Don Carlos Prideaux, Lolita Prideaux's fifty-year-old father, is a wealthy California landowner whose status rivals Don Alejandro Vega's. Driven by ambition and pragmatism to secure his family's prosperity, he resorts to unethical and sometimes unlawful methods. These include forging underhanded agreements with the Governor to manipulate financial records for his own gain.

He actively collaborates with smugglers, taking a portion of their illicit loot despite acknowledging the inherent injustice. While not fundamentally evil, his persistent involvement in such activities erodes moral boundaries, binding him to questionable practices.

His core motivation is safeguarding his family's social and economic standing. This concern shapes his support for his daughter Lolita's prospective marriage to Diego de la Vega, viewing it as vital for consolidating powerful familial alliances.

Operating within Spanish California's elite circles, Don Carlos regularly engages with military officials and fellow landowners. His strategic alliances with corrupt authorities position him as an indirect antagonistic force within the narrative, creating obstacles through these corrupt connections rather than personal malice.