Father and Son Conversation

Carlo finally met Primo.

The leader of the Spanish Revolution, born into a military family and seasoned by many wars, looked every inch the gentleman at this moment—friendly and affable.

At the welcome banquet Carlo's father, Vittorio Emanuele II, held for Primo, Carlo not only met Primo but also had a brief yet pleasant conversation with him.

"Prince Carlo, does the Italy Sun belong to you?" Primo asked Carlo with great interest the moment they met.

"Yes, Marquis Primo." Carlo nodded, unsurprised by Primo's question.

The Italy Sun and the content published in the Sun Newspaper were important tools Carlo had created to give himself greater advantages.

If they had failed to draw Primo's attention, that would have been strange.

"I've read the Sun Newspaper's reports. The editor-in-chief of that paper must be someone with plenty of ideas. I heard you have also reached a partnership with General Garibaldi?" Primo asked with a smile, looking curious.

"Yes, Marquis Primo. General Garibaldi is an important contributor to Italian Unification. It is our honor that the Sun Newspaper can cooperate with him." Carlo nodded with a smile as well. Basic etiquette still had to be observed.

Garibaldi was the first question Primo used to test Carlo. After all, Garibaldi had once sided with the republicans. If Carlo supported absolute monarchy, he certainly would not have much goodwill toward such a republican.

The conversation ended just like that, so briefly that even Carlo found it somewhat unexpected.

If he had not been certain that there was nothing wrong with his answer, Carlo might even have suspected that some flaw in his response had made Primo decide to abandon his support for him.

On Primo's side, after briefly making contact with the two princes of Italy, he decided on his next move: personally investigating and learning about both princes.

Whether Amadeo or Carlo, both had lived in Italy for more than a decade, perhaps even twenty years.

Their experiences from childhood to adulthood, as well as their attitudes toward certain matters, could still be investigated—especially their stance on Garibaldi and their thoughts on reform.

What Primo cared about most was the two princes' desire for power and their attitude toward supporting reform.

To be honest, Primo did not want to welcome a king who would scramble for power and profit. Control over military and political affairs was a necessary condition for Primo to carry out reforms; he would never allow a new king to begin fighting him for that authority the moment he took the throne.

There was naturally no need to say more about reform. If the new king did not support reform, Primo would not support him.

Whether Spain could achieve revival in the years to come was at stake. Primo would not allow any emotions beyond reason to influence his choice of the King of Spain.

Even if he had a more favorable impression of Carlo, he would absolutely not decide who would become King of Spain before completing his examination of both princes.

Watching Primo speak with each of his two sons in turn, yet barely exchange a few words with Crown Prince Umberto, Vittorio Emanuele II instantly understood Primo's true intention.

So Primo had not come to Italy to assess one particular prince, but to assess both of his sons and choose one of them to become King of Spain.

In theory, this was a good thing for the House of Savoy, which held sway only in Italy.

If they could establish the House of Savoy in Spain, the House of Savoy's standing among Europe's royal families would rise further, and it would also be a good thing for Vittorio Emanuele II himself.

But as a father, Vittorio Emanuele II did not particularly want to see any of his children go to Spain.

Spain was far too chaotic now. Without sufficient ability, stabilizing it would not be easy.

More importantly, although Spain and Italy were separated only by the Mediterranean Sea, under the current woefully inconvenient transport conditions, it was as though they were divided by an insurmountable gulf.

Madrid and Rome were separated by only a little over a thousand kilometers, yet a round trip took at least a week.

Whether traveling from Rome to Madrid or from Madrid to Rome, a single journey required at least half a month.

For Vittorio Emanuele II and whichever child would become King of Spain, they might not even be able to spare several half-months of free time in an entire year.

Having finally understood everything, Vittorio Emanuele II decided to have a talk with his two sons.

The first person Vittorio Emanuele II sought out was his youngest son, Carlo, who had just graduated from the Turin Military Academy and happily received the rank of captain in Italy's Royal Army.

Carlo had long expected Vittorio Emanuele II's arrival, and he appeared quite calm.

Looking at his son, who was gradually growing into a man, Vittorio Emanuele II seemed to see his former self, filled with lofty ambitions.

"Carlo, you had prepared for this long ago, hadn't you?" Vittorio Emanuele II did not know how to begin. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"When I founded the Sun Newspaper, I considered using it as a means of publicity and waiting for an opportunity like Spain.

I am unwilling to remain merely a Duke of Italy, but you know that I cannot possibly become King of Italy either, don't you?" Carlo did not know how to explain himself, so he could only try to express his ambitions in a tactful manner.

Vittorio Emanuele II nodded. Although Carlo was still third in the line of succession to Italy's throne, that was only because Crown Prince Umberto and Prince Amadeo had not yet had descendants.

Once their descendants were born, Carlo's place in the succession would fall even further. This also meant that third in line might be the closest Carlo would ever come to Italy's throne; for Carlo to become King of Italy was basically impossible.

Vittorio Emanuele II naturally understood this as well. In truth, he did not oppose Carlo and Amadeo becoming King of Spain.

It was simply that Vittorio Emanuele II was already old. Faced with the possibility of his son going to some distant land, the old king could not help but feel reluctant to part with him.

But reluctance was one thing; Vittorio Emanuele II also understood that he should not step forward and oppose his son.

"I understand, Carlo." After a long silence, Vittorio Emanuele II finally nodded. Looking at his son, who had already grown taller than him, he reached out and stroked Carlo's head. Then, with a trace of reluctance, he said, "I will not interfere in the competition between you and Amadeo. No matter which of you becomes King of Spain, I will offer my support.

"Even if, after becoming King of Spain, you find that being a qualified king is not so easy and wish to give up, Italy will always welcome you back.

"My child, I am your father. I can never oppose you. I also hope you understand that whether you are King of Spain or a Duke of Italy, the blood ties between me and you, Umberto, and Amadeo will never change. The glory of Savoy will always be with us!"

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