The Banquet After the Coming-of-Age Ceremony

"Damn, why should he be the one on top, receiving all the blessings? If I were the crown prince of the empire, I would be the one attracting all the attention!" Prince Ethel Friedrich roared in his mind. His hands were clenched into fists, the nails digging deeply into his flesh.

Prince Albert and Prince August William were also displeased. Although, with Crown Prince William now in a vegetative state, according to the laws of succession, it wasn't their turn to inherit the crown, they couldn't accept seeing their least valued younger brother suddenly surpassing them and becoming the crown prince of the empire. In their eyes, why was Oscar allowed to violate the laws of succession and become crown prince, when they weren't?

Even though Wilhelm II had already warned them about this matter, their jealousy and ambition were not so easily suppressed. Once the fire of ambition is lit, it is difficult to extinguish. If it was to be put out at all, it would need to be entirely crushed.

Oscar, however, was no longer the man he once was. After the assassination attempt, he had come to see the throne as his own, regardless of how long it would take for him to officially claim it. Anyone who tried to take the throne from him now would be courting death. This time, he wouldn't back down.

After the coming-of-age ceremony, it was time for the banquet. Young noblemen and ladies could use this occasion to mingle and get to know each other better. Of course, it was also the time when many noblewomen would hide their husbands and try to seduce other men. Life among the nobility was often peaceful on the surface, but beneath that veneer, things were rarely as calm. This is why Oscar didn't like the nobility.

At the banquet, Oscar was the undeniable center of attention. Many eyes were trained on him, some with burning desire. Particularly the young, beautiful noblewomen, who could hardly wait to drag him away in the hopes of becoming the future Queen of Germany.

"Your Royal Highness, congratulations! May I invite you to dance?" A slender, fair-skinned young lady boldly extended the invitation. Her low-cut dress revealed a large area of skin, and the deep cleavage was almost hypnotizing.

"I'm sorry, miss, I'm not in the mood to dance. Perhaps you can find someone else!" Oscar shook his head. Though the woman was stunning and well-figured, Oscar wasn't interested. Despite being reborn as a German prince, his mindset was still that of an Oriental, and he preferred a pure and unspoiled woman as his future wife.

The smile on the noblewoman's face stiffened abruptly. She clearly hadn't expected to be rejected.

Seeing this, other noblewomen who had been eagerly preparing to approach Oscar also started to retreat in their hearts.

Oscar wandered around the banquet hall, finding that although most of the noblewomen were attractive, they were heavily made up and looked far too mature for his liking. Despite being invited to dance by several women, Oscar declined them all. This behavior puzzled many of the guests following him.

"Honey, does Oscar not find these noblewomen attractive? After all, these are the best ladies in all of Germany," Queen Victoria remarked, a little concerned.

"It seems Oscar has high standards! But let him be. If Germany can't offer him a suitable wife, he'll likely seek one from abroad. After all, as the Crown Prince of Germany, he is worthy of any unmarried noblewoman in the world," Wilhelm II responded.

Queen Victoria nodded. She trusted Oscar deeply, believing that with his status, identity, and talent, he deserved only the best.

"Your Royal Highness, Your Excellency Marshal, do you mind if I join your conversation?" Oscar, feeling the need to escape the dullness of the banquet, noticed Earl Tirpitz and Marshal Count Tirpitz speaking with Prince Heinrich, and decided to join them. Otherwise, the evening would be unbearable.

"Oh, no, Your Royal Highness. This banquet has been specially organized for you. You should take the opportunity to interact with the noble ladies. Don't waste this wonderful chance," Prince Heinrich said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness, there are so many young and beautiful women here. If I were twenty years younger, I would be thrilled. So, Your Royal Highness, it would be a shame to waste time with us old men. That's not a wise choice," Marshal Count Tirpitz added dramatically.

"Alright, alright!" Oscar said, somewhat speechless, but ultimately resigned to join their conversation and try to find other ways to pass the time.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in a black suit with a false smile approached Oscar, holding a glass of wine.

"Your Royal Highness, congratulations," the man said.

Oscar recognized him immediately. It was Vincent, the British Ambassador to Germany — a man who often boasted about the supposed global dominance of the British Empire.

"Ambassador, thank you for attending my coming-of-age ceremony," Oscar responded with a polite smile.

"Your Royal Highness, as the heir to the throne of such a powerful empire, I'm sure you have your own perspective on the current global situation. The British Empire hopes that you will contribute to world peace. If war were to break out, it would be unbearable for anyone," Ambassador Vincent said.

Oscar couldn't help but frown. What was the British Ambassador implying? Was this a warning to him? Or was he trying to influence Germany's foreign policy through him? If it was the former, the British were being far too arrogant. This was Germany. Even though the British Empire still considered itself a global hegemon, their power had long since started to fade. What right did they have to warn Germany, a nation that was now growing stronger by the day?

If it was the latter, then it was nothing short of delusional. The tension between Britain and Germany was only growing. War was becoming inevitable. Anyone who tried to halt this historical course would be crushed. Even though Oscar was the Crown Prince of Germany, he had no intention of avoiding the war. What he wanted was to lead Germany to victory, dethrone the British Empire, and claim the title of world hegemon for himself!