Empire Rise: Spain-Chapter 3: Loren Roat

Vittorio Emanuele II’s actions were still very quick.
On the day Carlo received the three million lira annuity, Vittorio Emanuele II also brought Carlo the butler candidate he had carefully selected.
However, the decision was still in Carlo’s hands. After all, the butler was a noble’s most trusted subordinate, and Carlo had 100% choice rights.
Borrowing a conference room in the Royal Palace, Carlo held a meeting with the subordinate recommended by Vittorio Emanuele II.
Because Carlo was not very old, the talent recommended by Vittorio Emanuele II was also not very old, appearing to be in his early twenties.
However, according to the information provided by Vittorio Emanuele II, this guy named Loren was not simple at all.
First of all, his education level: not only did he graduate from a proper prestigious university, but he also studied in Britain and France for several years.
However, because he had been cultivated and funded by the Italian Royal Family from childhood to adulthood, his loyalty was also guaranteed.
Moreover, Loren himself was managing a portion of property for the Italian Royal Family, and his ability in finance and economy was affirmed.
Simply put, Loren was a talent who had been tested in terms of knowledge and ability, and his loyalty was also affirmed.
Carlo’s first impression of Loren was also good.
Born in a Monarchy Country, Loren had a favorable view of the monarchy. Especially since everything he had came from the funding of the Italian Royal Family, his loyalty to the entire Italian Royal Family was beyond doubt.
“Loren?” Carlo spoke first.
“Yes, Your Highness. I am Loren, it is an honor to serve you.” Loren nodded very respectfully, keeping his posture very low.
“Very good.” Carlo nodded satisfiedly, quite recognizing Loren’s behavior and manners.
After all, if even his own butler did not recognize the superior status of the nobility, who else would?
“Were you working for my father before?” Carlo asked.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Loren nodded and answered very respectfully: “Previously, I managed the plantations in the Philippine Region and also acquired several newspapers in the Turin region.”
Carlo was quite satisfied. Although the plantations managed by Loren were all crop plantations, this management experience could also be carried over to future rubber plantations.
How profitable rubber plantations were went without saying; with such experience, during future layout, it could easily make Carlo a giant in the rubber industry.
And the experience of acquiring newspapers added even more points for Loren. Because in Carlo’s heart, the power of public opinion from newspapers was very important.
If a person or a country could master the power of public opinion, they could easily reverse black and white, calling right wrong and wrong right.
This was very important for stabilizing the monarchy in Italy or Spain; at least it could influence the choices of the public, preventing the monarchy from exiting the stage of Italy and Spain too early.
Whether now or in posterity, the public had a blind herd mentality.
No matter if a system was good or bad, as long as enough people said it was bad, then it was bad.
If the power of public opinion was mastered well, it would become an important weapon for Carlo in the future second only to the army, and could play an unexpected role.
In Carlo’s future plans, whether becoming the king of Spain or continuing as a noble of Italy, he had to use the identity of a noble to actually do some good things for the public.
And the power of public opinion centered on newspapers would be an important weapon for Carlo’s propaganda. After all, the purpose of doing good things was to let the public know that nobles were not all cruel rulers who oppressed the public, and the monarchy was not all flaws.
“Tell me your views on newspapers.” Although Carlo was already very satisfied, his examination of Loren had not completely ended.
If Loren could align somewhat with Carlo in terms of future development, perhaps their cooperation would be even more perfect.
Hearing Carlo’s question, Loren did not rush to answer, but thought carefully for a moment before speaking: “For the present, newspapers are just a way for the public to obtain external information.
But for the future, the role of newspapers is quite important, even able to influence the people who read the newspapers.
Although the role of a single newspaper is not great, if we could control dozens or even hundreds of newspapers, and publish a certain news on these hundreds of newspapers at the same time, then that news would instantly be believed by hundreds of thousands or even millions of the public, regardless of its truth.
I believe that, given the potential and role of newspaper development, Your Highness has reason to purchase several newspapers as your own public opinion weapon, thereby exerting influence on the public.”
Carlo nodded, quite recognizing Loren’s words.
Although the development of newspapers had not yet formed a large-scale power of public opinion, the role of newspapers as public opinion institutions was beyond doubt.
That Loren could see this point first proved that his strategic development vision was quite good.
With such a talent as the manager of Carlo’s property, at least the probability of Carlo’s property growth would far exceed the probability of decrease.
“You have successfully convinced me, Loren.” At the end of the conversation, Carlo smiled and nodded, saying to the anxious-faced Loren: “From now on, you are my court steward.”
The butler in Western courts was not like the eunuchs in Eastern courts; the butler not only had considerable right to speak but also would not suffer any discrimination.
Loren did not reject becoming Carlo’s butler; after all, under Vittorio Emanuele II, he was just a talent with decent ability.
But if loyal to Carlo, Loren would become Carlo’s confidant and important subordinate; the importance of the two was completely disproportionate.
Moreover, Carlo was also the Duke of Italy; becoming the duke’s butler was not shameful at all.
“Your Highness the Duke, because I have been an orphan since childhood, I only have my name Loren and no family name of my own.
May I request that you grant me a unique surname? Loren is willing to serve Your Highness the Duke with his lifelong energy.” At the end of the chat, Loren suddenly spoke and requested Carlo to grant him a surname.
Such things were not unheard of; if a commoner suddenly gained the monarch’s trust and heavy use, granting him a surname to integrate into the aristocracy was not strange.
Loren requesting a surname was actually showing his attitude of loyalty to Carlo. After obtaining the surname given by Carlo, Loren would be completely labeled with Carlo’s mark.
If Loren betrayed Carlo in the future, his reputation among the entire European nobility would be ruined, and his future would naturally be gone.
Carlo naturally understood this, looked at the determined-faced Loren, smiled, and said: “Alright then, Butler Loren. I think the surname Royate is good—Loren Royate, it will surely become a legend in Italian history worth writing about.”
Loren nodded, accepting the surname with a face full of deference.
Royate means loyalty in English. The meaning of Carlo giving him such a name was self-evident, and Loren also hoped to express his loyalty in this way, thereby gaining Carlo’s trust and heavy use to showcase his ability.
New book sets sail, seeking recommendation tickets, seeking collections, seeking follow reads, seeking investments!