***
A week later, in the courtyard of the Bach clan, a carriage stood ready to receive passengers. Nearby languished in anticipation of a detachment of knights, consisting of ten young guys. Each carried a sword strapped to their backs, as well as a pouch containing supplies and a «Sharp Watcher» that was attached to a harnessed horse.
A boy came out of the door of the house, tall for his seven years, dressed in a light coat, a shirt with a vest, and trousers. Dark boots were worn on their feet, matching the color of the clothes. Aaron, in general, did not like to wear bright things, he was much more impressed by comfortable and simple outfits, dark and gray shades.
«He is only seven years old, he is still so small, but he is already setting off on a journey,» Balthazar said with a sigh, watching his brother depart from the window. «Lately, we kind of forgot about it...
Bradomir Bach stood nearby, looking thoughtfully at his youngest grandson, torn between pride and, at the same time, concern for his well-being.
«Aaron has always been smarter and older than his peers,» he said. «However, I never could have imagined that I would have such a brilliant grandson. No offense to you, Balthazar, but if he had been born at least a year earlier, then the position of head of the clan would have been given to him ...
The eldest grandson thought about the words of his grandfather, and then answered with a smirk:
«Honestly, being the head of the clan is terribly problematic... Two months ago, I could have been offended by your words, but now... In general, Aaron intelligibly explained to me that I am not worthy of being the head of the clan...»
«Actually, you're still lucky,» the old man snorted. — I would like a brother who will solve problems for me, while showing an absolute lack of desire to take the place of the head of the clan ...
«This is temporary, sooner or later Aaron will grow older, he will have personal ambitions, and I will have to give up my post to him,» Balthazar said thoughtfully.
«That won't happen,» said the grandfather. «To tell you the truth, me and your brother, we both understand very well... Only you in our family are capable of being the next head of the Bah clan.»
«How is it... You just recently stated that Aaron could become the head of the family instead of me...»
«That's right, because in four years, in January, I am obliged to transfer my position to someone ... If by that time Aaron had awakened a divine spark, of course I would have chosen him,» Bradomir replied relaxed. — Only now, before April, he will not be able to do this in any way ...
— It turns out that I was just lucky ... — all the irritation that had been accumulating for a long time involuntarily came out of the eldest grandson.
«That's right, that's what I meant,» the old man said with a grin. «It is precisely because you are so lucky that you should become my successor. The head of the clan is, first of all, the face of the clan, its representative, by which the rest of its members are judged. Aaron, unlike you, has a completely different personality ... Simply put, he simply cannot be my successor, since we have little in common with him.
«Some kind of nonsense,» the eldest grandson snorted. «If you want to console me in this way, then you shouldn't ...»
— No, the truth is exactly this, the Bach clan, it is a clan, first of all, honest, strong-willed, and hardworking people who value loyalty and courage. And our main talent is natural luck! This is where we draw our strength from! Bradomir said excitedly. «However, this is our weakness... We are naive and gullible, incapable of discerning meanness and hypocrisy. Aaron is different, even if he hides it, he would rather outwit the enemy, frame or deceive, than boldly face him in open battle. A man like him should never become the head of our clan... Your brother understands this very well, and therefore is not eager to take this place.
«Hmm, thanks for the kind words, grandfather,» Balthasar, blushing with embarrassment, answered the old man's long speech.
«I said all this for a reason... I want you to understand how things really are, and stop thinking about all sorts of nonsense, like whether you are worthy to be the head of the clan or not,» the old man continued. «You are the only one who has inherited all my talents... Therefore, I can say with confidence that you are the luckiest Bach in the history of our clan!» It is you who deserve to be my successor, and no one else!
Balthazar lowered his gaze, and then exhaled, letting go of his annoyance completely, deciding to accept the situation and just go with the flow. What is the point of worrying and self-flagellation if it does not help him to become better.
«Very funny...» the eldest grandson snorted. Although what I expected...
Bradomir, seeing that his grandson had finally let go of his fears and insecurities, laughed out loud. They really were similar, because the grandfather, like no one else, perfectly understood what was going on in the head of his grandson. He went through this...
Even though Balthazar followed his younger brother's instructions with surprising obedience, more like a loyal subordinate than an authoritative older brother, this situation, to a large extent, annoyed him. Not because he saw his brother as a competitor or something like that... No, on the contrary, he was disgusted by the very fact that he should become the next head of the Bach clan, and not Aaron.
For people like Bradomir and Balthazar, the most important thing is to be in the place they deserve. The older brother would have been happy to disobey Aaron, however, all his instructions, advice, and suggestions were incredibly useful and effective, he simply did not see the opportunity to challenge them, which made Balthazar feel a sense of his own inferiority, which gradually turned into resentment, primarily on himself.
«Aaron is already on his way,» Earl entered the room, acting as personal assistant to the head of the Bach clan.
«Good,» Bradomir nodded. How are our guests doing there?
The manager hesitated a little, and then decided to give everything as it is, without hiding his true thoughts.
«These bitches already got me, to be honest...» he said. "I have never seen such vile creatures as them in my life. And I lived a long time, as many as sixty-nine years!
Bradomir and Balthazar awkwardly looked at each other, not expecting such words from the always calm, able to establish a common language with any person, Earl.
— What actually happened?