The Crown Prince's Fall

"Father, what can I do for you?" Crown Prince William asked with a sly smile.

After the assassination attempt on Oscar, the crown prince's mood had lifted significantly. Though he regretted failing to eliminate Oscar entirely, he was confident there would be future opportunities. Luck, after all, couldn't always be on Oscar's side.

Crown Prince William believed he was safe from suspicion. He had not given direct orders, and even if Friedrich Franz III were implicated, there was no reason to think he would betray him.

"Prince, do you know about Oscar?" William II asked coldly, his gaze sharp.

"Father, I was devastated when I heard about the attack on Oscar," Crown Prince William replied, feigning sorrow. "The perpetrator is vile beyond words. To assassinate a royal is an unforgivable crime. You must have him executed to avenge Oscar!"

William II's expression darkened. He could see through the pretense, yet Crown Prince William remained unwilling to admit his involvement.

"Prince, do you know who orchestrated this?" William II pressed.

"The mastermind? Who could it be? Perhaps one of Oscar's business rivals. He owns so many companies, it's only natural he might anger some competitors," the crown prince answered, feigning ignorance.

William II's lips tightened. He knew the truth but wanted to see if his son would admit it.

"Prince, our investigation shows that the assassin was sent by Friedrich Franz III. What do you have to say to that?"

Panic flickered in Crown Prince William's eyes before he regained his composure. He hadn't expected Friedrich Franz III to be exposed so quickly. Did this mean his father already knew the truth?

What now? The crown prince's thoughts raced. Does he want me to confess? What would happen if I did? Would I lose my claim to the throne?

After a moment, Crown Prince William resolved to deny everything. Admitting guilt would be disastrous. He could shift all blame to Friedrich Franz III and maintain plausible deniability.

"Father, this must be a misunderstanding! Grand Duke Franz III would never do such a thing. There must be some mistake," he said smoothly.

William II looked at his son with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"Prince, you truly let me down. Even now, you refuse to admit it. The assassin confessed—Friedrich Franz III acted on your orders," William II declared, his voice sharp.

"Father, no! I don't know anything about this. It has nothing to do with me!" the crown prince insisted, his tone defiant.

The room fell into an icy silence. William II clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. He knew Crown Prince William was guilty. If he publicly arrested and interrogated Friedrich Franz III, the truth would surely come out. But the scandal would tarnish the Hohenzollern family name and make the German Empire the subject of ridicule.

After a long pause, William II spoke. "Prince, even if you refuse to confess, we both know the truth. For the sake of the royal family's dignity and the stability of the empire, I will not pursue this matter further."

Crown Prince William exhaled in relief, convinced he had successfully deflected blame.

"Starting tomorrow, you will move to the palace in Potsdam. Without my permission, you are not to leave," William II continued sternly.

The crown prince froze, his relief shattered. His father's decision felt like a cold wave engulfing him.

"Father, are you placing me under house arrest? No! You can't do this. I am the Crown Prince of the German Empire!" he shouted.

"You will remain there to reflect on your actions. Until I am convinced of your repentance, you will not return to Berlin. Your position as crown prince remains intact, and this arrangement will not be disclosed to the public," William II said.

"Father, please! You can't treat me this way. I'm your favorite son!" Crown Prince William pleaded, his voice trembling.

But William II was unmoved. He gestured to Essen von Jonaret, who stood silently nearby.

"Essen, escort the crown prince to Potsdam," the emperor ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Essen replied, bowing.

Two palace guards approached to take Crown Prince William away. Despite his protests and outbursts, the decision was final.

When Oscar received the news in his hospital room, a faint smile appeared on his face. The ache from his wounds seemed to lessen slightly.

"Congratulations, Your Highness. While His Majesty hasn't stripped Crown Prince William of his title, this shows that his patience is wearing thin," Carl von Jonaret remarked with a grin.

Oscar shook his head. "This isn't a victory, Carl. I nearly lost my life because of this."

His voice was heavy with the weight of realization. The assassination attempt had exposed the ruthless nature of royal politics. Bloodlines meant nothing in the face of ambition. Even brothers could turn on each other, and Oscar now saw that clearly.

"The throne is drenched in blood. To sit on it, one must be ruthless," Oscar thought bitterly. "Next time, I won't be caught off guard. I'll never let anyone point a gun at me again."

His resolve hardened, his pale face betraying no sign of weakness. The fight for survival within the Hohenzollern family was far from over, and Oscar was determined to emerge unscathed.