Gara's appointment as heir had come far too suddenly. Many of the qualifications required of an heir had yet to be fulfilled.
At first, Gara believed that since his position was only temporary, he didn't need to meet those requirements right away.
Karon, Ramun, and even the Duke had assured him they would handle the vassals and silence any objections. They would explain that Gara would only begin his official border duties after graduating from the academy.
But after hearing the negative comments directed at him firsthand, Gara realized something.
No matter how much the Duke tried to suppress those discussions, behind closed doors, people would still talk.
It wouldn't be strange if the druids learned the truth either. They would quickly realize that Gara's appointment as heir was merely a facade meant to protect him.
That was why Gara felt he needed to prove himself.
