The Golden Lioness’s Afternoon Tea

Duke Rhine, a renowned general, had served three dynasties. Even the current Emperor addressed him respectfully as “Old Duke.”

The Old Duke had only one son. Unfortunately, this son was killed by a traitor during a rebellion a decade ago. On that fateful day, the Old Duke once again donned his golden armor. He led the Golden Lion Legion, mercilessly slaughtering every rebel. Legend has it that legions assisting the Old Duke in the vicinity saw a golden lion, immense as a mountain, pounce upon the rebels. The traitors were no match for the lion, unable to withstand even a single blow.

“If it had been us, we might not have fared much better than those traitors,” a legion commander had remarked wistfully after the battle.

Fortunately, the Old Duke’s son had already fathered two children, a boy and a girl, before his death. The boy was Sachi, who had previously found Ziyao alongside Elena. And the girl was the blonde maiden now seated before Ziyao.

Her long golden hair was much like her brother’s, and a hint of confidence gleamed in her emerald eyes. Instead of a dress, she wore light armor, her fair thighs exposed to the air. Honestly, despite the slightly revealing nature of the attire, Ziyao couldn’t conjure even a hint of desire for the young woman.

“Aiya, how have you been lately?”

“Very well, thank you.”

The two girls began chatting, and Ziyao’s attention shifted to the middle-aged man standing behind Katerina. This was the problematic individual Raphael had mentioned. For now, however, he exhibited no strange movements.

Turning a page in her book, Ziyao offered the man a smile.

I’m watching you.

Gulp—

The man swallowed hard. Though outwardly composed, his mind was now furiously cursing the person who had assigned him this task. They had promised there would be no high-ranking mages beside the Princess! Where had this dangerously smiling young girl sprung from?

A Sage… she must be a Sage!

The man was not foolish. The subtle yet undeniable pressure emanating from the young girl made him realize she was a formidable expert he absolutely could not afford to offend.

“Katerina, this is Miss Ziyao. She’s a very kind person, too,” Aiya was already introducing Ziyao to Katerina.

“Miss Ziyao, my brother has spoken of you. Thank you so much for coming here to help Aiya.” Approaching Ziyao, the little golden lioness bowed respectfully.

“You’re quite similar to Sachi—both equally rigid.” Ziyao closed her book and rose from her chair, gently patting Katerina’s shoulder. “There’s no need to be so formal. Here, I’m Aiya’s friend, just like you.”

“Yes, Ziyao is very easy to get along with,” Aiya chimed in, supporting her.

“Mm.”

Evidently, the little lioness was still rather reserved. Exquisite pastries had long been arranged on the table by Miss Ailin, making it the perfect time for afternoon tea. This was, in fact, Ziyao’s first time experiencing a proper afternoon tea. The delicate sweets, artfully displayed on elegant plates, were instantly appetizing.

Before each of the three girls sat a cup of their favorite tea. Aiya’s cup held black tea; Miss Ailin had mentioned it contained a generous amount of sugar. Katerina’s cup contained green tea, reportedly the Old Duke’s favorite. As an heir of the Golden Lion, Katerina often engaged in such imitations.

“Whew, I didn’t expect Miss Ailin to be so efficient.” Ziyao raised her cup, a faint smile gracing her lips as she gazed at the tea shimmering with starlight.

The water was infused with Starpetal Grass. When Miss Ailin had informed Ziyao at noon that the Starpetal Grass was ready, she had unhesitatingly asked Miss Ailin to prepare a pot of tea brewed with it. Taking an elegant sip, Ziyao’s expression showed pure satisfaction.

This taste… it’s truly wonderful. The fresh fragrance of the herbs, the subtle sweetness—it’s endlessly delightful.

“Miss Ziyao, do you not have a favorite pastry?” Seeing Ziyao simply holding her teacup without further action, Katerina pointed to the exquisite pastries.

Pastries, huh… Ziyao set down her cup, then picked up a small cake and popped it into her mouth. It was very sweet, with a rich cream flavor. Miss Ailin’s craftsmanship was indeed trustworthy. However, eating too much would certainly become cloying.

Speaking of which, it seemed this little lioness hadn’t eaten much dessert either. “Miss Katerina, won’t you have some?”

“Eating these sweets makes it too easy to gain weight. I’m going to be a Paladin; I can’t afford to be lax!” The earnest young girl clenched her fists, speaking with a serious expression.

Lax?

Ziyao raised her head, her blood-red eyes seeming to flash crimson.

“Uh…” Katerina immediately realized her misstep. She had just accused an advanced professional of being “lax” right in front of them. In short, she had stepped on a landmine.

“Miss Katerina, please accept all these desserts—every last one.” Ziyao offered a very sweet smile. “I have digestive potions here; they have no side effects, so you needn’t worry about overeating.”

“Aiya, save me…” Katerina cast a pleading look at Aiya.

My apologies, Katerina, but I wouldn’t dare speak up for you. Besides, weren’t you just implying I was lax, too?

Aiya also offered a gentle smile. “You can do it, I believe in you.”

Ultimately, Katerina consumed nearly half of the pastries, while Ziyao and Aiya divided the rest. During this time, the problematic man remained motionless, daring not to stir. He could sense that even though the small girl in white seemed to be playfully interacting with her friends, her attention never truly left him. Should he make any sudden move, he estimated that an attack from the Sage would instantly overwhelm him.

I’m quitting as soon as I get back. This job is impossible.

A Sage harboring hostility towards him—the man felt that merely surviving and leaving this small courtyard was already a blessing from the gods. Those dark figures truly cannot be trusted. I must report them to the team leader.

“Well then, Aiya, I shall take my leave first.”

A celestial voice drifted over, and the man felt close to tears. It was finally over. He had survived.

“What a coward.” Watching the little lioness and her retinue gradually depart, Ziyao scoffed softly. That man had been trembling ever since he saw her; even a fool would know he was trouble.

“Ailin, I suspect he’ll try to escape once he returns.”

“Indeed, he seems to have been utterly terrified by you.” Ailin appeared in the small pavilion. “Let’s hope we can glean something from him.”

Some things, once started, cannot be escaped. The right to end them had already changed hands.