Anyway, me, Filia and Clarice returned to the Imperial Palace safely.
　Theodora and the others who attempted to kidnap the princess were arrested as criminals.
　The guards who were involved in the secret society behind Theodora, the Coalition of Righteous People, were also picked up en masse.

　Though it was not a small number of people, the case was handled in secret.
　The reason for this was to keep the secret that the Princess was the daughter of the Devil from getting out.

　More importantly, just as Theodora had said, no harm had come to Clarice.

　If Clarice had been killed right after she was kidnapped, there would be no way to save her, no matter how hard I tried.

　But in fact, I was able to secretly free Clarice, who had been tied up and left in a noose before the fight began.

　Clarice was blocked up by the shock of the incident... or so it seemed.

　On the contrary, Clarice was rather full of energy.

''So, Ron-sama!　Would you like a cup of tea?

　Clarice, in her maid's uniform, asked me happily.
　This is a room in the Imperial Palace.
　It's the private quarters of the Princess Filia.

　It's the day after the incident, and after explaining the situation to the officials, we return to this room exhausted.
　It's late and Filia is asleep in the back room, probably tired.
　So there's no one here now but me and Clarice.

'No, I don't want to drink so much tea right now, so it's okay.

'You don't have to be shy!　We have to do something for the man who saved our lives!

In fact, Lady Filia made me a cup of coffee just now.

Oh, I see.

　Clarice says ruefully.
　Clarice mumbles, hmmm, I don't know what to do.
　Somehow, Clarice seems to want to leave me alone.

　When we met before, Clarice told me that she admired the magic swordsman Solon.
　At the time, I was using the alias Davido, but I'm not anymore.
　I am now in front of Clarice as Sorority Solon.

When I first met him, I thought he was an amazing person, but I can't believe it was the real Master Solon.

"I'm sorry I lied to you about that time,

'I don't care about that. It's good to see you!

　As I said this, Clarice looked at my feet and gave me an oops-look.
　Then her eyes twinkled.

''Oh, Solon-sama, your shoes are dirty, aren't they?

'I don't think so but...'

I will polish it for you!

　Without waiting for my reply, Clarice bent over in front of me with her tools.
　She said she was going to polish my leather shoes as they were still on.
　It's a bit embarrassing to have a girl kneeling in front of me and offering to polish my shoes.
　But when I saw the tools Clarice was holding in her hand, I was more interested in that.

Well, Miss Clarice. Isn't that a pig bristle brush?

'Pig hair?　Really?　Anyway, it's a shoeshine tool, right?

Shoeshine, you know, I use a horsehair brush to get the dust off first. I keep them over there.

　Clarice hurriedly picked up the other brush.
　I looked at it, then said.

'The horsehair brush has finer bristles, so it can remove the dust without damaging the shoes. Then I use a cloth to clean the dirt as well, and after that I use a pig bristle brush and cream to polish the shoes. That way you can polish them better.

　After saying that much, I hurriedly added.

'It's kind of bad that I'm in the position to have you polish, and I feel like I'm ordering you around.

　Clarice looked up at me, her cheeks flushed red.

'You know everything, Solon-sama!

'No, I don't think it's that big of a deal...'

　I don't feel like it's something the maid, Clarice, should know.
　Well, I guess it's information I wouldn't know if I were from a nobleman's background like Creon or Sophia.
　The only reason I know these trivial life techniques is because I'm from a commoner.
　Clarice began using a horsehair brush to clean the dirt off my shoes.

'Master Solon was a servant, just like me, wasn't he?

That's right. I was the son of a steward of a duke at the beginning of the Empire. The duke's family sent me to a magic school, though.

　The duke was a kind man, and he knew I was interested in magic, and he also expected me to be able to study reasonably well, so he gave me all the money for school.
　That was also thanks to the encouragement of my childhood friend, the duke's daughter.

　Although I returned the school funds dozens of times, I haven't seen my parents' house in almost two years, so I'll have to go see them sooner or later,

　Clarice said.

'And now you're the most powerful magic swordsman in the Empire, I see.

Well, I got kicked out of the Order.

But because of that, he became Lady Filia's tutor and helped me as well.

　When she finished, Clarice huffed and held her mouth in her hand.

'I'm sorry. It's kind of insensitive, like it would have been better if Master Solon had been kicked out.'

''I don't mind, but Clarice-san said that you respect me as the 'Vice Commander of the Order of St. Sophia'. Then, since you were kicked out of the Order for lack of ability, won't you be disappointed in me now?

　Clarice shook her head, smiled brightly and said.

''When I saw Solon-sama fighting, I couldn't believe that he was banished for lack of ability. He's so strong. Maybe he was just kicked out because the people around him were jealous of him?

'That's not true. I'm not good enough, that's a fact.

I love that kind of humility!

Well, I'm not being modest...

　I'm sorry, but I think it's true that my fighting ability didn't help the Order.
　What Creon and Arte said was right.
　I'm a poor handy guy.
　I don't care if you're fighting alone, you need an outstanding ability to share roles within the Order, but I don't have it.
　But Clarice said, irrespective of my inner feelings.

''Anyway, Solon-sama saved my life twice. I don't care if the people of the Order say they don't want Master Solon. It doesn't matter if the people of the Order say they need Master Solon, because I and Master Filia need him!　Right?

　Clarice looked me up and down.
　In any case, I'm Filia's tutor. As such, Clarice, Filia's only dedicated maid, is my colleague.
　And that's why my colleague has made me feel so welcome.

　I should be happy, and I am.
　I say to Clarice, who is shining my shoes.

"Hey, Clarice. "Thank you, Mr. Clarice. It's nice to meet you.

Yes. It's my pleasure!