There was nothing inherently wrong with the countryside; even the air here smelled fresh and natural.
The moment Pandora returned to the village, someone immediately came out to greet them.
"Aunt Pandora, is Padgett here?" Pearce asked, holding a freshly prepped duck in his hand.
Pandora had called ahead to announce her in-laws' arrival, asking them to get things ready. That was why Pearce and his wife had rushed to the estate at the crack of dawn, thoroughly scrubbing the place inside and out.
They had butchered chickens, prepared the duck, and started a roast goose, hoping to show their guests some true country hospitality. It was also a subtle attempt to score a few impression points for their irresponsible cousin and ease the Churchill family's lingering resentment.
With Patti acting as the head chef and several other women helping out, the kitchen was in full swing. The moment they stepped into the estate, a mouthwatering blend of roasting meats wafted through the air. A cat in the courtyard happily munched on a small fried fish. The entire scene was bustling and vibrant.
"Yes, Pearce, let me introduce you. This is Melissa's father, her sister-in-law Ophelia, and Karla," Pandora said. She introduced the elders first, then moved on to the younger generation. Norris and Owen both cut striking, handsome figures.
Pearce, a grounded country man, was almost at a loss for words to praise them.
"Padgett, please come inside. The food is still being prepped, but I'll have someone bring out some tea."
Padgett looked at the man's short-sleeved shirt and the solid muscle on his arms, gaining a new appreciation for the locals. Pearce was a robust man, likely around the same age as Padgett's second son, but he radiated an incredible amount of energy.
It seemed the rural environment really did wonders for a person's vitality. Moreover, despite his rugged appearance, Pearce wasn't the least bit unrefined and understood proper etiquette perfectly.
Ophelia and Karla observed Pearce closely, though they couldn't see any trace of Agassi in him. They had met Agassi before; he had been a gentle, scholarly young man. Judging purely by looks, he had been a perfect match for their Melissa.
Pearce looked entirely different. His features were much sharper and more rugged, his skin deeply tanned. They barely looked like brothers.
Furthermore, he had just called Pandora 'Aunt'. How exactly were they related?
"Are you and Agassi cousins?" Ophelia asked curiously.
Pearce glanced at Pandora before explaining. "We're technically cousins, but Pandora had her husband marry into the James family. Because of that, Agassi took the James last name and was ranked alongside us."
Married into her family? For Pandora
to have taken a husband into her
own household-despite having
enet
brothers meant the James family must have been an incredibly powerful dynasty in the past Ophelia looked at Pandora with
newfound admiration.
Pandora chuckled and explained that Pearce was her cousin's son. Back in the day, her father had been both the Clan Leader and the head of the household and she was his only daughter-his sole direct heir. Having a husband join her family to help inherit the estate was perfectly normal in The James Village.
"That's right, Pandora is also the current Clan Leader for our family," Pearce added.
People didn't bother her with trivial matters, but any major decisions had to be discussed with the Clan Leader.
He then mentioned that Claire was
the appointed Clan Successor, destined to inherit everything from Pandora. Although the Churchill family didn't fully grasp what a Clan Leader actually did in modern.
Society, it was obvious that the
residents of The James Village held
Pandora in the highest regard.
It appeared their niece held a similarly untouchable status. Even out here in the countryside, no one would dare mess with her.
This realization brought a wave of relief to Ophelia and Karla. They didn't look down on the rural lifestyle, but they had worried that strict, outdated patriarchal rules might cause Claire grief.