The Crown Prince's Difficulties

"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 briefly. Usually, the Empress presided over it. Oscar's relationship with the Empress and his other brothers was not harmonious. More often than not, his withdrawn personality made him the target of their mockery and bullying.

"Very well, Your Highness. But I heard from my father that the Crown Prince is very displeased with you. Especially now that our company is making a lot of money. He's repeatedly asked His Majesty to nationalize the company." Karl said quietly.

Oscar's expression darkened instantly. He had long known that Crown Prince Wilhelm was jealous and narrow-minded. But he hadn't expected to draw his attention so soon after just starting to make a name for himself.

"Your Highness, His Majesty hasn't listened to the Crown Prince's slander. Still, you should be careful. At tonight's banquet, the Crown Prince will surely try to cause trouble." Karl said with some concern.

"Don't worry. He may be the Crown Prince, but as long as he isn't the Emperor of the German Empire, we don't have to fear him." Oscar said sternly.

Though Crown Prince Wilhelm held a high status above the other princes, his actual power was limited. At every Imperial Council, he only had the right to attend. Even if he made proposals, they weren't necessarily adopted. Besides, while the German Emperor had considerable authority, it was far from that of an Eastern Chinese monarch. As long as Oscar didn't give him any leverage, even if he became Emperor, he couldn't do much. At worst, Oscar could just pack up and leave Germany. With money, he could live comfortably anywhere.

Karl nodded and left.

Oscar picked up his briefcase and headed straight for the palace gardens. He knew the royal family always gathered there. When he arrived, he found the Empress, Crown Prince Wilhelm, Prince Eitel Friedrich, Prince Albert, Prince August Wilhelm, Prince Joachim, and Princess Victoria Louise already there.

"Forgive me, Mother Empress, and all my brothers and sisters. I'm late." Oscar immediately apologized.

"Who doesn't know that Oskar is now a big shot famous throughout the German Empire? Arriving a bit late is only to be expected." A sarcastic voice rang out.

Oscar didn't need to think—just hearing the voice told him it was Crown Prince Wilhelm.

The other princes watched with smirks. Only Prince Joachim and Princess Louise, being young, looked confused.

"The Crown Prince jokes. Unlike you, who will inherit the entire empire one day, I have to find my own way early. Otherwise, if you take the throne and decide to kick me out of the palace because you don't like the look of me, I wouldn't know how to survive." Oscar said coldly.

As the saying goes, money gives a man backbone. Now that Oscar had a massive fortune backing him, he had no reason to fear Crown Prince Wilhelm. Compared to him, the Crown Prince was just luckier—born a little earlier than the rest. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the right to be so arrogant.

Crown Prince Wilhelm flushed with anger and shame. Knowing his character, everything Oscar said was exactly what he would do.

The other princes' expressions also turned awkward. Though they envied Oscar, thinking about the Crown Prince's nature, they knew their own lives would be miserable once he inherited the throne.

"Nonsense! How could I ever do something like that? You're slandering me!" Crown Prince Wilhelm roared.

"Enough. You're all brothers. What's this bickering supposed to be?" The Empress said disapprovingly.

Crown Prince Wilhelm and Oscar immediately backed down.

"Oskar, since you're here, take your seat. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and His Majesty is holding a banquet at the palace. We should gather as a family first." The Empress said. Though she favored Crown Prince Wilhelm a bit, they were all her children, and she tried to treat them fairly.

Oscar nodded and returned to his seat. But the look Crown Prince Wilhelm shot him was clearly full of hatred.

Oscar didn't care.

Servants kept bringing fine pastries and wine, and the family began to chat. With everyone making an effort, the atmosphere was fairly harmonious.

But Oscar felt like an outsider, out of place. He sat alone, drinking and eating. The evening banquet was mainly for socializing; trying to fill your stomach there was impossible.

Oscar didn't want trouble, but that didn't mean trouble wouldn't come to him. Sure enough, Crown Prince Wilhelm targeted him again.

"Oskar, Christmas is here. What gift did you prepare for Mother Empress? The rest of us already gave ours." Crown Prince Wilhelm said, raising his glass.

All eyes turned to Oscar.

Oscar glanced at the Crown Prince, stood up, and said to the Empress, "Mother Empress, how could I forget to prepare a gift for you? This is a necklace I carefully chose for you. I hope you like it."

From his briefcase, Oscar pulled out a dazzling necklace. It was made of 108 diamonds, worth a fortune. He had spent a full five hundred thousand Mark on it.

Women really did love such things. When Oscar brought out the diamond necklace, the Empress and Princess Louise's eyes locked onto it and couldn't look away.

"Oskar, you're such a good child." The Empress beamed. She had previously looked down on Oscar, but now there was a hint of affection in her eyes. A single exquisite diamond necklace had completely changed her view of him.

"Mother Empress, it's my duty."

"Oskar, big brother, what about me? You only have a gift for Mother Empress?" Princess Louise pouted.

"Haha, how could I forget our lovely little Princess Louise? Big brother picked out a necklace just for you." Oscar laughed, pulling a slightly smaller necklace from his briefcase. Though not as valuable as the one for the Empress, it was still costly.

"Thank you, Oskar, big brother!" Princess Louise beamed with joy.