On the way back after carrying out the Emperor's order to subjugate the monsters that had appeared in the western region, he had simply closed his eyes for a short nap in the carriage, exhausted from the fierce battle.
And then—
“...What?”
The moment he opened his eyes to a strange sensation, the world had changed.
The scenery he had seen before falling asleep had vanished without a trace.
Instead, he found himself lying in an enormous, bizarre room.
Lisid immediately drew his sword.
Have I been kidnapped?
But he had sensed no warning whatsoever.
He might have dozed off for a moment, but if someone had attacked him, he would certainly have awakened.
He looked around for his aide, Cassel.
Then he realized it.
“This is...”
It wasn't that his surroundings had changed.
His body had become small.
“Ugh...!”
The moment he realized it, Lisid lost his balance as the carriage rocked beneath him and tumbled onto the floor.
It was the first humiliation of this kind he had ever experienced.
A leader who can't even protect his own body... How could someone like that protect anything else?
If the leader fell into danger, those who followed him would collapse as well.
That was why Lisid couldn't tell anyone that he had shrunk.
If he revealed such an absurd truth, his knights—still celebrating their victory—would be thrown into complete chaos.
Epenterion was already burdened by the Emperor's endless commands.
Lisid couldn't allow any more confusion to fall upon his duchy.
It was the sense of responsibility he had learned during his days as a prince.
To endure everything alone.
Never depend on others.
Frowning, Lisid clenched his tiny fist.
Once I return to normal...
He would find the one responsible for this curse and cut off their head with his own hands.
It didn't matter who it was.
A noble.
The king of another nation.
Anyone who dared commit such an act would pay the price for looking down on him—the Imperial Prince and Grand Duke of Epenterion.
If they're already dead, I'll revive them just so I can kill them again.
His crimson eyes gleamed with a cold smile.
But soon, he let out a quiet sigh.
There was a more urgent problem to deal with first.
The Emperor's welcome banquet.
The western region, which had always looked down on the North where monsters constantly appeared, had relied on Epenterion's help during this campaign.
And when one received aid, proper gratitude was expected.
Yet Marquis Langard, ruler of the West, remained silent.
At this banquet, Lisid intended to meet the western nobles and determine who would stand on Epenterion's side.
But in this tiny body...
He couldn't possibly attend the Emperor's banquet.
At this rate, not only would he fail to gather allies, but he would also end up insulting the Emperor by skipping a banquet personally held in his honor.
Everything had fallen apart.
Even if I send Cassel as my representative...
It wouldn't be the same as seeing things with his own eyes.
Cassel was loyal.
But he was too gentle to make sharp judgments.
If only I could attend the banquet myself...
At that moment, Irel Blandiche's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
“F-First, please take a bath...!”
The pale face that had turned noticeably flustered after he merely asked where he was supposed to sleep.
He could vividly picture the noble lady hurriedly running into the bathroom to prepare hot water.
Was Lady Blandiche... always like this?
The Irel Blandiche he remembered had always possessed a cruel temperament.
The flower of high society.
A woman with thorns on her tongue.
Though she always acted gentle and sweet in front of him, Lisid knew all about her terrible reputation.
But today...
She had been different.
Especially...
Those eyes.
The lively spark shining in her violet eyes whenever she looked at him felt unfamiliar.
Before today, she had always looked at him like a child coveting a toy.
Eyes overflowing with greed.
Lisid had always thought Irel's eyes closely resembled those of Duke Blandiche—a man who constantly calculated his own gain.
That was why he had deliberately avoided her all this time.
Even though he knew she constantly followed him around.
So why...
“I've prepared a warm bath for you. Once you've relaxed, your bed and pajamas will be ready too!”
Why didn't she have those eyes anymore?
It was as though she had suddenly become a completely different person.
Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, Lisid couldn't imagine how such a pampered noble lady had managed to prepare a bed for him.
Yet...
Judging by how perfectly prepared the bath had been...
Lisid frowned slightly as he lifted the soap bubbles.
Perhaps Irel Blandiche is more useful than I thought.
How exactly he should make use of her...
He would decide that later.
With a faint, cold smile, Lisid brushed the bubbles away and stood up.
Now that his bath was finished, he intended to ask the lady about the welcome banquet.
But when he stepped outside wrapped in the handkerchief Irel had prepared for him, he froze.
“Lady... what exactly is this?”
“Ah, this is the bed, and this is the pillow. Is it a little crude?”
Holding two soft cushions, I pointed to them one after the other.
Lisid peeked through the slightly opened bathroom door and frowned.
“I wasn't asking about that.”
“Huh? Then what?”
I looked at him in confusion.
His icy gaze was fixed on the pajamas I had left outside the bathroom door.
“This.”
He pointed at them.
“You expect me to wear... these ridiculously flashy floral pajamas?”
“Oh.”
Only then did I realize what the problem was.
“...Ahem. I'm sorry, but this was the best I could do.”
All of Irel's fabric had been meant for making handkerchiefs.
“Could you just wear them for today? Tomorrow I'll buy you proper men's clothes that fit.”
“Men's clothes in this size?”
“I'm planning to visit a doll shop. My maid said they have all kinds of outfits! Formal wear, knight uniforms, casual clothes—even armor! So just trust me.”
Hiding my embarrassment, I answered confidently.
Before seeing the cursed Grand Duke in person, I had no way of knowing his size.
So while he was bathing, I measured the clothes he'd taken off, hurriedly cut some fabric, and made pajamas for him.
It was finally time for the sewing skills that had always earned me perfect scores in home economics class to shine.
“Just bear with it for today, Your Grace.”
To show my promise, I bent down and held out my pinky finger.
Of course, there was no way the Grand Duke could hook his tiny finger around mine.
Still, I wanted to show some sincerity.
But Lisid...
“Hah. I'd rather sleep naked than wear something like this.”
He laughed coldly and swung the door wide open.
Seeing him standing there wearing nothing but a white handkerchief, I hurriedly covered my eyes.
“Y-Your Grace!”
Looking genuinely puzzled, he asked,
“Don't tell me you're embarrassed... even looking at a body this tiny?”
How could I not be embarrassed? You're practically half naked!
I shouted inwardly while turning away.
“O-Of course I am! Even if you've become small... it's still your body, Your Grace.”
“...So the important thing is that it's my body.”
He murmured quietly.
I nodded frantically.
“This won't do. P-Please wrap yourself in the blanket on the bed. I'll go wash your clothes!”
With that, I grabbed his clothes and hurried into the bathroom.
...Wait.
Did I just hear him chuckle?
Nah...
It had to be my imagination.
“Wow... is this actually getting clean?”
Squatting on the bathroom floor, I vigorously scrubbed the black uniform.
It would've been nice if there had been laundry soap.
Washing clothes with bath soap didn't feel very effective.
Still, there was one good thing.
Thank goodness his clothes shrank too.
Holding up the tiny uniform, I sighed in relief.
If only Lisid's body had shrunk while his clothes hadn't...
He might have ended up wandering the streets naked.
If that had happened, I never would've dared kidnap him.
Besides, no matter how good my sewing skills were, making an entire wardrobe overnight would've been impossible.
Come to think of it...
So this is the kind of simple style Lisid likes?
I carefully examined the plain uniform without a single decoration, already planning what clothes to buy at the doll shop.
I've already made a list of stores.
I'll bring the pajamas I made earlier so I can compare the sizes.
