The lord of the County of Kandle, Count Kandle, found his hand trembling without realizing it as he poured the tea.0

"Mmm, it has a lovely aroma. What kind of tea is this, Count Kandle?" a woman asked.0

"It's... made from the dried petals of a flower called Lapin, which only grows near Riad," Count Kandle replied.0

"I like it," the woman said with a nod.0

"It is also mixed with vodka," Count Kandle offered carefully.0

"I like it even more. Could you mix mine with vodka at a ratio of nine to one?" the woman requested.0

"Y-Yes, of course," Count Kandle said.0

Pour.0

He filled the woman's teacup with vodka until it was far more alcohol than tea. Whatever was in that cup now, it could hardly still be called tea.0

The blonde woman with piercing blue eyes took a sip and gave a pleased nod, then said, "Excellent."0

"T-Thank you," Count Kandle answered. He couldn't help but be nervous.0

And understandably so—this woman had once commanded the entire continent. She was Sabina Leston, the White Empress. She was the younger sister of the great hero, Grand Duke Halo, and a woman famous for her fearsome temper.0

People say that once a warrior reaches a certain level, they can reclaim their youth… Count Kandle recalled as he watched her.0

There wasn't a single trace of age on Sabina's face. She could easily pass for someone in her late twenties. That alone spoke volumes about her standing—Sabina Leston had clearly reached an astonishing...0