It was merely a sense of responsibility.
I was the one who made him like this.
I don't want for such an innocent man to live a hellish life when the only thing waiting for him is death in the end.
"Samuel, lie down here for a moment. Remove your shirt as well"
Doing as I said, his upper body was shown.
"Does it hurt?"
"A bit"
"Refrain from moving too much or the wound will reopened again"
"I understand"
I clean around the wounds and renew the bandages.
"Here, drink this. It is a blood thickening medicine"
He drank the whole cup in one shot.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in"
Sir Aiden entered the room with the rare egg and the silver chalice.
He sniff the air before taking any step inside.
"You treated him?"
"Yes, now please close the door"
It was almost odorless and yet he still manage to sniff it out from the air? Is he on the same level as the dogs from the military?
Putting those thoughts aside, I focused on the things right in front of me.
I took a paper and drew a runic circle for the ritual using my blood.
The two watch silently from their seat confused as to what I am about to do.
When I placed the egg in the middle of the paper the silence broke.
"Lady Emond, what are you doing?"
"I am merely trying to hatch this egg. It is not black magic as I am not a descendant of ancient nomads from the destroyed ancient magic kingdom"
"Then, explain what you are about to do"
"This runic circle will draw out the energy from within the egg using my blood as the catalyst. I assure you that nothing bad will happen"
I let the blood to fill the silver chalice. Once it was full, I stop the blood from flowing any longer from my hand and covered it with bandages.
I slowly poured the blood onto the egg. The egg absorbed the blood, not letting a single drop to touch the floor.
As the egg absorbed my blood, the color of the egg changed into gray. The flower patter was changed into crack like design.
The runic circle on the paper started to glow a red light.
Crack.
After pouring all the blood from the chalice onto the egg, fragments of the egg started to fall off creating a loud cracking sound.
All the egg shells broke into tiny pieces. The one that emerge was a... rat?
Are you for real?
If I remember correctly, Nathaniel got a spirit dragon when he hatch this egg using the same method. I wasn't hoping for a dragon but for something that would be enough to protect me in the future.
What irritates me is that the animal that comes out represents the owner.
On second thought, what does rat even symbolize?
"A... rat?" Samuel said, confused to what he is seeing.
The paper was set ablaze abruptly. No ash was left. The fragments of the egg also vanish along with the paper.
The four inch rat went to my foot and started to gently rub its face against my toes.
After seeing how adorable the rat was, some of my disappointment went away.
"What do you think, Sir Aiden? Does this rat look like some animal that poses threat to the empire?"
I put the rat closer to his face.
The rat was wiggling as if it was dancing on top of my palms, showing how innocent it was.
He sighed as he stood up.
"I shall go downstairs and eat my breakfast and let you three have your fun"
"Make sure to eat well, okay"
He grumpily went down to the kitchen while I laugh triumphantly in my head.
"Rat, from now on your name will be Almas"
-Okay.
'Huh? What is that voice in my head?'
'I think I'm going crazy.'
-But you're not.
'So you are telling me that I am currently communicating with a rat telepathically?'
-That is indeed correct, master.
The voice was similar to a child's. It fits the rat's form seeing how it is small(?) given that it is a spirit.
'So, Almas'
-Yes, master?
'What is your ability?'
- I do not know yet. I am young after all.
That does make a lot of sense.
I gave the rat to Samuel.
"Stay here and bond for now. I have some work to do in the infirmary"
"Okay"
-Okay.
I went out after renewing the bandage on my wrist.
...
Maybe it was because of the fact that I was inside of a romance-fantasy novel that I was able to accept the fact that I had a full conversation with a rat using my mind.
As I go to the infirmary near the barracks, the thought of talking with a rat became normal which I find creepy on how I was able to accept it so quickly as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Lady Emond"
"Yes, Sir Aiden?"
"What will you do with the rat?"
"Nothing. It seems harmless after all"
"Heh, I doubt that"
True. Anyone would think that the rat is special since it required blood and some weird runic circle, a whole ritual, just to hatch it.
"What will you do if the empress demands to have the rat?"
"That is impossible since the rat is now bounded to me. That's why I used my blood to begin with"
When we got at the infirmary there were knights who were already in line.
Once a week, I would come by to the infirmary so that I can write a report to the empress regarding to the knight's health.
At first, there were only a few who partake on the weekly check-up.
It doubled the next week. Multiplied by five at the third week. And now, even the apprentice knights would come by. And since I am a fourteen year old 'girl', both male and female knights have no complaint when I check on their body.
They took the chance as the check up was done for free. I get payed though.
Because of this, I was able to form connections with them on check ups since it is done one-by-one, allowing me to converse with them as I do my job.
Half an hour later.
"My lady, thank you for your prescription, was it? Ever since I took that medicine my muscles doesn't ache as much anymore"
"I am simply doing my job. And I am glad to see you in good health Sir knight"
Two hours later.
"My lady, don't you get tired of seeing topless men every week?"
"Dame Bigge, I don't really mind seeing them like that"
"Are you not scared of knights harassing you?"
"I doubt any knight would do such a thing when the captain of the imperial knights is nonchalantly sharpening his sword behind me"
"Right...."
Three hours later.
"Sir John"
"It's been a while my lady!"
"We've met just last night though"
"Still~"
Another hour passed and all the knights of the imperial palace was done on their weekly check up.
Swoosh.
I turned around to look at the source of the sound. It was Sir Aiden who is removing his clothes.
"I'll take my turn then"
"Then, please stand in front of me"
I have to say, each and every single knight or servant here in the imperial palace is good looking. Is this some stereotype for all romance novels?
I wonder just how on earth Jessica was able to create such faces.
"Sir Aiden, I am done"
"Any problem?"
"Yes, there is"
He raised an eyebrow after hearing my words.
"Really?"
"Yes"
"What is the problem?"
"Your heart"