Tea Time for the Troubled

Charlotte returned to her chambers with unsteady steps and all but collapsed onto the plush sofa at the center of the room. The air here carried the faint sweet scent of flowers, and the rose-colored embroidered cushions embraced her like a cloud, but they offered little comfort.

The moment she closed her eyes, his deep blue eyes came back to her. She groaned into a pillow, muffling the sound in fabric.

Frustration welled up in her chest—a restless, tangled emotion that felt impossible to name. She gave the cushions a few helpless thumps with both hands, but even that failed to bring her any relief.

A few soft knocks at the door cut through her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, sitting up.

The door creaked open, and Nina stepped in, pushing a small cart adorned with a porcelain tea set. 

“Welcome back, Your Highness. How was the inspection?” Nina asked with her usual calm grace.

“Oh, Nina . . . you must listen to this.” Charlotte sighed dramatically, drawing a soft chuckle from Nina.

“Just a moment, please. I’ll brew your favorite tea.”

Nina had been more than just a lady-in-waiting for Charlotte. Born of noble blood and ever composed, she had served Charlotte since the princess was a child—part gentle sister, part closest friend.

The tea smelled of chamomile and orange peel, with a sweet and calming aroma. The scent drifted through the room like a lullaby, and a proper breath came to her for the first time all day.

Nina set the teacup down with a gentle clink, offering it with a soft, “Here you are.”

“Thank you . . .” Charlotte took the cup in her hands, its warmth seeping into her skin and softening the edges of her tangled emotions.

“So,” Nina said, putting away the teapot. “What happened, my lady?”

Charlotte took a sip of tea and began to speak. About the visit to the town. About the knight who had threatened a merchant, twisted a man’s arm, declared food might be poisoned—all with a deadly calm.

At the end of her account, Nina let out another quiet laugh. “You simply wanted some of that grilled pork skewer, too, didn’t you?”

“I did not! Well . . . I did. But that’s not the point!” Charlotte said. “Who says words like that right in front of the poor cook? And he’s . . .”

“Oh, did he do something more?” Nina tilted her head.

Charlotte fiddled with her teacup, her fingers tracing the rim in a slow, restless motion. “He’s always so . . . tense. Like he’s on a battlefield. That’s why I decided to show him around the town with Jack. I thought, maybe if he saw more of our town—my favorite little shops, the Mother Tree, the river and the bridge—maybe he’d begin to loosen a bit.”

Her words faltered. Nina said nothing, only waited, and eventually, Charlotte’s cheeks turned pink as she continued in a small voice.

“But when I glanced over at him, he wasn’t looking at the scenery at all—he said he’d only been watching me the whole time.”

Nina couldn’t help the smile that crept across her face. “Oh, my.”

“It’s not like that!” She shouted, her face now crimson. “He said it like he was talking about sword drill, with a perfectly straight face! As if the moment he looks away, I’ll be stabbed by an assassin or dragged into some dark alley.”

Nina’s smile began to fade, her expression growing more thoughtful.

“And besides . . .” Charlotte said, her voice quieter now.

“Besides?”

“He doesn’t know me. Not really. He doesn’t even know this kingdom yet. And yet he follows my orders without hesitation. It’s like . . . he’d do anything to protect me.” She stared into her tea, brows furrowed. “Isn’t that odd? Doesn’t that feel . . . wrong, even?”

Nina didn’t answer at once, but her expression softened. “There may be a reason,” she said at last.

Charlotte nodded. “I know. I’ve never seen anyone act like that before.”

She’d hardly ever left the kingdom. Once, she had traveled to Bahharis with her mother, but she’d been too young to remember much. Only fragments remained: long hours in a carriage with her mother, and a spiky garden where she played with a child her age among blooming cacti.

Since her parents’ disappearance, this kingdom had become her entire world. She knew that not all places were as fortunate as hers. That many lands were far harsher, and the people there shaped accordingly. Perhaps he had come from one of those lands.

“But even if I asked, I don’t think he’d tell me anything. He looks at everyone around him like we’re enemies.”

That hurt more than she’d expected. To think that her beloved home, and the people in it, looked dangerous to him. That he might see kindness as a threat.

He must be lost. Confused. She knew that. And still, it stung.

“But it’s only been one day since he was assigned as your personal guard, hasn’t it?” Nina reminded her, pouring more tea.

“Yes. But I wonder,” Charlotte whispered, “can anyone truly reach a heart like his?”

That frozen gaze refused to let anyone in. Yet, this was the man she would be spending her days with—working alongside, venturing into towns, facing the world together.

“We can’t force a heart to open. But we can wait. We can show him he’s safe until he decides to open the door,” Nina said, pouring another cup of tea. This time, she added milk and extra sugar. “You don’t need to rush things, you know. It’s the same with tea. If the water is too cold or too hot, it won’t brew properly. And if you rush it, the flavor won’t come out. But if you leave it too long, it turns bitter.”

Charlotte let out a quiet giggle. “So what you’re saying is—you’re good at brewing both tea and human relationships?”

“If you’d say so, I’d be honored,” replied the lady-in-waiting with a modest smile, the faintest trace of pride showing through her usual composure—the kind of pride befitting the woman who led all the maids in the palace.

“You’re right.” As Charlotte sipped the tea, its sweet flavor spread throughout her mouth.

Perhaps I’m bewildered because I’ve always been surrounded by people who wear a cheerful face, Charlotte thought. A princess should wear a polite mask all the time . . . so I assumed it was only natural for people to return her smile.

Then even if he doesn’t return my smile, I will keep smiling. She resolved this firmly in her heart.

Nina smiled as she watched Charlotte and added, “And if he insists on watching you so closely . . . perhaps you should return the favor and start watching him too.”

Charlotte nearly dropped her teacup. “Nina!”

“I’m only teasing.” Nina laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.