Chapter 6
On his way back after carrying out the Emperor’s order to subjugate monsters that had appeared in the West, he had simply closed his eyes for a moment in the carriage, exhausted from battle.
And then—
“…What is this?”
The moment he opened his eyes to a strange sensation, the world had changed.
The scenery he had seen before falling asleep was gone, and instead he found himself lying in an enormous, unfamiliar room.
Lishid immediately drew his sword.
‘Have I been kidnapped?’
But he hadn’t sensed any warning signs.
Even if he had dozed off briefly, he would have woken up if someone had attacked him.
He looked around for his aide, Cassel.
And then he realized.
“This is…”
It wasn’t that his surroundings had changed.
His body had.
It had become small.
“Ugh…!”
The moment he grasped that fact, he lost his balance from the carriage’s movement and tumbled onto the floor.
It was the first humiliation of its kind in his life.
A leader who couldn’t even control his own body—what could he possibly protect like this?
If the leader falls into danger, the force that follows him collapses as well.
So Lishid told no one that he had shrunk.
If he revealed such an absurd truth, his knights—already drunk on victory—would fall into chaos.
Epenferion was already strained by the Emperor’s constant demands. He could not bring further confusion upon it.
And that was the responsibility he had learned as a prince.
Endure alone. Do not rely on others.
Lishid clenched his small fist.
‘Once I return to normal…’
He would find whoever had cast this curse and cut off their head with his own hand.
It didn’t matter who it was.
A noble. A foreign king.
Anyone who dared do this would pay the price for underestimating him—the imperial prince and Grand Duke of Epenferion.
‘If they’re already dead, I’ll revive them just to kill them again.’
A cold light flashed in his red eyes.
But he soon let out a sigh.
There was something more urgent to deal with first.
‘The Emperor’s welcoming banquet.’
The West, which had always underestimated the North where monsters constantly appeared, had needed Epenferion’s help in this campaign.
And when one receives help, one must show proper courtesy in return.
Yet the Marquis of Langard, ruler of the West, had remained silent.
At the upcoming banquet, Lishid had intended to meet the western nobles and determine who would stand on Epenferion’s side.
But in this tiny body, he could not attend the Emperor’s banquet.
Instead of identifying potential allies, he would appear disrespectful by failing to attend an event personally hosted by the Emperor.
Everything had gone wrong.
‘Even if I send Cassel in my place…’
There was a clear difference between seeing with one’s own eyes and hearing secondhand reports.
Cassel was loyal, but too gentle to make sharp judgments.
‘I need to attend the banquet myself and observe.’
At that moment, Airel Blandiche’s voice suddenly surfaced in his mind.
“F-First, please wash up…!”
Her pale face, flustered just because he had asked where he would sleep.
Her hurried figure as she rushed into the bathroom to prepare bathwater.
‘Was the lady always… like that?’
The Airel he remembered had a vicious temperament.
The flower of high society.
A woman with thorns on her tongue.
In front of him, she always acted meek and gentle, but Lishid knew of her reputation.
Yet today, she had been different.
Especially—
‘Those eyes.’
The clear vitality in her violet gaze when she looked at him felt unfamiliar.
Before, she had always looked at him like a child coveting a toy.
Eyes full of greed.
He had thought her eyes resembled the Duke of Blandiche’s—always calculating profit.
That was why he had deliberately avoided her, even though he knew she trailed behind him constantly.
But now—
“I’ve prepared warm bathwater. Once you’re done washing, your bedding and pajamas will be ready!”
Why did she no longer look at him that way?
It was as if she had become someone else overnight.
Lishid narrowed his eyes.
He had no idea how a sheltered noble lady intended to prepare his bedding.
But judging by how perfectly the bathwater had been prepared…
He lifted a handful of soap bubbles thoughtfully.
‘Airel Blandiche may be more useful than I thought.’
How he would use her was something to consider later.
With a faint, cold smile, he rose from the bath.
He intended to ask her about the banquet.
But when he stepped out wrapped in the handkerchief she had provided, he froze.
“My lady… what exactly is this?”
***
“Ah, this is the bed, and this is the pillow. Is it a bit rough?”
Holding two soft cushions, I gestured proudly.
Lishid peeked through the slightly open door and frowned.
“That is not what I’m asking.”
“Huh? Then what?”
I blinked in confusion.
His cold gaze was fixed on the pajamas I had placed by the bathroom door.
“I’m referring to this. Are you seriously telling me to wear these flamboyant… floral pajamas?”
“Oh.”
Only then did I realize the problem.
“…Ahem. I’m sorry, but that was the best I could do.”
All the fabric Airel owned was meant for handkerchiefs.
“Could you please just wear it for tonight? I’ll buy proper men’s clothes in your size tomorrow.”
“In this size?”
“I’m going to visit a doll shop. My maid told me they have tons of outfits—formal wear, knight uniforms, casual clothes, even armor! So please trust me.”
I spoke bravely, hiding my embarrassment.
Before seeing him in person, I couldn’t estimate his size. So while he was bathing, I measured his clothes and quickly cut fabric to make pajamas.
For once, my excellent home economics skills from school were useful.
“Just for tonight, Your Grace.”
I bent slightly and held out my pinky finger in promise.
Of course, he couldn’t hook his pinky around mine—but I felt I should at least show sincerity.
But Lishid—
“Ha. I’d rather sleep naked than wear this.”
He sneered coldly and flung the door open.
Seeing him standing there wrapped only in a white handkerchief, I hurriedly covered my eyes.
“Y-Your Grace!”
He looked at me, puzzled.
“Are you seriously embarrassed by this short little body?”
How could I not be? You’re practically half-naked!
I turned away, shouting internally.
“O-Of course! Even if you’re small, it’s still your body, Your Grace.”
“…So it matters that it’s my body.”
He murmured quietly.
I nodded frantically.
“Never mind. P-Please at least wrap yourself in the blanket on the bed. I’ll go wash your clothes!”
I grabbed his uniform and rushed into the bathroom.
…Wait. Did I just hear him laugh softly?
No, that must’ve been my imagination.
***
“Wow, is this even getting clean?”
Squatting on the bathroom floor, I scrubbed his black uniform.
If only I had laundry soap. Bath soap didn’t feel quite right.
Still, there was one upside.
‘Thank goodness his clothes shrank too.’
Holding up the tiny uniform, I sighed in relief.
If only his body had shrunk and not his clothes, he might’ve ended up running around naked.
And even with my sewing skills, making a full outdoor outfit from scratch overnight would’ve been impossible.
‘Come to think of it…’
Does Lishid prefer simple styles?
I studied the plain, decoration-free design carefully, planning what to buy at the doll shop tomorrow.
‘I’ve already made a list of stores. I’ll bring the pajamas I made earlier to check the size.’
