Luis's question still hung in the air.
Augusto did not answer immediately.
Instead, he turned his face slightly toward Helena.
It was a subtle gesture, almost silent, but everyone at the table noticed it.
He was asking for permission.
Helena still held her fork, slowly moving the cake on her plate. For a few seconds, she said nothing. Then she sighed, lifted her eyes, and met her husband's gaze.
After a brief moment of silence, she nodded.
A small gesture.
But enough.
Augusto turned back to his son.
"The name of your grandfather is Eduardo Vasconcelos de Albuquerque."
Luis repeated the name silently in his mind.
Augusto rested his arms on the table before continuing.
"Your grandfather was born in 1830."
He paused briefly.
"So today he is sixty years old."
Luis listened attentively.
Augusto continued.
"His family was Portuguese."
"Merchants."
"They arrived in Brazil in the early nineteenth century."
He shook his head slightly.
"But they were not wealthy."
Luis raised an eyebrow.
Augusto explained.
"His father was merely an import merchant at the port of Rio."
Miguel nodded discreetly, confirming the story.
Augusto then continued.
"Eduardo, however, had three very rare qualities."
He raised three fingers.
"Financial intelligence."
"Strategic coldness."
"And almost infinite patience."
Luis rested his chin on his hand, interested.
Augusto went on.
"He began working with simple things."
"Letters of credit."
"Commercial loans."
"Ship financing."
Miguel added with a slight nod.
"Discrete businesses… but very profitable."
Augusto continued.
"Over time, he created a small bank."
Luis leaned slightly forward.
Augusto declared:
"The Banco Comercial Vasconcelos & Albuquerque."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Founded in 1865."
Maria seemed impressed, even though she already knew the story.
Augusto continued explaining.
"In the beginning, the bank mainly financed three sectors."
He counted on his fingers again.
"Coffee exporters."
"Port merchants."
"Maritime transport."
Luis was already beginning to understand.
Augusto then glanced briefly at Helena.
"But the great leap came after our marriage."
Helena sighed quietly.
Augusto continued.
"When Helena married me, your grandfather gained access to circles that had previously been closed to him."
Luis completed the thought in his mind.
"The elite…"
Augusto nodded.
"Large landowners."
"Aristocrats connected to the imperial family."
"Politicians close to the court."
Miguel crossed his arms with a small smile.
Augusto continued.
"Your grandfather was a very observant man."
"And he knew how to recognize opportunities."
He went on.
"So he began financing larger ventures."
He raised his fingers again.
"Coffee production."
"The purchase of large estates."
"Railway expansion."
Luis was genuinely impressed.
Railroad expansion in that era was transforming the country.
Augusto continued.
"His bank grew quickly."
"Very quickly."
He placed his hands on the table.
"In the 1880s…"
Augusto concluded.
"Eduardo had already become one of the main private financiers in the Rio de Janeiro region."
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Luis absorbed every detail.
Miguel seemed satisfied.
Maria watched with a certain pride.
Teresa looked between Luis and Augusto, fascinated by the story.
Helena, on the other hand, maintained a neutral expression.
Clearly the story still brought mixed feelings for her.
Augusto realized everyone had heard enough.
He then tapped his fingers lightly on the table, naturally changing the subject.
"Well."
He looked directly at Luis.
"Since you said you want to take on responsibilities…"
Luis straightened his posture.
Augusto continued.
"Then we will begin today."
Miguel slightly raised his eyebrows.
Augusto went on.
"After breakfast, you will ride around the estate with me and Miguel."
Luis felt a small spark of excitement.
Augusto explained.
"If you intend to participate in the family business…"
He made a small gesture with his hand.
"First you must understand how everything works."
Miguel nodded immediately.
"Land."
"Production."
"Workers."
"Transport."
Augusto concluded with a faint smile.
"Managing a large estate is not as simple as it looks."
Luis smiled as well.
For the first time that day, he felt something different.
Not only curiosity about the past.
But also a clear sense that his future was beginning to take shape.
And somehow, that simple tour of the estate might be the first step.