Empire Rise: Spain-Chapter 17: Father-son Conversation

Carlo eventually met Primó.
This leader of the Spanish revolutionary army, who came from an officer family and had experienced many wars, now appeared as a gentleman, very friendly and approachable.
At the welcome banquet held by Father Vittorio Emanuele II for Primó, Carlo not only met Primó but also had a very brief but pleasant conversation with him.
“Prince Carlo, is the Italian Sun Newspaper your industry?” Primó asked Carlo with a very interested expression the first time he met him.
“Yes, Marquis Primó.” Carlo nodded, not surprised by Primó’s question.
The content published in the Italian Sun Newspaper and Sun Newspaper was an important means for Carlo to manufacture more advantages for himself.
If he couldn’t attract Primó’s attention, Carlo would find that strange.
“I’ve read the content ed in the Sun Newspaper. The newspaper office’s chief editor definitely has great ideas. I heard that you have also reached cooperation with General Garibaldi?” Primó asked with a smile on his face, looking very curious.
“Yes, Marquis Primó. General Garibaldi is an important meritorious official of Italian unification. It is our honor for the Sun Newspaper to reach cooperation with him.” Carlo also smiled and nodded. Basic etiquette was still necessary.
Garibaldi was the first question Primó used to test Carlo. After all, Garibaldi had once sided with republicanism. If Carlo supported monarchy, he definitely wouldn’t have much fondness for such a republican.
The conversation ended just like that, so briefly that Carlo found it a bit unexpected.
If he weren’t certain that his answer had no issues, Carlo might even suspect that there was a flaw in his response, causing Primó to decide to abandon support for him.
As for Primó, after having brief contact with Italy’s two princes, he decided to take his next step, which was to personally investigate and understand the two princes.
Whether Amadeo or Carlo, both had lived in Italy for more than a dozen or even twenty years.
It was possible to investigate the two princes’ experiences from childhood to adulthood and their attitudes toward certain matters, especially their attitudes toward Garibaldi and their thoughts on reform.
What Primó was most concerned about was actually the two princes’ desire for power and their supportive attitude toward reform.
To be honest, Primó did not want a king who would engage in power struggles. Military and political power was a necessary condition for Primó to implement reform; he would not allow a new king to start competing with him for military and political power right after taking office.
Reform naturally went without saying. If the new king did not support reform, Primó would not support the new king.
This concerned whether Spain could achieve revival at future time nodes. Primó would not have any emotional factors beyond rationality in choosing the King of Spain.
Even if he had more fondness for Carlo, it was absolutely impossible for him to decide on the candidate for King of Spain before finishing the examination of the two princes.
Watching Primó converse successively with his two sons but hardly saying a few words to his crown prince Umberto, Vittorio Emanuele II instantly understood Primó’s true intention.
It turned out that Primó had come to Spain not to examine a certain prince, but to examine his two sons and select one from them to become King of Spain.
Theoretically speaking, this was a good thing for the House of Savoy, which was only entrenched in Italy.
If the House of Savoy dynasty could be established in Spain, the status of the House of Savoy in the European royal family would also see further improvement, which would be a good thing for Vittorio Emanuele II himself.
But as a father, Vittorio Emanuele II did not really want to see any of his children go to Spain.
Spain now was too chaotic; without ability, it wouldn’t be that easy to stabilize.
More importantly, although Spain was separated from Italy only by the Mediterranean Sea, in the current extremely inconvenient transportation conditions, it was like an impassable barrier.
The distance from Madrid to Rome was just over 1000 kilometers, but a round trip would take at least a week.
Whether going from Rome to Madrid or from Madrid to Rome, a single journey would take at least half a month.
For Vittorio Emanuele II and whichever child was about to become King of Spain, it might not even be possible to find several half-month periods of free time in a year.
Vittorio Emanuele II, finally understanding all this, decided to have a chat with his two children.
The first one Vittorio Emanuele II found was his youngest son, Carlo, who had just graduated from the Turin Military Academy and happily obtained the rank of captain in the Royal Army.
Carlo had long anticipated Vittorio Emanuele II’s arrival and appeared very calm.
Looking at his son who was gradually growing up, Vittorio Emanuele II seemed to see his former ambitious self.
“Carlo, you have been prepared for a long time, haven’t you?” Vittorio Emanuele II didn’t know how to start for a moment and said this after a moment of silence.
“When I founded the Sun Newspaper, I thought of using it as a form of propaganda and waited for opportunities like Spain.
I am not content to be just a duke of the kingdom, but as you know, I can’t become King of Italy, can I?” Carlo didn’t know how to explain and could only try to express his ambitions in a tactful way.
Vittorio Emanuele II nodded. Although Carlo was currently the third in line to inherit the Italian throne, that was only because Crown Prince Umberto and Prince Amadeo’s children had not yet been born.
Once their children were born, Carlo’s place in the line of succession would drop further. This also meant that third in line might be the closest Carlo ever got to the Italian throne; it was basically impossible for Carlo to become King of Italy.
Vittorio Emanuele II naturally understood this too. In fact, he did not oppose Carlo or Amadeo becoming King of Spain.
It was just that Vittorio Emanuele II was getting old after all, and as an old king, he inevitably felt reluctant about his son possibly going to a distant place.
But reluctance was reluctance; Vittorio Emanuele II also knew he shouldn’t stand up and oppose his son.
“I understand, Carlo.” After a long silence, Vittorio Emanuele II finally nodded, looked at his son who was now taller than him, touched Carlo’s head, and said with a hint of reluctance: “I won’t interfere in your competition with Amadeo. No matter who of you becomes King of Spain, I will express support.
Even if after you become King of Spain, you find that being a qualified king is not easy and want to abandon it, Italy will always welcome you back.
Child, I am your father; I will never oppose you. I also hope you understand that no matter whether you are King of Spain or a duke of Italy, you, I, Umberto, and Amadeo—our blood relationship will never change. The glory of Savoy will forever accompany us!”
Second update, seeking support!