The Crown Prince's Hostility

"Karl, go see your father. We'll meet again tonight. I'm going to see the Empress and my brothers and sister," Oscar said with a smile.

Before the banquet began, the royal family would gather first. Usually, the Empress hosted it. Oscar's relationship with the Empress and his other brothers was far from harmonious. More often than not, his solitary nature made him the target of their mockery and bullying.

"Alright, Your Highness. But I heard from my father that Crown Prince Wilhelm is extremely dissatisfied with you. Especially now that our company has begun making huge profits. He has repeatedly asked His Majesty to bring our company under royal ownership," Karl said quietly.

Oscar's expression changed at once. He had long known that Crown Prince Wilhelm was jealous and narrow-minded, but he had not expected to be targeted the moment he began to show his edge.

"Your Highness, His Majesty did not heed Crown Prince Wilhelm's slander. Still, you should be more careful. At tonight's banquet, Crown Prince Wilhelm will definitely make trouble for you," Karl said worriedly.

"Don't worry. He may be the Crown Prince, but as long as he is not yet the Emperor of the German Empire, we have no reason to fear him," Oscar said gravely.

Though Crown Prince Wilhelm was of noble status and ranked above the other princes, he held little real power. At every Imperial Council, he only had the right to attend. Even if he offered suggestions, they were not necessarily accepted. Besides, although the German Emperor possessed considerable authority, it was nowhere near that of the monarchs of Huaxia in the East. As long as Oscar gave him no leverage, even if he became Emperor, there would be nothing he could do to Oscar. At worst, Oscar could simply leave Germany. With money in hand, he could live well anywhere.

Karl nodded, then left.

Carrying his suitcase, Oscar headed straight for the palace garden. He knew that royal gatherings had always been held there. When he arrived, he found that the Empress, Crown Prince Wilhelm, Prince Eitel Friedrich, Prince Albert, Prince August Wilhelm, Prince Joachim, and Princess Victoria Louise had already arrived.

"Forgive me, Mother Empress, my elder brothers, younger brothers, and sister. I am late," Oscar immediately apologized.

"Everyone knows that Oscar is now a great boss famous throughout the German Empire. It is understandable that he arrived a little late," a mocking, affected voice said.

Oscar did not even need to think. He could tell from the voice alone that it was Crown Prince Wilhelm.

The other princes watched with grins on their faces. Of course, Prince Joachim and Princess Louise were still young, and both looked utterly bewildered.

"Crown Prince, you flatter me. Unlike you, who will inherit the entire Empire someday, I can only seek my own way out as early as possible. Otherwise, once Crown Prince inherits the throne and finds me displeasing, if you drive me out of the palace, I would not even know how to gain a foothold," Oscar said coldly.

As the saying went, money was a man's backbone and his confidence. Now that Oscar had immense wealth at his back, he naturally had no reason to fear Crown Prince Wilhelm. Compared with him, Crown Prince Wilhelm had merely been born luckier and a little earlier than the rest of them. Otherwise, what right would he have to swagger about?

Crown Prince Wilhelm was instantly ashamed and enraged. Given his temperament, he was fully capable of doing exactly what Oscar had described.

The expressions of the other princes also became somewhat unnatural. They might have envied Oscar, but when they thought of Crown Prince Wilhelm's character, they knew that once he inherited the throne, their lives would likely become very difficult.

"Utter nonsense! How could I possibly do such a thing? You are clearly slandering me!" Crown Prince Wilhelm roared.

"Enough. You are blood brothers. What sort of spectacle is all this bickering?" the Empress said unhappily.

Crown Prince Wilhelm and Oscar immediately lowered their banners and stilled their drums.

"Oscar, now that you are here, take your seat. Today is Christmas Eve. His Majesty will hold a banquet in the palace tonight. Our family should gather first," the Empress said. Though she favored Crown Prince Wilhelm more, they were all her children, so naturally she had to treat them fairly.

Oscar nodded and returned to his seat. However, Crown Prince Wilhelm's gaze toward him was clearly filled with hatred.

Oscar did not care in the slightest.

Servants continuously brought over exquisite pastries and fine wine, and the family began to converse. With everyone deliberately minding themselves, the atmosphere remained fairly harmonious.

Yet Oscar seemed like an outsider, utterly out of place. He sat alone at his seat, drinking and eating. The evening banquet was mainly for socializing. If one hoped to fill one's stomach there, that was simply impossible.

Oscar did not want trouble, but that did not mean trouble would not come knocking on his door. Sure enough, Crown Prince Wilhelm had set his sights on him again.

"Oscar, Christmas comes once a year. What gift have you prepared for Mother Empress? We gave our gifts long ago," Crown Prince Wilhelm said, holding a wineglass.

At once, everyone's eyes turned to Oscar.

Oscar glanced at Crown Prince Wilhelm, then rose directly to his feet and said to the Empress, "Mother Empress, how could I forget to prepare a gift for you? This is a necklace I carefully selected for you. I hope you will like it."

Oscar took a dazzling necklace from his suitcase. The entire necklace was made of 108 diamonds and was worth a fortune. Oscar had spent a full five hundred thousand Marks on it.

Women truly did love such things. The instant Oscar produced the diamond necklace, the Empress's and Princess Louise's eyes locked onto it, unable to look away.

"Oscar, you truly are a good child." The Empress wore a radiant smile. She had originally thought little of Oscar, but now there was an added trace of maternal affection in her eyes. One exquisite diamond necklace had utterly transformed her view of him.

"Mother Empress, it is only what I should do."

"Oscar, why is there one only for Mother Empress and not for me?" Princess Louise pouted.

"Haha, how could I forget our adorable little Princess Louise? Your brother specially selected a necklace for you as well." Oscar laughed heartily and took another, slightly smaller necklace from his suitcase. Though it was not as valuable as the one he had given the Empress, it was still worth a great deal.

"Thank you, Brother Oscar!" Princess Louise said happily.