During the encounters that continued after the birth, he asked about the baby’s development and offered suggestions based on his experience with children from the slave quarters. Luís Carlos showed practical interest in the child’s well-being. He built a special cradle with carved details and a refined finish. The artistic work of the cradle drew everyone’s attention in the Big House, but he explained it was a gift to celebrate the birth of the farm’s heiress.
Francisco de Assis prepared special teas to help Dona Esperança in her postpartum recovery and in establishing breastfeeding. His knowledge of medicinal plants became even more valuable during this period. Antônio da Silva remained distant, but he was seen several times standing near the stables, looking toward the Big House when he heard the baby cry.
His expression revealed a mixture of curiosity, melancholy, and resignation. Colonel Augusto took measures to control possible comments about his daughter’s appearance. He spread the version that Dona Esperança had been influenced during the pregnancy by the constant presence of slaves, resulting in birthmarks that would disappear over time.
The birth of Maria da Conceição represented the technical success of the Colonel’s plan, but it also revealed its fundamental flaws. Having an heir had cost his wife’s dignity, the humanity of six slaves, and created a situation that was unsustainable in the long term. The months following Maria da Conceição’s birth brought unforeseen consequences that began to undermine the foundations of Colonel Augusto’s empire.
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