He offers a patient smile and waves away Lakshmi's concern; clearly, despite being from a different place, Benedict feels enough in common with her-- or is just magnanimous enough on account of being in the seat of power-- to treat her with uncharacteristic kindness.

"What is magic like, where you come from?" he asks, taking a final sip from his own cup and then beginning to pour more, offering the pot first to his guest.