Chapter 7
If there aren’t any clothes that fit him…
‘Then I’ll have to commission a designer.’
It’s the last resort, but the cleanest solution. As long as I can avoid letting the nobles see Lishid, that’s enough.
For three months, I’ll create a comfortable environment for him, pretend to help lift the curse—
And the moment the curse ends, I’ll send him straight back to the Grand Duchy of Epenferion.
If necessary, I was even prepared to create a fake villain to take the blame in my place.
This was the plan I carefully made the moment I decided to kidnap the male lead.
‘Alright. I’ve succeeded in the kidnapping, so now I just need to take it step by step.’
Feed him, give him water, and take good care of him.
Burning with determination, I scrubbed his uniform even harder.
But soon my hands and arms began to ache.
It was basically doll-sized laundry, but since this was my first time doing something like this, Airel’s body couldn’t handle it well.
‘I did run earlier and sew too. That’s probably why.’
I decided not to overdo it and stood up.
At least the fishy smell from the lake was gone. Good enough.
‘Now I just need to dry it.’
I wrung out the uniform as hard as I could, wrapped it in a towel to squeeze out the remaining water, then shook it out and spread it neatly.
This is the survival skill of a former solo-living office worker!
“Your Grace?”
Before leaving the bathroom, I cracked the door open and looked around carefully—just in case he was still undressed.
“Am I coming out?”
Even after raising my voice, there was no response.
Puzzled, I stepped out, opened the window, and carefully spread his uniform over the windowsill to dry.
But even then, I didn’t see him anywhere.
“Your Grace? Where are you?”
Just in case, I walked over to the bed and lifted the blanket slightly.
But both the tiny bed and pillow I had made for him were gone.
At that moment, a cold draft blew in from the open window.
Slowly, I turned my head—and imagined the worst.
‘…No way!’
Did he go out the window?
Is he trying to go back to the temple?!
That can’t happen!
“Your Grace…!”
I bit back a scream and frantically looked around.
But there was no sign of Lishid on the bed, the table, or the floor.
I rushed to the window.
Looking down, I saw a soft flowerbed below. It wasn’t impossible to jump from this height.
Especially not for the male lead I knew.
‘No…
Why did he leave? Were the floral pajamas really that unbearable?
‘Or did I say something wrong?!’
In shock, I retraced everything I had done.
I must have let my guard down after successfully kidnapping him, assuming he would naturally stay by my side.
If I had known this would happen, I would’ve rushed to a designer immediately and presented proper clothes.
“Ahh, I should’ve treated him better…”
I slowly sank to the floor in despair.
All my plans had collapsed. At this rate, it’s a death ending for sure.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
Just as I sniffled—
“You’re not crying, are you?”
“Y-Your Grace?
“I hate crying the most.”
A low, cool voice echoed from somewhere.
I jumped to my feet and looked around wildly.
But he was nowhere in sight.
“Y-Your Grace, where are you?”
Clutching my pounding heart, I followed the direction of the voice.
There was only the wardrobe and drawers.
“Look up.”
Up…?
I quickly lifted my head.
There he was—sitting squarely on top of the massive wardrobe, looking down at me.
I could even see what looked like a cushion beside him.
“Oh my goodness, Your Grace!”
What are you doing up there?
And how did you even get up there?
My eyes shook as if there was an earthquake.
As if reading my mind, he said calmly,
“I stepped on the drawers.”
Wow… Your Grace…
I stared at the slightly open drawers and teared up.
Even if he used the drawers, the fact that he thought to climb up there with that tiny body—
‘Isn’t he the one filming a survival variety show here?’
I felt genuine respect for him.
“Isn’t it dusty up there?”
I hesitantly stretched out my hand, but of course, I couldn’t reach that high.
He gave me a crooked smile.
“Your household maids seem competent.”
Does that mean it’s clean?
I withdrew my hand with relief.
“That’s good to hear.”
Then, propping his arm under his head, he asked lazily,
“More importantly, my lady, was my disappearance really that shocking?”
“O-Of course it was. Where could you possibly go in that body? It’s dangerous. What if you got hurt…?”
“Even so, there was no need to cry. Your reaction is excessive. It makes me wonder why you’re helping me.”
His red eyes gleamed with suspicion.
I shamelessly smiled up at him.
“I told you already. I like you.”
“So you shed tears over such a trivial reason?”
“Maybe you don’t know this, but that’s what love is like. If you can’t see the person in front of you, you feel anxious, sad, depressed, and, um, completely drained of energy…!”
“…”
“Have you never loved someone before, Your Grace?”
Silence fell.
He stared at me for a moment—then abruptly turned away.
“Airel Blandiche.”
“Yes?”
His voice was colder than ever.
“Stop talking nonsense and turn off the lights.”
***
“Mm… my bi-bibimbap”
Late at night.
Airel’s sleepy mumbling echoed softly in the room.
Standing at the edge of the bed, Lishid watched her smack her lips in her sleep, lost in thought.
‘She’s strange.’
She had been wide awake and chattering endlessly—yet she fell asleep within three seconds of lying down.
‘How can she even sleep right now?’
Clicking his tongue softly, Lishid turned his gaze toward the wall behind the headboard.
Lowering his presence, he quietly approached the curtain Airel had desperately tried to hide.
“I will protect you before I protect my own life.”
“If you ever sense betrayal from me, you may stab me without hesitation.”
Her confident voice echoed in his mind with each step he took.
He had followed her here on a whim, but there were still many things he didn’t understand.
How did she know where he would be?
How did she recognize him immediately?
‘Don’t let your guard down.’
Even if she treated him well now, she was still part of House Blandiche.
For all he knew, she could be acting under the Emperor’s orders.
‘This body is perfect for dying without a trace.’
He couldn’t even fight properly like this.
Thinking of her tearful face by the window, Lishid drew his sword.
And despite her warning, he lifted the curtain slightly.
His expression hardened.
‘This is…’
He swallowed and pulled the curtain fully aside.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating countless frames covering the wall.
“…Ha.”
A cold sigh escaped his lips.
‘So that’s why.’
That’s why she begged him not to look.
The wall was filled—completely filled—with portraits of Lishid.
He slowly examined each one. His brow furrowed deeper.
He had doubted her feelings.
Airel Blandiche had caused chaos in his name, even set fire to the temple, claiming she liked him.
With all the bad rumors surrounding her, it was natural to wonder if her feelings were sincere—or if there was some hidden motive.
But…
‘This isn’t love. It’s a disease.’
Or perhaps obsession.
He glanced back at Airel, fast asleep.
Hearing her soft snoring, he let out a tired sigh.
At that moment, his suspicion of her feelings faded.
***
“Good morning, Your Grace.”
Early the next morning.
Rubbing my eyes, I looked up at the wardrobe.
Lishid was already awake, sitting properly. He had even neatly arranged his bedding.
As expected of the iron-blooded Grand Duke of the North.
‘When did he even put his clothes back on?’
I tilted my head as I looked at him, fully dressed in his uniform, which had been hanging by the window.
After confirming the window was securely closed, I yawned and stretched.
“Yaaawn… It’s still early. You could’ve slept a little more…”
Because of you, I can’t sleep in, you know?
As I began stretching, he sighed as if I were hopeless.
“From up here, I can see the inside of your mouth far too clearly.”
