"Oh, you nobles and your sweet tooths," Claude laughs, but he does at least take the cup from him to add a couple of teaspoons of sugar... aaand one more for good measure. After giving it a thorough stir, he then offers it back to him. "Well, it may not be above board now, but if I accomplish the kind of influence you say I do, then it won't be long before it is. Then you can try all the Almyran tea you want, whenever you like."

Then he sits down to take a sip of his own tea, with no sweetener whatsoever. Thankfully it wasn't oversteeped -- at least not by his preferences, anyway. "So, how is it? To your lordship's liking, I hope?"