“I have some good tea leaves from Laozadi. Please.”

He hands a cup of tea to Nina who sits in a chair with a big smile on her face.

Nina took it and sipped it slowly.

A soft bitterness spreads in the mouth, and then a subtle sweetness tickles the tongue.

After confirming that the tea passed through her throat and taking a breather, the nice scent of tea leaves escaped her nose.

“Delicious.”

A voice leaks out unintentionally.

Ludo smiled softly and sat down in the chair across the table from Nina.

“So, what’s going on?”

Ludo asks Nina in a gentle voice.

Nina set her cup down slowly and began to pout in Rude’s face.

◇

“I see.”

Ludo silently finished listening to Nina’s story and muttered a few words to her.

“I did terrible things to my father……”

“You don’t have to worry about that thing.”

“Huh?”

Nina looks at Ludo in surprise, and Ludo sips his tea with a look that says, “yareyare”.

“I hate to say it, but the king is a fool.”

“Hah?”

For the time being, Nina’s eyes darted to Ludo, who called the most important person in the country a fool.

“No matter what Nina-sama does, he will forgive you for anything if Nina sama says ‘I’m sorry, father’ in cute way.”

And with laugh, Ludo said so

“Do you think so?”

“Yes, of course.”

She’s little uneasy about it, but if Ludo says so, then it’s probably okay.

“Alright. I’ll do what Ludo says.”

When she grabbed hand in front of her, she ragained her spirit.

“But, Nina-sama. I have one more thing that concerns me more than that matter.”

“Huh?”

“Why Nina-sama in such a hurry? I’ve heard that Nina-sama has already able to use advance magic at such age. Even if you exclude other countries, there is no doubt that you are an extraordinary talent.”

Ludo asked Nina with a curious look on his face.

“Have you heard the rumors about…. Logimel?”

“Logimel?”

“Yeah. They’re at war with Lisebt, they’re getting outnumbered.”

“Yes. I know about that.”

“If Logimel is defeated, I think its neighbouring countries will be next target of Lisbet…. Then I, as royalty, would have to protect everyone in my country…. that’s why…”

Nina grasps the cup and slumps down, as if in thought.

A feeling of tension wrapped the two.

“…. Pff. Hahahaha.”

However, Ludo’s laughter kicked up such a tense atmosphere.

“Oh, I’m sorry. But that story just so outlandish….”

“Ludo! I’m serious!”

“Alright, I understand. But, Nina-sama, please think about it. King Lisbet and your mother, Olivia, are old acquaintances. In other words, Lisbet and Yuresh are friendly countries. It’s true that King Lisbet has been replaced by the new King Rone, who has become a belligerent nation that wages war one after another. But no matter what, he’s not foolish enough to start a war against a friendly country.”

“Do you think so?”

“You’re thinking too much. Besides, even if there was a war, there is no way they would give you permission to go into battle at the age of eight.”

“……”

Indeed, that’s what Nina thought, too.

No matter how much she studies, she will always be a child.
Hed father would never have allowed her to do that.

“So there’s no need to be hurry.”

Ludo speaks to Nina in an admonishing manner.

“Take your time, and walk at your own pace. There are times when being in too much of a hurry can lead you a wrong way.”

And Ludo drank all of his own tea.

That’s always the case.

When she’s depressed, he appears in front of hee as if he were a psychic and gives her words to calm herself down.

What is being said is no different than what her father told her.

However, for some reason, she find herself listening to what Ludo has to say without hesitation.

“Hey, Ludo. Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Ludo always invites me to tea like this when I’m down, and listens to me. Hey, how do you know that?”

It’s a question she has been thinking about for a few years.

“Hmm. If you ask me why, it’s because it says so on Nina-sama’s face.”

“My face?”

“It’s kind of [What should I do. I’ve done something bad]”

Nina hurriedly looked into the mirror in Ludo’s room.

But there she was, perfectly normal, hee usual self staring back at her.

“Ludo. It doesn’t say that anywhere!”

“That was a metaphor, Nina-sama.”

Ludo chuckles and walks over to Nina.

“The expression on Lady Nina’s face, I can tell what’s in your heart by looking at it.”

“My ……, expression.”

“Yes. Because of my position as Prime Minister, I cannot do my job if I am not familiar with the subtleties of people’s emotions. I’m good at reading people’s feelings from their faces. Besides…”

“Besides…?”

“I know Nina-sama especially well because I’ve been watching you since you was born. The King may be angry with me for saying this, but I think of Nina-sama as my own daughter. It’s only natural for a parent to know what their own daughter is thinking.”

“Ludo….”

“‘It’s been a bit of a long story, hasn’t it? You have studies and training tomorrow morning, don’t you? Please take the rest of the day off. Otherwise, I’ll get angry.”

Ludo gave a wry smile and began to clear the cups from the table.

“Uh, okay! Thanks for today, Ludo.”

Nina told Ludo that with a refreshed look on her face and left his room, returning to her own room with a bouncy step.

◇

“I’ll interrupt for a moment.”

A few minutes later, someone opens the door that Nina left.

“What do you want? Fool King.”

“Fool is a terrible word to describe, Ludo.”

Julius was standing there with an awkward expression on his face.

“No, no. I just thought I’d treat you to a little tea.”

Yareyare, Rude begins to prepare another cup from earlier.

“I’ve been getting some special tea leaves from Laozadi.”

“That’s Ludo I know. So witty.”

“It’s a great honor, my king.”

In a voice devoid of high spirits, Ludo replied, poured the tea into a cup and served it in front of the king.

It was a good decision to prepare just one more person.

“Actually, ……, my daughter and ……, well, there’s …… a lot going on.”

Julius sits down in his chair and starts pouting as he turns over.

Like father, like daughter.

With that in mind, Ludo sighed and sat down in the chair facing the king.

◇

Two months later.

“I am pleased to report! The royal capital of Logimel, Macbethia, has fallen.”

The Throne Room, inside the White Ice Blue Hall.

The room, which is used for audiences with guests, is filled with a heavy atmosphere when a young soldier bursts into the room, breathless.

“I see….”

Julius Yuresh hangs his head a little and mutters this shortly.

“So, Luden….. do you know what happened to royal family?”

“Yes!”

The soldier replies to the king’s question with a sigh, straightening his back.

“King Luden and Queen Lestrade are in captivity. The princess is said to have disappeared during the war. Probably with the castle ablaze. ……”

“That’s enough.”

Julius stopped the soldier’s words, as if he didn’t want to hear any more.

“You did a good job.”

And give him a praise.

“Yes! Excuse me!”

With those words, the soldier saluted the king and left the audience hall with quick steps.

Left behind in the audience hall are King Julius, Queen Olivia, and the Prime Minister Ludo.

And then there were the four of them, Nina with her face dyed blue.