Previously:

The royal candidates had a cooperative meeting with one another when the nefarious Witch Cult led by Capella attack the Karsten Mansion. The sin archbishop of Lust threw a mysterious fluid towards the table — that set off a pink noxious gas, prompting the royal candidates to pass out. Their respective knights —after subduing the other forces of evil —barged in the meeting room and were horror-struck on what laid their eyes on...

The current situation:

"What a difficult predicament we're facing at the moment." The verdant-haired assessed the situation, her hat slipping from time to time from her head. She's sitting at her desk but she couldn't reach her table, prompting Felix to stack up books at her chair to level her to her desk.

"It seems so. This will cause an outcry if this goes out to the public." The mauve-haired merchant lamented — slightly irritated with her hat and scarf are almost covering her face. "Never thought that I'll hate my outfit for once." She internalized this as she looks like one fluffy cloud.

"Mineself is slightly irritated to be ensnared by such a foolish and trivial trap. When mineself will have thy hands on that wretched Archbishop, I'll flay her alive slowly." The orange-haired haired declared as her blood-red eyes filled with rage — her tiny hands gripping the fan as hard as she could, willing it to break.

"What are we going to do now? I don't want to stay like this forever! It's really hard to move around and I don't want to be treated like a child..." the silver-haired half-elf sulked as she softly kicks her boot at the floor as tears threaten to fall at the corner of her amethyst eyes. Her puffy cheeks twitching from the previous crying session she did earlier.

"Before that, WILL YOU GUYS STOP SQUEALING?! We can hear you, you know! You too, Rein! This is a serious matter, so shut up and focus!" the blond red-eyed princess glared at the knights, pouting and tearing up from her anger and frustration.

The said knights were at a mess, but for different reasons:

Subaru was leaning at the door frame, his hands covering his face — willing himself not to squeal at the cuteness before him. "Calm down Subaru, Beako will never forgive you if she finds out." He muttered under his breath.

The one-armed knight was slightly shaking, supporting himself as well on one of the vacant chairs. For once, he's glad that his face is covered with his helmet — as his mouth threatens to break a smile from forming. He also willed his voice to pipe down as it would echo and he'll receive "severe" punishment from his lady.

Julius and Reinhard didn't fare any better either, as both are covering their mouth with one hand. The Spirit Knight tightly gripping his scabbard to dear life while the Sword Saint's mind began to wander outfit after outfit to plan, buy, and give to his respective lady. "As a Royal Knight, this may be the hardest and weirdest mission I have faced." both knights shared the sentiment.

Lastly, the greatest healer of Lugunica is standing beside his lady's desk, desperately trying to be composed but failing — biting his lip, breathing slowly and deeply, and resisting the urge to pick up the "mini-Crusch" currently sitting beside him. To prevent giving in to his urges, he placed his hands at his back, one holding over the other — his nails digging over the other wrist. "Resist, you must resist..." he mused while trying to look straight at the wall and prevent looking at the other "mini" versions of the Royal Candidates.

Yeah, you guessed it, the mysterious potion turned the Royal Candidates into... little versions of themselves.

And each knight — though initially horrified by this— is now desperately resisting to look and squeal if they don't want to offend their master. Or get killed. By their tiny hands. And little feet. And squeaky voices.

And those same lieges are "glaring" at them with contempt as each voice their displeasure, unaware that it only amplifies their own cuteness to another level due to their current situation:

"Su~ba~ru~!"

"Felix! Stop this instant!"

"Julius-kun, look me in the eye and behave!"

"Shut up, Rein! Stopping giggling!"

"After I'm done with that wretched Archbishop, do you wish to go next, Aldebran?"

Instead of feeling threaten and afraid, each knight felt their hearts being shot through, as they unconsciously placed their hand above their chest, doing a slow heavy inhale and wincing. After what seems to be like forever, the knights slowly composed themselves and try to resolve this "adorable" situation.

"Okay, so what now? Any ideas? Wait?! Why are you staring at me like that?" Subaru initiated while trying to breathe properly. He looked at his companions and was shocked that most of them are looking at him intently as well. "Why do I get a bad feeling about this?" he thought as anxiety slowly builds up.

"We were hoping that you have an answer to this, considering that, you know..."

"...you're the "Lolimancer" ny~ah... and ..."

"...honestly, this is not in our field of expertise, so..."

"What we're saying bro, is that you're the only expert here— so we expecting you to know how to handle this."

Each knight voiced their opinion towards the black-haired knight earning a look of shock and despair from him. "I hate the guy who came up with that title. It's misleading and off-putting." Subaru cursed under his breath, his face slightly scrunched up. Then again, he has no special qualities to boast for to begin with — aside from Return By Death as it takes a mental and emotional toll on him. He was contemplating using the said ability to redo this whole situation.

"Well, this is great while it lasted. Guess I have to do this to counter Capella. Man, this sucks." He tirelessly sighs as he mentally takes note of the loads of information he has inquired in this "loop" and prepares himself.

His train of thought was cut off when he noticed someone slightly tugging his jacket.

"Subaru, is something wrong? You look sad." Emilia gazed at her knight with concern, her wet eyes sparkling like jewels, complementing her naivety and innocence. If he wasn't busy mulling over his thoughts, he would have imagined how SmolMilia and Beako would interact with one another. "Damn, you are so cute. Beako has some serious competition for being the most adorable."

"It's nothing, Emilia-tan. Wait, I can't say that?! I might get arrested..." Subaru trails off rambling as he diverts his negative thoughts. He sighs and continues: "Since my Emilia-tan is now a little kid, I'll call you Mili-chan." he nods and chuckles as the small half-elf pouts at him.

"Liar, you always deflect my question." Emilia puffs her cheeks — earning her knight's light laughter as he pokes one of them, puffing out the air. "But thanks for being so caring, Mili-chan." He gently rubs her hair with his right hand. Man, her hair is soft. As she continues patting her head, he notices that the other "little" candidates are observing him.

"That looks very calming and intriguing. Mind doing that to me too?" the mini-Merchant queen asked while observing the interaction. She remembers doing the same action to Mimi but she's personally curious about how it feels like on her considering having a rough childhood as an orphan and striving to work at an early age.

She didn't regret any of her past, but it didn't hurt to be curious to get a first-hand experience of such a happy moment, right?

"Sure, I guess?" Subaru complied as he slowly approaches the mauve-haired mini-candidate. Anastasia took off her hat — which at times covers her eyes — and he proceeds to slowly rub her hair gently. Man, she smells like vanilla. Unconsciously, Anastasia lightly purred, earning a shocked expression to everyone around them. "Why do I get a weird sense of deja vu?" he mutters while unaware of Emilia pouting behind him and Julius being conflicted — on being amazed or worry as some indescribable dread is filling him inside. "This is ridiculous, there's no way my lady can be this cute and be swayed by that, right?"

"Ny~ah, that's s~o adorable!" Felix squealed as his eyes failed to move away from the scene. The duchess noticed this and inquired " Felix, can you pat me as well? That looks so soothing." as she looked at her knight curiously.

"ACK! Of course Crusch-sama! It will be my great pleasure! ...ehhh?! What's wrong Crusch-sama?" the healer excited to finally indulge her cuteness to himself. But as he was rubbing her green-haired, a slight frown was etched on her face. "It just doesn't feel the same..." she mused under her breath to prevent hurting Felix.

Suddenly a small commotion erupted in the assembly room as the remaining candidates started to "play" tug-of-war with the poor black-haired knight as the "rope", each claiming their stake for the "notorious" head pats...

"As mineself decree, it's my turn!"

"No! It's my turn with Big Bro!"

"Stop it! He's my knight. He's mine."

"I'm not done yet, so wait for your turn."

All eyes focused as Emilia and Felt pulled Subaru's jacket at one side while Priscilla and Anastasia pulled the other. The poor boy was swaying to and fro as the candidates wanted to have their own "head pat session" with the knight.

As the other knights stifled their laughter, there are more important issues that needs to deal with.

"We're getting sidetrack here. What's the plan, Subaru?" Reinhardt asked as time was of the essence. As much as he wanted to help his friend in his current predicament, the other knights might be concerned and worry about the safety of the Royal Candidates that it would be a messy situation if this leaks out.

"...okay... Julius.. and..Rein... please inform the others... that the Royal Candidates are okay... and make an excuse... to not let them come here to let us handle this... Felix...please bring any refreshments and toys...you can find... Al..please stay and help me..." Subaru instructed them — as dizziness and nausea start to build up within him — as he struggles to break free from his predicament. The knights didn't notice Crusch joining as well, pulling the black-haired knight at Emilia and Felt's side as well.

The knights nodded and break apart to do their tasks. Surely, handling five little girls isn't a hard thing to do, right?

Five hours passed by...

"Finally you're back! What took you guys so long?!" Subaru exhaled softly as fatigue begins to set in as well as drowsiness.

Julius and Reinhardt went back to the Karsten mansion after informing and convincing the other knights of their report. It took another hour as they have to report back to their barracks to inform and assure Marcos about the safety of the candidates.

As they entered the meeting room, a surprising scene greeted them:

The room was a topsy-turvy — scattered papers and crayons flooded the floor, as well as hand-craft stuff dolls of their different friends and allies. On the table was a pitcher of orange juice and a bowl of sweets — which is nearly empty — as well as wet stains and crumbs.

Julius notices Felix covered with ink stains, crumbs, and ribbons on his hair. Reinhardt observed Al's body covered with assorted stickers, as well as his helmet. Both knights were also covered with scribbles at different parts of their body: Felix's tail, stomach, face, and left shoulder while Al's helmet, stubble arm, pants, and his chest. And the final piece of this confusing situation was:

Subaru sitting in the middle of the room with the little candidate rascals—huddled and gathered closely at him sleeping soundly and hugging each of their stuffed doll of choice.

For Emilia, she snuggled with a mini-Beatrice doll while Crusch hugged tightly a Felix one — which warms the said knight's heart. Ana chose a little Mimi doll with matching clothes and orange fur while Felt was sleeping soundly with a Rom doll. Lastly, Priscilla was slightly snoring while clinging a little Schult plushie while her hair was tidied up by the black-haired knight.

"Please, not too loud Subaru-kun. It took longer to make them fall asleep, nyan. I think we can't handle another round with them." Felix hushed him as he struggled to stand up and greet his friends.

"And who's fault was it for giving them too many sweets?" Al nonchalantly uttered as he sit down and lean himself against the wall. Who knew that this was more stressful and tiresome than handling his lady?

"Nyan, it was that or another crying tantrum. What choices do I have?!" Felix answers back as his wobbly knees gave up and fall to the floor. Of all the healing sessions and life-and-death situations he faced, this was the most exhausting he had ever felt. Who knew those little rascals were so energetic and lively already, more so being sugar-rushed?

"Pipe down you two. My body can't handle another round of this adorable stress." Subaru shushed both of them as his legs began to feel sore. As much as he wants to stand and leave, it would rustle the sleeping candidates up, and all of them can't handle another round of liveliness. So he sucked it up and endure the pain.

"So, what now, Subaru? How'll we proceed from here?" Julius breaks the conversation and diverts it to the matter on hand. He wasn't envious of him being snuggled by his lady. Not at all. He's a knight; he has to be the embodiment of class and chivalry.

"Honestly, I got nothing. For now, let's hide this from the others and handle it on our own. You and Rein should investigate what the witch cult and Capella are up to." Subaru yawns as he struggles to keep his eyes from closing. "If a week passes by and nothing comes up, we'll ask the help from the others."

With that, the black-haired knight dozed off as Reinhardt and Julius positioned his body to a comfortable angle while trying not to wake up the little candidates.

At the moment, all knights shared the same sentiment:

"This is going to be a long and exhausting week."

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading this fic. Sorry if it seems so rushed as I initially was planning to archived this and not finish it. But since it's going to be a waste, I decided to continue making it. Currently, I'll be going back to continue my engineering cadetship, so it will be a while for me to update my other works (please read them, I promise you'll never regret it :)). Thank you for the continuous support and I hope you like it. Please leave a comment as I always read it and take it as constructive criticism in improving my writing. This would probably be the last one-shot I'll be making (for now?)

See you in the next chapters of Cracked Heart :) Take Care...