere. William II, feeling disappointed in his eldest son's recent behavior, expressed his frustration to Essen von Jonalet.
"Essen, I don't understand why Prince became like this. You know, I always thought he was my most outstanding son before," William II lamented, revealing his perplexity and disappointment.
Despite having high hopes for Crown Prince William as the heir to the empire, his recent actions had strained the relationship between father and son. William II, hoping for a more tolerant and cooperative attitude from his eldest son, found himself questioning Crown Prince William's suitability for such a crucial role.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince probably cannot accept that Prince Oscar suddenly becomes outstanding. After all, he has always been His Majesty's best son," Essen von Jonalet replied diplomatically, acknowledging the underlying issues.
William II acknowledged this but expressed his dissatisfaction with Crown Prince William's inability to embrace his younger brother's success. He recognized Qin Tian's exceptional talent and contribution to the empire, even contemplating that, had Qin Tian been his eldest son, he would consider him a suitable heir.
"Essen, to be honest, Oscar's recent performance has indeed exceeded my expectations. If he is one of the most outstanding businessmen in the empire, it is estimated that not many people will understand it. What is even more rare is that he also has a deep understanding of the international situation and is willing to contribute his own strength to the empire. Yes, he is very outstanding. If he is my eldest son, I will definitely make him the crown prince without hesitation and become the heir to the imperial throne of the empire. But unfortunately, he is not the eldest son. The imperial succession law of the empire cannot be violated," William II explained, revealing the internal struggle he faced.
Essen von Jonalet praised Qin Tian's outstanding qualities, acknowledging his exceptional talents and contributions at such a young age.
"Your Majesty, Prince Oscar is indeed very outstanding. What's even more rare is that he is only eighteen years old now. In the entire German Empire, there is probably no one more outstanding young man than him," Essen von Jonalet complimented.
William II agreed with this assessment, acknowledging Qin Tian's brilliance. However, he also recognized the limitations imposed by the imperial succession law.
"Essen, you go and tell Prince. I don't want such a thing to happen again. Otherwise, even if he is the crown prince of the empire, I will make him pay the price. Although the difficulty of abolishing a crown prince is high, it doesn't mean it's impossible," William II asserted, revealing his growing impatience with Crown Prince William's behavior.
Essen von Jonalet, tasked with delivering this message, left William II's office and approached Crown Prince William. Following the warning, Crown Prince William's anger escalated, leading to a destructive outburst within his office.
The internal conflict within the royal family intensified, with Crown Prince William vowing to make Qin Tian's life miserable, even after inheriting the throne. The complexities of succession, jealousy, and familial rivalry cast a shadow over the stability of the German Empire.