Loren Loyalty

Chapter 3: Loren Loyalty

Vittorio Emanuele II was quick to act.

On the same day Carlo received his annual pension of three million lire, Vittorio Emanuele II also presented Carlo with a butler candidate he had carefully selected.

However, the final decision still rested with Carlo. After all, a butler was a nobleman's most trusted subordinate, and Carlo had 100% discretion in his choice.

Using a meeting room in the royal palace, Carlo held a meeting with the subordinate recommended by Vittorio Emanuele II.

Since Carlo was young, the candidate recommended by Vittorio Emanuele II was also young, appearing to be in his early twenties.

However, according to the information provided by Vittorio Emanuele II, this fellow named Loren was not simple.

Firstly, his education was impeccable. Not only was he a graduate of a prestigious university, but he had also studied abroad in England and France for several years.

However, because he had been raised and funded by the royal family since childhood, his loyalty was also guaranteed.

Furthermore, Loren was already managing some of the Italian Royal Family's assets, and his financial and economic capabilities were commendable.

Simply put, Loren was a talent whose knowledge and abilities had already been tested, and whose loyalty was also trustworthy.

Carlo's first impression of Loren was also good.

Coming from a monarchical state, Loren had a favorable view of 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, and I am honored to serve you." Loren nodded respectfully, lowering his posture significantly.

"Very good." Carlo nodded with satisfaction, quite approving of Loren's demeanor and conduct.

After all, if his own butler didn't acknowledge the superior status of nobility, who else would?

"Were you working for my father before?" Carlo inquired.

"Yes, Your Highness," Loren replied respectfully, nodding. "I previously managed plantations in the Philippines and acquired several newspapers in Turin."

Carlo was quite satisfied. Although the plantations Loren managed were primarily for agricultural crops, this management experience could be extended to future rubber plantations.

There was no need to elaborate on how profitable rubber plantations were. With such experience, Carlo could easily become a giant in the rubber industry when planning for the future.

His experience acquiring newspapers added further points for Loren. In Carlo's mind, the power of public opinion, such as that wielded by newspapers, was extremely important.

If a person or a country could control the power of public opinion, they could easily twist the truth, making right seem wrong and wrong seem right.

This was crucial for stabilizing the monarchy in Italy or Spain, and could at least influence the choices of the populace, preventing the premature exit of monarchies from the stage of Italy and Spain.

Both now and in the future, the public had a tendency towards blind conformity.

Regardless of whether a system was good or bad, if enough people said it was bad, then it was bad.

If the power of public opinion was managed well, it would become Carlo's most important weapon after the military in the future, and could achieve unexpected results.

In Carlo's future plans, whether he became the King of Spain or continued as an Italian nobleman, he intended to use his noble status to do practical good deeds for the people.

And the power of public opinion, centered around newspapers, would be Carlo's important tool for propaganda. After all, the purpose of doing good deeds was to let the public know that not all nobles were cruel rulers who oppressed the people, and that monarchy was not entirely flawed.

"Tell me your thoughts on newspapers." Although Carlo was already very satisfied, his assessment of Loren was not yet complete.

If Loren's future development vision aligned somewhat with Carlo's, perhaps their cooperation would be even more perfect.

Upon hearing Carlo's question, Loren did not rush to answer. Instead, he pondered carefully for a moment before speaking, "For the present, newspapers are merely a way for the public to obtain information from the outside world.

But for the future, the role of newspapers is extremely important, and they can even influence the readership.

While the impact of a single newspaper may not be significant, if we can control dozens or even hundreds of newspapers, and publish the same news across these hundreds of papers, then this news will instantly be believed by hundreds of thousands or even millions of people, regardless of its truthfulness.

I believe that, considering the potential and role of newspaper development, you should purchase several newspapers to serve as your own propaganda weapon, thereby influencing the public."

Carlo nodded, greatly agreeing with Loren's words.

Although the development of newspapers had not yet formed a large-scale force of public opinion, the role of such an institution as a newspaper was undeniable.

The fact that Loren could foresee this demonstrated that his strategic development vision was quite excellent.

With such a talent managing Carlo's assets, the probability of Carlo's assets increasing would far outweigh the probability of them decreasing.

"You have successfully impressed me, Loren," Carlo said with a smile at the end of their conversation, nodding to the anxious Loren. "From now on, you are my court butler."

Butlers in Western courts were not like eunuchs in Eastern courts. Butlers not only possessed considerable influence but were also not subject to any discrimination.

Loren also did not mind becoming Carlo's butler. After all, under Vittorio Emanuele II, he was merely a capable individual.

But by serving Carlo, Loren would become Carlo's confidant and an important subordinate; the importance of their positions was completely disproportionate.

Furthermore, Carlo was also the Duke of Savoy in Italy, and becoming the butler of a duke was not a shameful matter.

"Your Highness Duke, as I am an orphan, I only have my given name, Loren, and no surname of my own.

May I request that you bestow upon me a unique surname? Loren is willing to dedicate his life to serving Your Highness." At the end of their conversation, Loren suddenly spoke, requesting Carlo to grant him a surname.

Such an event was not unheard of. If a commoner suddenly gained the trust and favor of a monarch, it was not unusual for them to be granted a surname that would allow them to integrate into the noble class.

Loren's request for a surname was essentially a declaration of his loyalty to Carlo. Once he received a surname from Carlo, he would be completely branded as Carlo's man.

If Loren were to betray Carlo in the future, his reputation among the nobility of Europe would be ruined, and his future would be over.

Carlo naturally understood this. Looking at the resolute Loren, Carlo smiled and said, "Very well, Butler Loren. I think the surname 'Loyalty' sounds good. Loren Loyalty – you are sure to become a legend written in the annals of Italian history."

Loren nodded, accepting the surname with a look of humble obedience.

'Loyalty' in English means loyalty, and the meaning behind Carlo giving him such a name was self-evident. Loren also hoped to express his loyalty in this way, thereby gaining Carlo's trust and favor, and demonstrating his abilities.

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