No Entry Except for the Master - Chapter 30

The traveling circus troupe’s next destination was a small town near the border of the Asit Kingdom.

The circus’s visit coincided with the town’s festival, so the entire place was buzzing with excitement.

Because of the festival, it was relatively easy for outsiders to enter the town, and Teia’s group slipped in safely using forged identities. Of course, Lilith crossed the border as a pet rabbit wearing a collar with a pretty ribbon.

In human form, Lilith clung to Teia’s sleeve and followed him closely.

Teia had removed her leash since a collar on a human would be too conspicuous, but with the crowd so thick, she was worried she might lose him — so she discreetly held on to his clothing.

Since he didn’t stop her, she took that as permission.

“We’re supposed to meet the broker to get the location and entrance tickets. Please pretend to be an ordinary tourist for a moment while I’m gone.”

A typical guard wouldn’t dare leave their master’s side,
but Cesar’s master was none other than Teia. With a completely unbothered expression, Cesar left Teia and Lilith behind and disappeared into the crowd.

“So, we’re free for now? Then I want to go to that! That thing!”

As soon as Cesar was out of sight, Lilith yanked on Teia’s sleeve with excitement.

Standing still in the middle of a bustling festival was definitely odd. Just as Cesar suggested, to blend in as tourists, Teia took Lilith’s hand — the one shyly clinging to his sleeve — and looped her arm around his.

“Uh, uh…?”

Lilith, who had just been chattering away excitedly, froze as if broken. She looked flustered, glancing awkwardly at their intertwined arms.

“Act natural. We’re just a typical couple enjoying the festival.”

With the same gentle smile he usually reserved for others, Teia lowered his voice and whispered. The breath that brushed her ear tickled her fine hairs. Lilith shivered at the strange sensation.

“So, what did you want to see?” “T-that, uh, that thing over there…”

Though he told her to act natural, Lilith stiffened even more and mumbled awkwardly. Looking down at her as she avoided his gaze, Teia chuckled softly.

Deliberately pressing her head gently to rest against his shoulder, Teia guided them toward the booth that Lilith had been eagerly pointing to. Her cheeks slightly flushed, Lilith continued walking with an awkward, stiff gait.

What had caught Lilith’s attention was a collection of shiny, glowing lollipops. Brightly colored, adorably shaped candies were displayed one by one on the counter. In front of the booth, a group of young children were gathered, picking out their treats.

“What a taste you’ve got.”

“Huh?”

Seeing her with a face no different from the children’s, drooling slightly, Teia lost the energy to scold her and simply shook his head.

“Isn’t this kind of junk food something you’re supposed to outgrow in your teens?”

“Rabbits aren’t supposed to eat stuff like this. It could kill us.”

Lilith whispered as she leaned in close, as if afraid someone might overhear.

“So is this a suicide attempt, then?”

“I’m human right now. I could take a bath as a human, so eating this should be fine too!”

Her eyes sparkled with seriousness as she chose a candy, more radiant than the candy itself. Teia gave a dry chuckle but still waited patiently for her to make her choice.

Part of him thought she might calm down a bit if she had something to suck on. In the end, Lilith proudly fished through Teia’s pockets and claimed a large heart-shaped lollipop with a clover design in the center. Her cheeks puffed up adorably in satisfaction.

“Have you been to festivals like this often, Teia?”

“Not these market-style ones. I’ve attended parties hosted by the Imperial Family from time to time.”

Targeting the excited Lilith, Teia scoffed smugly. At his mockery, Lilith sulkily bit into her candy. Every time she pulled it from her mouth, her reddened tongue left the translucent lollipop glistening with saliva. Teia’s gaze briefly flicked to her glossy lips.

“Hey, you two over there! You look like a perfect match! Come take a look at our couple items!”

Though they were sticking close to each other to appear as lovers, they hadn’t expected to actually be mistaken for one. The booth owner, brightly decorated with garlands of flowers, called them over.

Lilith, once again freezing with an “Uh…!”, was saved by Teia, who smiled amiably and approached the booth that had called them over. The merchant, clearly targeting couples, had paired accessories like rings and necklaces displayed for sale.

“These are very popular as anniversary gifts too.”

Unlike when she was picking candy, Lilith didn’t seem particularly interested and only pretended to browse along with Teia. Smooth-talking the owner skillfully, Teia examined everything thoroughly but left the booth without buying anything, acting as naturally as if they had just been window-shopping.

“Do humans like stuff like that?”

Thinking back, both her former and former-former masters had liked shiny things like that. Jewelry and money! She’d learned their value in human society, but it never really resonated with her.

In the rabbit village, instinctive needs—eating, sleeping, and relieving oneself—were far more important.