Empire Rising: Spain

Chapter 47: Chapter 46: Royal Council

Carlo experienced the uniquely characteristic Spanish aristocratic banquet of this era.

Luxurious, truly luxurious.

Carlo couldn’t help but sigh.

Although this castle was much smaller than Carlo’s Imperial Palace, the interior decorations were no less lavish, showcasing the opulence and wealth of Spanish nobility since the colonial era.

The banquet’s tableware was made of gold and silver, and the wine served was private collection wine, priced at hundreds of Pessetas.

Because Carlo was Italian, Jacopo intentionally invited some skilled Italian chefs when planning this banquet, specifically to make Italian cuisine for Carlo.

At first, the nobles were quite reserved, but once Carlo displayed a rather approachable attitude, the nobles began to relax.

“Everyone, let’s raise our glasses to our great King, His Majesty Carlos I of the Savoy Family!” When everyone was holding a glass of wine, Jacopo timely stood up, raised his glass, and proposed to everyone.

“To the King!”

Everyone raised their glasses to Carlo, even those with other thoughts dared not refuse to join in such a scene.

Whether they oppose in private is another matter entirely. But if one were not to raise their glass in such a scene, they’d become the outcast of the entire aristocratic class by the next day.

After all, there’s a saying: If you give a gift, your superior might not remember you, but if you don’t, they certainly will remember you unfavorably.

This saying holds the same truth here. Carlo might not remember who raised their glasses, but he would surely remember those who didn’t.

This is also Jacopo’s cleverness. As the host and one of the oldest and highest-status nobles in Spain’s history, he was certainly the most qualified to say such words.

Guiding the nobles to express support and allegiance to Carlo in the right setting is what Jacopo aimed to do at this banquet.

So far, Jacopo was quite satisfied with his actions. The nobles followed the plan and showed a respectful attitude towards Carlo, whose smile never faded.

“Everything is proceeding smoothly,” Jacopo thought silently to himself.

Sipping some wine, Carlo maintained a delightful mood, tasting the carefully crafted dishes introduced by Jacopo.

If most of Europe is a culinary desert, then Spain is certainly a brilliant pearl in that desert.

Not to mention the famous Iberian ham from later generations, just seafood paella, oxtail stew, and charcoal-grilled suckling pig are enough to place Spanish cuisine among the top in European gastronomy lists.

Various dishes were displayed in abundance, even filling two long, massive tables.

However, it’s quite apparent that most of those present weren’t that interested in the food. Although this dinner was lavish and sumptuous, the nobles’ daily meals were no less extravagant.

The main purpose of this banquet was still the social interactions between nobles, with many holding the same idea as Jacopo—that is, to see if they could arrange a marriage alliance with the Royal Family.

In European noble marriages, status mattered greatly, and the King’s wife had to be at least the daughter of a Duke.

As for the daughters of Marquises and Earls, they were generally excluded; their daughters couldn’t possibly become the Queen of Spain.

Carlo underestimated the openness of European nobility in this era.

As soon as the banquet started, several noblewomen invited Carlo to dance. If it were just a simple invitation, that would be fine, but their demeanor and expression clearly suggested that if Carlo wished, they were available for a rendezvous at any time.

Among these women were both unmarried young beauties and sensuous married women.

It was fortunate that Carlo was often accompanied by two beautiful and alluring maids; otherwise, such temptation could have proven overwhelming for him.

Carlo was initially curious if the husband of this sensuous married woman would mind, but then turned to see the Earl engrossed in an enthusiastic conversation with another Marquise, completely indifferent to the situation.

Witnessing such a scene firsthand, Carlo finally comprehended just how open Europeans of this era were and how decadent the lives of the nobility really were.

Without exaggeration, as long as Carlo wished, at least half of the noblewomen present were within reach.

Having enjoyed a luxurious noble lifestyle since childhood, these noblewomen were stunningly beautiful and sensuous, each with their own unique charms.

Carlo finally understood why mistresses became a tacitly acknowledged secret among European nobility, because in such banquets, most people simply couldn’t remain indifferent.

“Your Majesty.” Upon seeing Carlo wave him over, Jacopo quickly abandoned the two beautiful and captivating noblewomen by his side and hurried towards Carlo.

“Duke Jacopo, are your banquets always like this?” Carlo asked with a hint of helplessness.

Jacopo thought that Carlo was worried about whether the husbands of these noblewomen would have opinions, and quickly explained, “Please rest assured, Your Majesty, no one will care or know what happens during the ball.”

After speaking, Jacopo considerately indicated for another group of female companions to come forward and invite Carlo to dance.

In order to please Carlo, Jacopo went to great lengths.

These female companions had various characteristics, definitely able to cater to anyone’s taste. From newly adult girls to noble ladies, there was a wide array.

The first batch was slightly older women, and the second batch of female companions became young maidens.

Carlo shook his head helplessly, knowing he couldn’t keep refusing, so he could only select a few pleasing girls to dance with.

The girls were quite bold while dancing with Carlo.

After all, it seems that no girl can refuse a young, handsome, and sovereign King.

The allure of becoming the Queen is enough to entice many young girls to act, even if there’s no outcome.

Truth be told, although these girls were distinctive, none of them truly amazed Carlo.

Moreover, considering the interests of Carlo and Spain, it was unlikely Carlo would marry a native Spanish noblewoman.

Since he couldn’t give these girls an outcome, Carlo naturally wouldn’t take the initiative to provoke them.

However, if someone really presented themselves, Carlo couldn’t just do nothing, after all, having a lover among the nobility isn’t illegal.

Though this was a large banquet organized by Jacopo, the nobles mingled in small groups rather than fully gathering together.

It was noticeable that the hierarchical gaps among the nobles were quite evident.

Dukes often gathered to chat among themselves, some influential marquises might join them, but earls were rare.

Some marquises chatted with dukes, while others could only chat with earls, showcasing the disparity in status and influence among nobles.

Earls, being the lowest tier at the banquet, mostly had to chat with other earls.

It’s hard for earls to chat with dukes, they have to wait until the dukes’ conversation ends to find a chance to talk to the duke they want to.

Carlo was definitely the most eye-catching among the nobles. A large number of Grand Dukes and Dukes gathered around Carlo, with those below Dukes not even being able to squeeze in.

Carlo, holding a wine glass, listened to the flattering and aligning words from the Dukes, feeling quite pleased.

Of course, Carlo wasn’t complacent over some small flattery. What made Carlo feel good was that the nobles were sensible, choosing to align with the royal power, truly supporting Carlo as King.

The nobility is undoubtedly the most powerful force in Spain, and Carlo is determined to fully harness this power.

Seeing that the conversation had reached a suitable point, Carlo then proposed his initiative, which was to establish a Royal Council, forming an aristocratic union under royal leadership.

The so-called Royal Council consists entirely of nobles, with marquises and above qualified to join.

The Royal Council, comprised entirely of Dukes and Marquises, represents the noble class of Spain. Carlo could influence the entire noble class through the Royal Council, further extending his influence over the government.

Thus, even if Prim retires from politics in the future, Carlo doesn’t need to worry about whether the new Prime Minister will support him.

The strong support from the noble class and the Royal Council ensures Carlo’s influence over the government, preventing him from being completely sidelined.

Besides the Royal Council, Carlo also wanted to establish a Royal Knight Order to cultivate excellent military leadership among the nobility.

As widely known, elite education among Europe’s nobility places significant emphasis on military matters. Spain, with such a vast noble class, naturally has a multitude of noble children.

By establishing a Royal Knight Order, capable individuals among these noble children could be selected to serve, ensuring the next generation’s loyalty to him.

Truly capable noble offspring could quickly enter the military through the Royal Knight Order and be promoted.

Those less capable could also receive the honor of being a Royal Knight, serving as a reward to win over the nobles.

Not all noble offspring are capable. For those with limited abilities, the best approach is to grant them honorary titles like Royal Knight, enhancing noble goodwill without placing a significant burden on the government or the royal family.

After a few glasses of wine, the nobles’ thoughts became less rational. Under Jacopo’s instigation, they quickly agreed to the establishment of the Royal Council, and many expressed willingness to let their sons join the Royal Knight Order.

After all, joining the Royal Knight Order isn’t a bad thing, not only gaining the honorary title of Royal Knight but also making it easier for Carlo to appoint them, thereby gaining his trust and stabilizing the family’s status in Spain.