The Irony of Fate
While Waldemar continued to build his reputation in Berlin society, the health of Crown Prince Friedrich III continued to decline.
Contrary to Waldemar's expectations, the physician initially assigned to treat the Crown Prince was German.
In February 1887, Dr. Karl Gerhard of Berlin detected an abnormality in the Crown Prince's left vocal cord.
At first, Gerhard believed it to be chronic laryngitis or a benign vocal nodule and performed cauterization and scraping, yet the growth did not disappear.
Waldemar demanded an accurate diagnosis from the Crown Princess based on the physician's findings.
Soon afterward, a larger medical team was assembled to conduct a thorough examination of the Crown Prince's throat.
During this process, Dr. Gerhard expressed his suspicion of cancer.
“My diagnosis is laryngeal cancer.”
“Cancer? My husband could never be like that.”
The Crown Princess rejected the diagnosis, but Waldemar persuaded her.
“Mother, if the doctor's assessment is correct, this is a matter of Father's life.”
The Crown Princess agreed to her son's calm persuasion.
Yet she could not bring herself to trust the words of German physicians whose medical standards she considered inferior.
Germany's medicine behind Britain's? Isn't it the opposite?
Waldemar was taken aback, but he could not change the Crown Princess's opinion.
And then the controversial quack, Morell Mackenzie, arrived.
After examining the Crown Prince's throat, Mackenzie stated:
“Without clear evidence of cancer, one should not perform a risky operation.”
This stood in stark contrast to the German physicians' insistence that immediate resection was necessary to prevent metastasis.
“No, if we delay even a moment, the Highness's life will be in danger!”
“That is your opinion. If you operate on someone who is not cancerous and the Highness dies, who will be responsible?”
Due to Mackenzie's opposition, the surgery was never performed.
Waldemar did not believe Mackenzie's words to be entirely wrong.
The possibility of the Crown Prince dying on the operating table could not be dismissed.
However, he could not simply ignore Mackenzie's misdiagnosis.
Waldemar had tissue samples taken from another part of the tumor and ordered a separate biopsy, paying for the procedure himself.
Even if surgery could not be performed, he wished to do everything in his power for his father.
It was the courtesy he owed to the Crown Prince who had shown him favor.
Waldemar waited calmly for the results of the biopsy sent to the university.
And on May 21, 1887—the very day the biopsy had been taken—Mackenzie delivered an unexpected announcement.
“It is cancer.”
“What?”
Waldemar was equally stunned.
Oh, it could be.
In fact, tissue samples from the throat could yield entirely different results depending on how they were handled.
It was a premature judgment to assume the same outcome would occur when Mackenzie had not even taken the sample under the same conditions as in the original examination.
Upon receiving the British results, the German royal family was struck with shock.
The Crown Prince's cancer meant the loss of a potential successor to the throne.
“The Highness has cancer.”
“Do we have to perform surgery?”
Everyone was at a loss, pacing in confusion.
Even Bismarck, renowned for his bluntness, fell silent.
What if surgery was performed and the Crown Prince died?
Who would be held responsible?
And if surgery was not performed?
Was it not forcing the Crown Prince to sit and die?
Both options were untenable.
While the core figures of the royal family and government hesitated, the Crown Princess wept as she begged the physicians to save her husband.
Even Wilhelm II, who had a strained relationship with his father, asked the doctors if there was any way to personally save him.
“The only method is surgery.”
“Then why not perform it?”
“No one is willing to take responsibility for the consequences.”
As the reality of his father's death drew near, Wilhelm II felt a complex mixture of emotions.
He had clearly despised his father's political course and hated the sight of him yielding helplessly to an English woman.
Yet Friedrich was his father.
Though he had never received love, blood ties could not be denied.
Wilhelm II's complicated feelings were also felt by his siblings.
Heinrich could not conceal his stern expression, and Waldemar maintained a stoic face.
The princesses, too, could not hide their sorrowful countenances, worried about their father's condition.
Even Princess Charlotte, known for her contentious nature, was affected.
Amid everyone's concern, the Crown Prince displayed a strong will.
“Do not worry too much. I will not die easily.”
The Crown Prince had commanded armies in the past, such as during the Boer War, listening to his generals' advice and leading the war with distinction.
He would now listen to the physicians' counsel and make a courageous decision regarding his own treatment.
“Your Highness, what did you just say?”
“I said I will undergo surgery.”
The Crown Prince understood that only he could make this decision.
He would rather take a risk than wait to die.
Even for the sake of his beloved wife and children.
“Your Highness, surgery is extremely dangerous.”
“I have heard that from Dr. Mackenzie. Nevertheless, if I remain here, I will likely die within a year, is it not?”
With the Crown Prince's resolve, the medical team quickly scheduled the operation.
The date was set for June 10.
The Crown Prince devoted the remaining time before surgery to his family.
He willingly spent time even with his eldest son, whom he had rarely interacted with.
Perhaps this would be the last moment he would see his eldest son, Bill.
The Crown Prince had not been close with his eldest son, but he had observed Bill's sincere concern over the past few days with his own eyes and ears.
This emotion had somewhat broken down the emotional wall that had built up between father and son.
Father and son sat together on the bed and conversed for a long time.
As their emotions began to ease, Friedrich spoke to his son with difficulty.
“Billy.”
“Yes, Father.”
“If I die on the operating table, this country will be led by you.”
“Father, such a thing will never happen.”
Wilhelm did not wish to entertain such a possibility.
And he did not want to see his father weak.
“When that time comes, treat your mother and your siblings well.”
“Father!”
“I beg of you.”
Friedrich III knew that his son was currently carried away by complex emotions, but that when he left this world, he would turn cold and ruthless.
That was why he wished to hear a promise from his son.
At the very least, he wanted to hear even a lie that mercy would be shown.
Wilhelm could not bear the pleading look in his father's exhausted eyes.
“I promise. I will not treat them unfairly.”
With Wilhelm's promise, Friedrich III felt relief.
Billy was narrow-minded and held grudges for a long time, but he was not a liar who fabricated stories.
“Thank you.”
Friedrich III was reassured by his son's assurance.
Friedrich III faced each of his children one by one and spoke to them of words he had never been able to say and his regrets.
Every time, everyone could not hold back their tears.
The final turn was Waldemar's.
Waldemar sat quietly beside his father's head.
“Waldi. You were a child who never caused worry from a young age.”
Friedrich III believed that Waldemar was an excellent prince in every aspect—character and talent.
If he had been able to choose his successor not by birth order but by his own preference, he would have gladly chosen Waldemar.
Of course, such a wish was in vain.
“Now that I am gone, no one will be able to protect you. Who will then?”
This fact Waldemar knew better than anyone.
Even if the Crown Prince passed away, Victoria, the Crown Princess, would remain, but she was essentially nothing more than a shadow of her husband.
Without Friedrich, the Crown Princess would be nothing but an ordinary woman.
Waldemar answered firmly to his father's worried gaze.
“Myself.”
At Waldemar's reply, Friedrich III was momentarily surprised, then his expression softened into acceptance.
“Indeed, you have grown so big already. Your wings have grown strong.”
Friedrich III looked at his son, reached out, and gently touched his face.
“I am merely sorry. I will not live to see you married.”
“Father will surely see that day.”
“Yes. I hope to see it with my own eyes.”
Waldemar felt a complex emotion upon witnessing his father's weak side in his final moments.
The next day, the royal family watched the Crown Prince enter the operating room with eyes filled with worry.
The surgery lasted several hours.
And then.
Dr. Mackenzie emerged from the operating room with a heavy expression.
“His Highness has passed away.”
All the royals waiting outside were struck with shock and collapsed into their seats.
At that moment, German history had completely changed.
Friedrich III had died as Crown Prince without ascending the throne.
The empty seat.
Waldemar saw Wilhelm II, who would have taken that seat, mourning among the wailing royals.
Waldemar suppressed the grief of losing his father while considering the variables this change would bring.