Two days had passed since the meeting.
The days were long, tense, and unproductive. Any solutions that appeared were quickly discarded due to some form of obstacle.
Eduardo's office had become the center of all discussions. Luis, Augusto, and Eduardo spent hours analyzing possibilities, trying to find a way to keep everything… without losing anything.
But in the end…
they all led to the same place.
Failure.
"It doesn't work."
Luis said it for the third time that morning. He stood near the window, arms crossed, a look of frustration in his eyes.
"Even if we manage to gather enough political support to withstand an initial attack…"
He turned slowly.
"That won't stop the next one. We'll fall exactly into the scenario Deodoro described. Álvaro has put us in a very delicate position. Even if he backs off for now, it won't take more than two months for another deputy to attempt the same thing—especially after seeing the benefits Álvaro gained from our negotiation."
Silence.
Augusto remained seated, his hands resting on the table, brows furrowed—his concern unmistakable.
"Luis is right. They won't stop. Not while we are still here."
Eduardo closed his eyes for a moment.
Not physically tired—but mentally exhausted.
"So what is the alternative?"
He asked more to himself than to the others.
Truthfully, this situation would not affect him as much. His political and economic power ensured his protection.
But he was an old man.
His only goal had been to repair his relationship with his daughter.
And now others wanted to harm her family.
That was unacceptable.
Silence stretched.
Until Augusto spoke.
"I know what we need to do."
Both of them looked at him.
Something in his tone was different.
There was determination—something that had been absent moments ago.
And something else.
Relief.
There was no doubt.
No hesitation.
Only decision.
"I will leave the country with Helena. Luis will remain in Brazil."
The words fell simply.
Directly.
But the impact was immediate.
"No."
The response came almost instinctively.
Luis and Eduardo spoke at the same time.
Augusto didn't move.
He looked at Luis.
"Your mother and I will go to France. We'll find the imperial family. When Dom Pedro was exiled, he sent the Count d'Eu to deliver me a message. He said he respected our decision—but that if we ever needed it, he would receive us in France."
The silence that followed was brutal.
Luis stepped forward.
"This isn't a solution. We're just retreating without a fight."
His voice came out harsher than he intended.
"It is exactly that."
Augusto replied calmly.
"A strategic retreat."
"I have no intention of abandoning everything—much less you. But the truth is, we have no solid options left to hold onto. Our hands are tied."
He finally raised his gaze and met his son's eyes.
"They won't stop while we're here. Soon, the political and economic attacks will begin. When that fails, the assassination attempts will follow."
"You need to understand—coffee barons are not tolerant. The republicans hold back because it could create problems for them. But the barons are different."
He continued:
"I cannot allow that to happen to our family."
This time, the impact was even heavier.
"No."
Luis said immediately.
"That doesn't make sense."
"Stop lying to yourself, Luis. You know what needs to be done. Where is the confident man from two days ago?"
Augusto's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
"You are not the primary target. We are."
A pause.
"The previous generation. The symbol of the Empire."
"Originally, that symbol should have been Princess Isabel and the Count d'Eu. But they are in France."
"I am the only possible heir still in the country."
"I will make the same decision they made."
"And you, Luis… will carry the family's legacy in this country from now on."
Eduardo's fingers tightened slightly against the table.
Just for a moment.
He closed his eyes.
This time, it wasn't exhaustion.
It was pain.
"You're asking me to accept watching my daughter be exiled."
Augusto didn't answer immediately.
When he did, his voice was quieter—but no less firm.
"I'm asking you to let her survive."
A long silence followed.
Luis ran a hand through his hair.
Frustrated.
"There has to be another option."
"There isn't."
Augusto replied calmly—but decisively.
"We've tried them all."
He looked directly at his son.
"You know that."
Luis didn't respond.
Because he knew his father was right.
He himself had thought of this solution before.
And dismissed it as unthinkable.
Augusto took a deep breath and continued:
"This is not enough."
Both looked at him again.
"Exile solves half the problem."
"The other half…"
A pause.
"Must be handled here."
Luis narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Go on."
"You need internal protection."
Augusto said.
"Not political. Structural."
"Your grandfather can facilitate many things—but he cannot protect you forever. We need more."
A pause.
"You need to become part of the system."
Luis understood.
And didn't like where this was going.
"How?"
Augusto answered without hesitation:
"Marriage."
"No."
This time Luis didn't hesitate.
"That's not up for discussion."
"It is."
Augusto held his gaze.
"No, it isn't."
Luis stepped forward.
"I already have someone. And you know it."
His tone wasn't aggressive.
But it was final.
"Teresa. I can't just abandon what we have."
The words lingered in the air.
Augusto didn't react immediately.
"I know."
He said at last.
"And I'm not asking you to abandon her."
Luis frowned.
"Then what exactly are you proposing?"
Augusto answered calmly:
"A political marriage. With a family that can protect you and give you support."
Luis exhaled shortly.
"And you think that solves it?"
"No."
Augusto replied.
"But it makes you… untouchable."
"People will think twice before acting against you. They would be offending too many others."
A pause.
"Or at the very least… you become too inconvenient to attack."
Eduardo opened his eyes, more attentive now.
"With whom?"
He asked.
Augusto replied:
"I know a coffee baron. He has a nineteen-year-old daughter—Sofia. He approached me at the beginning of the year proposing a marriage. He wanted political support among monarchist circles still present in government."
"As far as I know, the girl is no less beautiful than Teresa."
"He's like you, Eduardo—he plays both sides."
"That makes him useful."
Luis crossed his arms.
"Name."
"Henrique Valença."
Augusto said.
Luis remained silent for a few seconds.
Then shook his head.
"No. I won't accept this without conditions. And even if we propose it now, we'd be in a completely passive position."
Augusto didn't react.
He expected resistance.
"I'll arrange a meeting with them."
Luis continued.
"Fine. But the terms will be mine."
That caught Eduardo's attention.
"What kind of terms?"
Luis answered firmly:
"I won't be controlled."
"I won't be used as a piece."
"And I won't give up what I already have."
"I'll go all in."
"It no longer makes sense to try to keep the lands."
"We'll give them all up."
"In exchange… Álvaro and Deodoro will have to bleed a little. They helped create this situation."
Silence returned.
But this time…
more balanced.
Augusto nodded slowly.
"Fair."
Luis looked directly at him.
"Then it's settled."
"I accept the meeting."
"Nothing beyond that."
Augusto agreed.
"I'll contact him."
Eduardo remained silent for a few seconds.
Then spoke:
"Before anything…"
He looked at Augusto.
"I want to see my daughter before you take her away."
Augusto nodded.
"You will."
The silence that followed was lighter.
But no less significant.
Luis spoke again:
"If we're going to do this…"
He turned back to the table.
"Then we do it properly."
Both looked at him.
"This isn't just about leaving. Or marriage."
"It's about position."
"What do you mean?"
Eduardo asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Explain."
Luis replied:
"We give up the lands in exchange for three things."
He raised three fingers.
"First—an administrative position."
"City Intendant."
Eduardo did not interrupt.
"Second—political support."
"Third…"
"New lands near the port."
"I'm talking about the mangrove areas. Strategically located, but underdeveloped due to unhealthy conditions."
"If we can no longer be a family of landowners…"
"Then we become industrialists."
Augusto looked at Eduardo.
Who gave a slight nod.
"That's a good plan."
"Very well."
Augusto said.
They spent the rest of the day discussing and refining the plan.
And six days later…
the answer came.
The baron accepted the meeting.
It was scheduled for fifteen days later.
Enough time to prepare everything.
And more importantly…
to decide their future.