Chapter 0106: Coming-of-Age Ceremony

"Oscar, tomorrow you will reach adulthood and become a man. It is time for you to consider the important matter of marriage. At your coming-of-age celebration tomorrow, many noble young ladies will be present, and I hope you will choose one to be your life partner," Queen Victoria said to Qin Tian. She had summoned him to the palace the day before his twentieth birthday to emphasize this matter.

With Crown Prince William now incapacitated and Qin Tian, albeit the deputy heir, increasingly shining in his own right, Queen Victoria had no choice but to accept this reality. After all, Qin Tian was also her son, even if he had previously been overlooked. Moreover, his current accomplishments far surpassed those of the former Crown Prince.

"Yes, Mother!" Qin Tian nodded in acknowledgment.

As a member of the royal family, particularly the heir apparent, Qin Tian understood that the decision regarding his marriage would not rest solely in his hands. His bride would have to be the daughter of a prominent German noble or a princess from another country. The prospect of a commoner becoming his wife, let alone the future queen of Germany, was simply unattainable.

Naturally, Qin Tian had never harbored illusions of a passionate romance. At this point in his life, he lacked the time and experience for such pursuits. Having been a quintessential recluse in his previous life, he had no experience in dating. He merely hoped to find a girl who was not only beautiful but also kind-hearted to be his wife—that would suffice.

Queen Victoria nodded in satisfaction. "Oscar, you are the most outstanding prince in the royal family and my finest son. I hope this time you will find a girl who captures your heart."

Qin Tian nodded again, saying little else. Although he shared her hopes, he was acutely aware of the chaotic nature of European nobility. These aristocrats often displayed a façade of virtue while concealing a world rife with vice. Whether he would find a suitable wife was entirely subject to fate.

The following day, July 2, 1908, marked Qin Tian's twentieth birthday—a momentous occasion for the German Empire. Kaiser Wilhelm II would host a grand coming-of-age ceremony in the palace, and the prominent nobles of Germany hoped their daughters would be favored by Qin Tian, potentially becoming the future crown princess and queen of Germany. Such a union would bestow immense prestige and benefits upon their families.

Qin Tian was already a well-known figure in Germany, not only because he was the heir apparent but also due to his remarkable achievements in the business realm. The German Industrial Group had emerged as one of Germany's major enterprises, achieving financial success that left others astounded. Consequently, Qin Tian was often heralded as the youngest millionaire in Germany.

Countless noble women aspired to marry Qin Tian; if he were to select a bride, the list of applicants would likely stretch from Berlin to Potsdam.

Numerous foreign diplomats were also invited to the celebration, especially allies of the German Empire who sought to further solidify their close relations with Germany. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary even sent special envoys to persuade Kaiser Wilhelm II to arrange a marriage alliance between the Habsburg princess and the heir of the Hohenzollern family, thereby strengthening the alliance between their two empires.

However, Kaiser Wilhelm II did not intend to interfere with Qin Tian's choices regarding this matter, opting instead to grant him the power to decide. In Wilhelm II's words, the German Empire had grown powerful enough that it need not sacrifice the happiness of its heir for the sake of its allies.

Not being pressured by either Wilhelm II or Queen Victoria made Qin Tian very content. Although he could not determine the identity of his future wife, he could certainly choose a partner he found satisfactory—he wished to select a spouse based on his own desires, rather than as a political pawn.

The coming-of-age ceremony involved elaborate rituals, presided over by the Archbishop of the German Catholic Diocese, which imbued the event with a sense of solemnity.

With great patience, Qin Tian endured until the conclusion of the ceremony, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed elites of the German Empire, thank you for attending the coming-of-age celebration of Crown Prince Oscar," Kaiser Wilhelm II announced as the ceremony concluded.

Though Wilhelm II still favored Crown Prince William in his heart, he had to acknowledge that with William unable to fulfill his duties, Qin Tian was undoubtedly the best choice for the crown prince. Moreover, Qin Tian's performance in this role had consistently outshone that of William. Wilhelm II often contemplated that perhaps allowing Qin Tian to ascend to the throne would be the wisest choice.

"The German Empire has become one of the most powerful empires in the world and continues to grow even stronger. I thank God for bestowing upon us Crown Prince Oscar, granting us the finest heir imaginable. May God bless Crown Prince Oscar and the German Empire!" Wilhelm II proclaimed.

"May God bless Crown Prince Oscar and the German Empire!" the crowd echoed fervently.

However, not everyone present at the ceremony genuinely wished Qin Tian well. Adversarial nations such as England, France, and Russia harbored hopes that the German Empire would not continue to strengthen. A powerful German Empire posed a significant threat to their interests. They would have rejoiced if the heir to the German throne were a foolish and incapable individual. Unfortunately, with the once-ambitious but now incapacitated Crown Prince William, the current heir was proving to be far more formidable.

In addition to these adversaries, Qin Tian's half-brothers were likewise consumed by jealousy and resentment. According to the rules of succession, they should have inherited the title of crown prince in the event that William could not perform his duties. It was an affront that Qin Tian had taken their rightful place. Wilhelm II had blatantly disregarded the laws of succession, stripping them of their rightful claim, which naturally fueled their animosity. They knew their coming-of-age ceremonies paled in comparison to this grand celebration, intensifying their jealousy even further.