Chapter 236 A Letter from Xavier

Lunch was super chill; Ava just had a bowl of seafood porridge before heading to the shrine to pay her respects.

The Anderson Family was a big ol' clan with a special spot for ancestral worship, but women usually weren't allowed inside; they could only pay their respects outside the door.

"The only way a woman could enter was after she had passed away, when she was enshrined and worshipped. Ava could never enter 'cause she was a daughter destined to marry another man and take his last name, so she wasn't considered part of the Anderson Family anymore.

So, after her dad and brothers died in battle, her mom set up a place at home to worship their ancestors, making it easier for seasonal rituals.

After the family massacre, Ava enshrined the souls of all the women in the family at home.

William had already prepped the sacrificial stuff. Ava went in to pay her respects, looking at the once-living people who had now become tombstones.

After the ritual, she knelt and said, "Dad, Mom, Samuel once talked to me about adopting a kid to inherit the title, but we haven't picked anyone yet. I don't know if you'd be cool with it. If your spirits can hear me, please give me a sign."

She was iffy about the adoption, unsure if there was a good candidate, and she hadn't even personally picked anyone.

She felt that the title was hard-earned, costing the lives of her whole family, and it would suck to hand it over to another family's kid.

Even though they were all part of the Anderson family, they weren't from the same household.

Especially since the candidates Samuel suggested all had living parents, the younger ones would be pitiful without their parents, and the older ones had strong bonds with them. After inheriting the title, they'd bring their parents to the Duke of the Realm's Mansion, and who would hold them back anymore?

If the person had good character and acted with loyalty and righteousness, it would be fine. But what if they had a bad attitude and used their power to do evil? Wouldn't that trash the reputation of her dad and brothers?

All these thoughts made Ava hesitant to choose an heir.

The dead relatives wouldn't give her any answers, but kneeling here made her feel more at ease.

Pretending that her parents and brothers were still by her side, sometimes this self-comfort could ease the pain in her heart.

After noon, she went back to her room to chill for a bit, and then saw Emma leading William in.

"Ava, the Duke sent a letter, asking you to read it ASAP." William handed the letter to Ava personally. "The messenger said it was urgent."

Ava quickly opened the letter, which had only a short sentence: [Ava, come to Meadowland immediately.]

It was signed by Xavier.

Ava recognized his handwriting.

But the letter didn't explain anything, just told her to get to Meadowland fast, without mentioning what to bring.

"Where's the messenger?" Ava asked.

"He's in the kitchen eating. He exhausted three horses on the way back and looked super tired," William said.

Ava immediately instructed, "Emma, help me pack a few sets of clothes and travel essentials. Bring the messenger over after he finishes eating; I have some questions."

"Got it!" Emma quickly went inside to pack.

After a bit, the messenger finished eating and was brought to the side hall. Ava was already dressed and saw that the familiar face was Dennis, though he was dusty and sunburned, with his face red and black.

It was clear he had been on the road for a long time.

Ava asked, "Dennis, weren't you with the Duke at Zenith Mountain? Why'd you go to Meadowland? What does he want me to do there?"

After eating and drinking his fill, Dennis burped and stood awkwardly, likely from riding too long. Ava had him sit down to talk.

Dennis thanked her, sat down, and said, "The Duke did take us to Zenith Mountain. We stayed there for three or four days before heading back. Unexpectedly, in a county in Meadowland, my purse was snatched by a little thief. I caught the thief on the spot and was about to take him to the authorities when I saw several ragged little beggars nearby scattering in a hurry."