4 Chapter 4: The Heir

Edward then shifted his eyes to the boy standing beside Arys. The boy was really good looking with his silver hair and beautiful features. Edward had to admit that he was nowhere as good looking as prince Rhaegar Targaryan. No wonder that Lyanna Stark ditched that fucker, Robert, for this girly boy.

'Heh, so that is the famous Raegar. Although you are good looking, what would that be for? I am not that bad. In fact, I am also good-looking, although not to this sissy boy's level. But I bet when we meet in the battle in the future, I will make you have a pig's face from the punches I am gonna throw in your face. Just wait, sissy boy. Hmph.' Though Edward while gritting his teeth. He didn't want to admit that the sissy boy was better than him in anything.

Edward was a bit arrogant, and his haughty personality didn't allow him to accept anyone better than himself. He was somewhat pitiful in this regard. If anyone excelled him in some field, he would come to hate that person.

Due to the reincarnation, he had lost all his maturity. He was only a child with knowledge. His rational thinking came from this knowledge but he would still behave like his own age.

When they returned, Edward went to his schedule of heavy work. He completed assignment after assignment that his father sent him. Edward even tried to outperform his father. He tried to find new solutions for the problems that he faced. Although he didn't bring out any of his knowledge, he solved some problems like roads and water problems based on his way of thinking.

Steffon, seeing his sons' performance for the past years and seeing Edward's talent, decided to move on with his plans to name the heir. He decided to announce him as The Heir to storm's End instead of Robert. He didn't choose An Heir all that time. He had twin boys as his firstborns and didn't know who to name as The Heir.

He gathered his sons in the study. He also sent for his wife to attend. He sent for maester Jones, the knight captain, the master of arms Heldon Estermont and the Steward. He wanted everyone to hear his decision.

After everyone gathered, Steffon looked at everyone then looked at Cassana. Seeing her nod, he shifted his gaze towards Edward.

"Robert and Edward, both of you are ten years old now, and it's time for you to experience the world outside. I had a talk with Lord Arryn. He will foster you both and train you as his wards from now on. You are not allowed to return for at least four years. Don't let me down." Steffon talked with his usual strict voice.

Steffon first wanted to send his sons to different kingdoms. He hoped to send Edward to Lord Rickard Stark in the north and Robert to Lord Arryn in the vale. He had already forged good relationships with both Houses. But after some discussion with his wife, Cassana, they still decided to send both of them to the vale.

The reason was that after all those years, Steffon and Cassana could see the estranged relationship between the two brothers. Robert's feeling of jealousy and Edward's ignoring his brother's existence was too much for them. So, they decided to send both of them to the same place. They hoped that with Jon's help, they could go closer.

After hearing that, Robert nodded his head while Edward looked at his father with some hesitation.

Seeing his son's expression, Steffon turned his head to look at him.

"What is it, Edward?" Asked Steffon.

"Father, if it is possible, Is it ok to take my guard unit with me? It was fucking hard to reach this level and I don't want to forget," asked Edward.

"Of course not, you could only take at most fifty men with you. Without lord Arryn's permission, you are not allowed to take any more men there." Said Steffon with his stern voice.

Edward nodded, understanding what his father wanted to say. It seemed he needed to ask for lord Arryn's permission before sending for his men to follow him.

"Well, then, I would ask Lord Arryn for his permission when I reach the Eyrie. But I would need some gold to prepare their lodging if lord Arryn agreed. My money can't handle all that." Said, Edward.

He didn't want to use his personal money that he saved from his allowance, and the few shops he bought using his Gold was a big no, of course.

Plus although the Baratheons was not the wealthiest great house in Westeros, they were debated to be the third or fourth after the Lannister's and Tyrell's.

Although he had a lot of ideas from his previous life to make him the richest in not only Westeros but even in Essos, he waited till he was the lord of Stormsland before showing these ideas. It was his future money, after all. And he was not going to give his ideas and money to Robert if Steffon didn't choose him as the heir. He would save the money for himself and take Stormslands to himself during Robert's Rebellion. What idiot did you think he was?

He had the recipes for all the wine and alcohol drinks. He had all the knowledge about them. He thought that either he had worked in that business in his previous life or he was an alchemist to have all that knowledge. He also knew how to make glass, and fine paper, apparently not in the same quality as his previous life. What surprised him was Several ship blueprints and even some medieval's war machines. It seemed as if his past self wished to live in this world that he gathered that lot of information.

"When you got Lord Arryn's permission, I will send the gold with your deputy, Clinn, and your assistant, Flip." Said Steffon putting an end to this topic.

Edward nodded and waited for his father to continue. Robert looked at Edward with jealousy. After the bandit's accident, he wasn't allowed to lead an army till he was twelve.

"Well, now to the most important matter. Since both of you were twins and my firstborn, you both had the right to be the heir to storms land. I was going to delay this topic till later, but I decided to tell you my decision before you go to the vale. Seeing both of your performances in the past years, I decided to appoint Edward as the heir." Said Steffon with a calm voice.

Hearing his decision, All the people in the room nodded as if they knew this would happen or should happen. Well, except Robert. Although he didn't know how to rule or how to manage the lands, and even didn't care about being a lord, hearing his father's decision made his face turned red from embarrassment as this meant he had lost to Edward again.

Seeing her son's red face, Cassana tried to calm the situation a little by completing her husband's words.

"Well, that wasn't the final decision. Your father and I will judge both of your performances after four years. We would choose the rightful one for this position." Said Cassana while nodding towards her husband. She knew her sons the best. She knew that Robert was only angry because he was embarrassed, and there is no way he could turn his brutal personality into his brother's calm and cunning personality.

She knew that Robert wouldn't ever be at the same level as Edward when it came to intelligence and cunningness. He might be able to reach him when it came to fighting. Although she doubted that, seeing how Edward always trained himself.

Hearing his mother's words, Robert calmed down. He knew he couldn't compete with his brother or became a better lord than him, but still, he felt embarrassed.

After finishing everything he had to say, Steffon ordered his sons to be ready for their journey to the vale, and they would be on their way the first thing in the morning.

Robert and Edward nodded and headed to their room to gather their things. Edwards also made his way to where his soldiers were and selected the fifty guards who were going with him.