The silence that formed after Luis's question lasted a few seconds.
Everyone at the table was looking at Augusto.
The patriarch rested his elbows lightly on the table, intertwined his fingers, and observed his son carefully.
His eyes seemed to be measuring something.
Finally, he spoke.
"May I ask why you're interested in that now?"
Luis blinked.
Augusto continued, with a faint curious smile.
"That question appeared… out of nowhere."
The room remained silent.
Luis thought quickly before answering.
"Actually… it didn't appear just now."
He rested his arms on the table.
"I've been thinking about it for some time."
Helena slightly raised her eyebrows.
Luis continued:
"I just never asked."
He took a deep breath before finishing.
"But I'm already eighteen."
Augusto tilted his head slightly.
"And?"
Luis replied firmly:
"It's time for me to start taking part in the affairs of the estate."
The sentence made several people at the table exchange glances.
Luis went on.
"I want to take on responsibilities."
Now everyone was looking directly at him.
Helena was the first to react.
She frowned slightly.
There was clear hesitation on her face.
"Luis, I don't know if—"
But Augusto gently raised his hand, interrupting her before she could finish.
Helena turned to her husband, surprised.
Augusto, on the other hand, was looking at his son with something new in his eyes.
Pride.
"I think that's an excellent idea."
Helena blinked.
Luis also seemed a little surprised.
Augusto continued:
"In fact, I've been waiting for this moment."
He smiled faintly.
"A man must learn to carry the weight of his own household."
Luis felt something warm in his chest.
Augusto inclined his head in approval.
"I'm glad to hear that from you."
On the other side of the table, Teresa was practically glowing with enthusiasm.
She looked at Luis with a wide smile, clearly proud.
Helena, on the other hand, still seemed conflicted.
But she decided to remain silent for now.
Augusto then leaned back in his chair.
"As for your question…"
He crossed his arms.
"The main reason we are still here… in this country… with our lands…"
Augusto paused slightly.
"…is your grandfather."
Luis frowned.
"My grandfather?"
Augusto nodded.
"Your mother's father."
Luis blinked slowly.
"But… I never met him."
Augusto let out a small sigh.
"Yes."
He glanced briefly at Helena.
She immediately looked down at the plate in front of her.
Augusto continued:
"There's a story there that you never knew."
Luis leaned slightly forward.
"What story?"
Augusto answered directly.
"My marriage to your mother was arranged."
The information fell onto the table like a stone.
Luis looked at Helena.
Her face was rigid.
She clearly did not like revisiting that subject.
Augusto continued calmly.
"Your mother was furious when she found out."
Helena let out a small grumble.
"Furious is putting it mildly."
Miguel and Maria exchanged discreet glances.
Augusto smiled faintly.
"She was deeply disappointed in her father."
He continued.
"After the wedding… she avoided contact with him for years."
Helena was now staring at the cake on the table.
With a fork.
And she seemed to be attacking that cake with exaggerated concentration.
Augusto kept speaking in a calm tone.
"Fortunately…"
He looked at Helena.
"Our marriage ended up being very good."
Helena didn't answer.
But the corner of her mouth moved almost imperceptibly.
Augusto looked back at Luis.
"In time, your mother came to truly love me."
Helena finally murmured:
"It took a while…"
Several people at the table chuckled softly.
Augusto smiled as well.
But soon returned to a serious tone.
"The problem is that her father always knew he had destroyed his relationship with his own daughter."
He paused briefly.
"And he always wanted to fix that."
Luis listened attentively.
Augusto continued.
"At the time of our marriage, he was only a small bank owner."
Luis raised an eyebrow.
Augusto explained:
"But after Helena married me, he began using that family connection to open doors."
Miguel nodded discreetly.
Augusto continued.
"Having connections with a family linked to the imperial house opened many doors in those days."
He rested his hand on the table.
"Businessmen."
"Nobles."
"Merchants."
"Investors."
Augusto shook his head.
"In fifteen years… he became very rich."
Luis's eyes widened slightly.
Augusto went on.
"And during those years… he made many friends."
Now his expression became more serious.
"Influential friends."
Luis was already beginning to understand where this was going.
Augusto continued.
"When the empire fell…"
He paused briefly before mentioning the event everyone knew.
The Proclamation of the Republic of Brazil completely changed the country.
Augusto continued.
"Many members of the old imperial elite lost their positions."
"Some were pressured to leave."
"Others had their properties confiscated."
He looked directly at Luis.
"But your grandfather saw it as an opportunity."
Luis frowned.
"An opportunity?"
Augusto nodded.
"An opportunity to help his daughter."
Helena stopped stabbing the cake with her fork for a moment.
Augusto continued.
"He used his fortune."
"He used his contacts."
"And… he used bribes."
The word hung heavily in the air.
Augusto did not try to soften it.
"He bribed several important people."
Miguel crossed his arms.
"Military officers."
"Administrators."
"Officials of the new government."
Augusto concluded.
"All to ensure that our family would be left in peace."
Luis blinked slowly.
So…
The estate.
The family's position.
Their security.
All of that existed because of a man he had never met.
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Helena returned to attacking the cake with her fork.
Visibly grumpy.
Luis watched his mother for a moment.
Then he looked back at his father.
His curiosity had only grown.
"Father…"
Augusto raised his eyebrows.
"Yes?"
Luis tilted his head slightly.
"What is the name of this grandfather of mine?"
Now it was Augusto who paused briefly before answering.