🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 6
On his way back from carrying out the emperor’s command — to subjugate the monsters that had appeared in the West — Rishid Eppenterion had dozed off for just a brief moment, exhausted from battle.
But then—
“…What is this?”
The instant he opened his eyes, he realized something was terribly wrong.
The scenery he’d seen before closing them was gone, replaced by an enormous and unfamiliar room.
Rishid immediately drew his sword.
Kidnapped?
No. There had been no warning, no sense of danger. Even if he’d dozed off, he would have awoken at the slightest threat.
He searched for his aide, Kassel, scanning the vast surroundings—
and then realized the truth.
“This isn’t… the place that changed.”
“It’s me. I’ve gotten smaller.”
He staggered as the moving carriage swayed beneath him, unable to keep his balance.
“Ugh…!”
Rolling across the floor helplessly — it was the first humiliation of his life.
A leader who couldn’t even control his own body.
If the head faltered, the whole faction would crumble.
That was why he could not let anyone know.
If the knights of Eppenterion, still drunk on their recent victory, heard that their lord had been shrunken by some mysterious curse, chaos would erupt.
Rishid Eppenterion had already been burdened enough with imperial orders and northern duties. He would not add turmoil to his house.
He had been taught, since his days as a prince, that true responsibility meant enduring alone.
He clenched his small fists, his crimson eyes narrowing.
“…Once I return to normal—”
“I’ll find whoever did this and sever their head myself.”
Whether noble or foreign monarch, anyone who dared insult the blood of the empire and the Duke of Eppenterion would pay the price.
“If they’re already dead, I’ll resurrect them just to kill them again.”
His cold smile flashed like steel.
But soon, he sighed. There were other, more immediate problems.
“The emperor’s welcoming banquet…”
The Western provinces, once dismissive of the monster-ridden North, had needed Eppenterion’s help in the recent campaign.
Now, etiquette demanded gratitude — but the Marquis of Langard had remained silent.
Rishid intended to use the upcoming banquet to gauge which Western nobles would align with him.
Yet in this diminutive form, he couldn’t attend at all.
Refusing the emperor’s own banquet would be a grave insult. Everything was falling apart.
“Even if I send Kassel in my stead…”
No. His aide was loyal but timid — incapable of navigating a web of politics.
“If only I could attend in person.”
At that thought, a voice echoed in his mind.
“P-please, just… take a bath first!”
The flustered tone of Airel Blandiche surfaced vividly — her pale face, her clumsy hands rushing to prepare warm water.
“Was she… always like that?”
The Airel he remembered was cruel, vain, and sharp-tongued — a poisonous flower of high society.
Her eyes always gleamed with covetousness, like a spoiled child who wanted another toy.
“Those eyes were just like her father’s.”
He had avoided her for that very reason, even knowing she lingered around him.
But today—
“I’ve drawn a hot bath for you! Once you’re refreshed, I’ll have your bed and sleepwear ready!”
Her voice, her expression, her eyes — all seemed different.
The vitality within those violet eyes was unfamiliar, almost… sincere.
He narrowed his gaze. Could she truly have prepared all this herself?
The bathwater was perfectly warm. Even the details were exact.
“Perhaps Airel Blandiche is more… useful than I thought.”
How to use her, he’d decide later.
With a faint, frosty smile, Rishid brushed the soap bubbles from his hands and rose to his feet.
He’d ask her about the banquet next.
But when he stepped out, wrapped in a small handkerchief she’d left for him, his expression stiffened.
“Lady Airel… what is this supposed to be?”
“Oh, that’s the bed, and this one’s the pillow! It’s a bit clumsy, isn’t it?”
I pointed at the soft little cushions I’d arranged.
Peeking through the door, Rishid frowned deeply.
“That’s not what I was asking.”
“Huh? Then what—?”
His cold gaze shifted toward the garment folded neatly at the bathroom door.
“This. Are you seriously telling me to wear this? This… garish, floral thing?”
“Ah.”
It clicked immediately.
“I’m sorry, but that’s… the best I could do.”
All I had were scraps of fabric meant for handkerchiefs.
“Please, just wear it for tonight! Tomorrow I’ll buy you proper clothes!”
“Proper clothes? For this size?”
“I heard there’s a toy shop nearby! They have everything — dress uniforms, armor, even formalwear! Leave it to me.”
I forced a bright smile, hiding my guilt.
Honestly, I hadn’t been able to guess his size until I’d seen him like this.
So while he bathed, I’d measured the tiny garments he left behind and hurriedly cut some fabric to fit.
“Thank goodness I got full marks in home economics…”
“Just hold on for today, Your Grace.”
I bent slightly, holding out my pinky finger. Of course, he couldn’t hook it, but the gesture felt right.
He merely snorted.
“Hah. I’d sooner sleep naked than wear this.”
The door burst open.
I shrieked and threw my hands over my eyes.
“Y-your Grace!”
He sounded almost confused.
“Are you actually embarrassed? Even seeing a body this small?”
How could I not be? You’re still half-naked!
I turned away, my cheeks burning.
“Of course! You may be small, but you’re still you, Duke!”
“…So it’s because it’s my body, I see.”
His tone dropped low, unreadable. I nodded frantically.
“P-please, at least wrap a blanket around yourself! I’ll go wash your clothes right now!”
I snatched up his uniform and fled to the bathroom.
And just as the door shut—
Did I just hear him chuckle?
No, surely that was my imagination.
“Ugh, does this even count as washing?”
I crouched by the tub, scrubbing the tiny black uniform with soap.
It didn’t lather well, and I wished for a bar of real laundry soap.
Still, one thing to be thankful for—
“At least his clothes shrank with him.”
If only his body had shrunk, he’d have been parading around naked, and there’s no way I could’ve dared to pick him up then.
I held up the little uniform, sighing in relief.
“Simple style, huh? Guess he doesn’t like decorations.”
I studied the design carefully — clean lines, no embellishments.
I’d need that reference when buying doll clothes tomorrow.
“Alright. I’ve got the shop list ready. I’ll bring this pajama for the size check…”
And with that, I wrung out the tiny coat, unaware that beyond the door, a very small duke was watching with the faintest ghost of a smile.
