No Entry Except for the Master - Chapter 6

Though its fur was matted with blood and dust, making it look different, he recognized the rabbit. It was the one she had seen a month ago at the Imperial Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony, while chasing a suspicious figure.

After losing his target, he’d seen it munching grass and calmly disappearing—gazing up at her with innocent eyes as if mocking his frustration.

“Is this really a coincidence?”

The Crown Prince. A suspicious gaze. An illegal intelligence guild. And a rabbit. No clear link came to mind, but his sharp instincts kept urging him to doubt the rabbit.

Squeak… squeee!

As his grip tightened, the limp rabbit finally let out a weak, pitiful cry. So frail, it seemed it could die any moment.

Teia lifted the rabbit to his eye level and stared into its eyes. Round, jet-black eyes welled with tears. The rabbit whimpered, its mouth quivering, and began licking the fingers gripping its nape.

“Just killing you without asking questions would be easier, wouldn’t it, hmm?”

Teia spoke with a faint smile. There was no way a rabbit could understand human speech, but somehow, it seemed to sense the threat in his voice. It kept licking her fingers desperately, looking pitiful.

“Trying to be cute?”

It rubbed its chubby cheeks against his hand and resumed gently licking, again and again. Then, as if it truly had no strength left, it drooped and rested its head against his hand, letting fat tears fall quietly from its eyes.

“Your Highness?”

“Take it with us. Who knows if it’ll survive until we reach the palace.”

Something stirred in his heart at the sight of such fragile life—so easily crushed with the slightest force.

It was delightful to see it grovel, fully aware of its position, begging to be spared. Perhaps it was because he usually dealt only with pests who didn’t know their place and acted all high and mighty. Or maybe it was just refreshing to see a creature that clearly understood it was nothing but prey?

In any case, Teia tossed the still-breathing rabbit back into the iron cage Cesar was holding. He could have placed it down more gently.

Cesar clicked his tongue internally and carefully gathered the cage along with the rabbit, which had rolled and crashed pitifully into the corner.

From the floor below came loud noises and the clamor of soldiers rushing in. Cesar covered the cage with his cloak and followed Teia. The soldiers, horrified by the gruesome scene inside the guild, cast startled glances in Cesar’s direction.

Familiar with such stares, Cesar boarded the carriage after his superior, who was smiling with an air of innocence.

Fortunately, the rabbit survived—barely. When they arrived at the castle and it still hadn’t moved, they feared it had actually died. But after summoning a healer for treatment, its tiny belly slowly began to rise and fall again.

Healing magic usually had little effect on animals, so the healer was rather amazed, saying the creature must have been incredibly lucky.

The rabbit, bedridden for two full days and only sipping water, slowly regained its strength. It now grasped hay firmly with its front paws and ate heartily, clearly recovering well.

“Looks like life’s treating you well now.”

Teia rested his chin in one hand, watching the rabbit devour hay on the soft bedding. At the sound of his voice, the rabbit timidly turned its head, cautiously inching closer while watching him warily.

Teia stared intently, making it squirm under his gaze like they were locked in a staring contest, until he let out a faint, incredulous laugh and casually sprinkled more hay.

Beep. Beep!

Did rabbits normally chirp like chicks? The rabbit let out small, nervous squeaks as it vigorously shook the hay off its head with its hind legs, then resumed munching.

This rabbit of unknown origin was surprisingly perceptive—more tolerable than that idiotic Imperial Crown Prince, even.

After being pushed away once for approaching in its filthy state, and bullied twice for eating without so much as glancing at him, the rabbit learned its lesson.

Since then, whenever it heard Teia’s voice, it would acknowledge him first, cautiously approach, and keep a respectful distance while eating.

With the rabbit eating at the far end of the large desk, Teia sifted through documents when a cautious knock sounded and the office door opened. A servant entered with a tray of fruit, accompanied by Cesar.

Cesar approached the rabbit, still nibbling on hay, and checked on its condition. Teia poked at a strawberry with a fork, waiting for them to leave.