"While it is true she was following orders. It is also the attendant's job to stop their master from doing anything stupid. She failed at this. But…. you make a good point that she does have talent, from what I hear. Alright. Sally, was it?" The King looked at Sally, causing her to lift her head.
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty," Sally replied, her voice shaking. I know she thinks that she will be killed. After all, an attendant isn't really safe under the laws of another kingdom.
"Then Sally, while you were following orders, it is still wrong of you to not stop your master. But this time, I will let it slide because Faith is asking me to let you go, but you will need to sign a magic contract with Faith and will become her protector. If you do not wish to abandon that little bastard, then you can live out your days in jail and hope your King will also try to take you back as well." I am not sure if I should say his words are evil or what but that was basically forcing Sally into doing the magical contract. He was using her fear against her. I am not sure if I agree with this or not. But at the same time, I could just be very naive about how the world works. Although, I do know that if we can pull Sally to our kingdom's side, then the kingdom would have another powerful soldier.
Sally looked at the King and then at me with a confused expression on her face. "Does…. Does this mean I will not be k-killed?"
"Hmmm? As long as you sign a magic contract with Faith and serve her faithfully. I will also arrange for you to join the Royal Magic Academy with Faith as well." The King was really thinking ahead. Just by having Sally take the test to enter, he can get a full understanding of Sally's strengths and what she is good at. To be honest, I never would have thought of that.
"Magic Royal Academy!?" Sally's eyes opened wide. I guess she never expected something like this. Her mouth hung open, and it seemed she had stopped breathing altogether.
"Sally, I think it will be well worth it. At least you wouldn't be forced to do things you did not want to do." I know I saw how she might have feelings for her master, but the fact of the matter is any girl who was being forced to do something like she was would not hold those feelings for long. Unless she was so used to it that it was normal to her. If that was the case, then there would be nothing I could say or do for her.
"As Faith said, it would be very worth it. I can promise you that no repercussions will befall you if you enter the contract. The Beast King will also not seek to punish you either." The King followed up on my words.
"I…. Will I really not lose my head? I won't be forced to do things I do not wish to do? I won't have to harm innocents!?" Sally suddenly lifted her head with tears in her eyes. Just seeing her like this made me wonder just what she had to go through as the stupid cat's attendant.
"I can swear upon my name and my family that I will never make you do anything that will go against your conscience." I did not mind making this promise as I would never want her to commit any acts that would make her do something that I myself would not do.
"Then…. I will accept…." Sally answered with slight hesitation before bowing her head towards me. "From this day forth, you will be my Master…."
"Let's not use the word, Master, please. Just call me Faith. It makes me feel strange being called master. If you must call me with some form of formality, then Young Miss also works as I am used to it now." I still get shivers when people call me Master or anything of that nature. It just doesn't sit right with me.
"Then, Young Miss." Sally finally formed a smile. But not even a second later, she was kneeling on the ground. "Young Miss, I still must apologize for what I did. I should have used my strength to stop Prince Rythilin, but I did not in fear of losing my head."
"Sally, raise your head. There is no need to apologize when you were just following orders. Plus, I feel that if the stupid cat did try to use that sleeping agent, you would have stopped him, no?" I asked this because of her reaction when I laid the situation out to her. She, without hesitation, wanted to hand the stupid cat over to me.
"I would have probably knocked him out and then would have blamed it on one of the guards after I took him away…." Sally replied. "It is true that Prince Rythilin uses the sleeping agent to sleep at night. He has always had nightmares since he was young, and only the sleeping agent allows him to sleep through them all. But he would never take it with him. Once he reached his destination. He would leave it in the place he was staying as he knew it would cause misunderstandings otherwise. So even I was surprised to know that he had such a thing on him."
"That's what I thought. I figured you did not know because the look on your face when I pointed it out was that of surprise, although the look only lasted for a second, and when I asked what you would do in my shoes, you immediately wanted to hand him over. But I must ask because I am not quite sure. You were not in love with Prince Rythilin, were you?"
"I…. I thought he was my world…. Since young, I have been the one to guard him while going through training. I have been by his side, but after tonight, after he basically confessed those feelings that were starting to rise within me are now gone…. Luckily I never…." Sally bit her lip as she clenched her fists. She did not need to finish her words for me or the King to understand what she meant. It seemed she was indeed a lucky rabbit.
