I watched the morning sun light faintly shine through the window of the Imperial Palace and then collapsed into bed once more.
　It was still early in the morning and I shouldn't be punished for falling asleep twice.
　As expected of a high class bed in an imperial palace room. It's very comfortable.

　It is in this room that I have placed a magical ward around my body. The wards are linked to my body, so if an enemy is attacking, I'll know immediately.
　So I can sleep with some peace of mind.

　I yawned.
　I guess I was pretty busy when I was called the second in command of the Knights of St. Sophia, too.
　I couldn't sleep twice like this, I'd wake up early in the morning and work until midnight.

　All the behind-the-scenes work of the Order was concentrated on me, and I didn't even go into battle.
　Well, in the second half of my time in the Order, the opportunities to capture the ruins were lessened because the people around me were getting stronger.
　But instead, I was busy running the Knights who had become a large group. The cadres were all noblemen, and many of them were naive to varying degrees, so they couldn't be left in charge of affairs and coordination.

　It can be said that being expelled from the Order frees me from the hassle of those kinds of miscellaneous tasks.
　I don't know who in the executive team is taking my place now, but I just hope they're doing well.

　Filia was asleep in the bed next to me.
　I glanced at her profile.
　She was sleeping comfortably, as if there was nothing to worry about.
　She's still young, but I think she's really beautiful.
　And a gentle girl at that.

　Filia was wearing a lovely nightgown of thin fabric.
　Its bosom was slightly flung open, revealing a glimpse of her thin breasts.
　I looked away in a hurry.

　I knew it was annoying to sleep and wake up in a room with a girl.
　Anyway, I'm going to go back to sleep.
　I was just about to go back to sleep when the door to my room was thrown open as wide as it would go.

'Filia-sama!　And Mr. Solon... Good morning.

　The maid, Clarice, said happily, and without waiting for me or Filia to answer, she ran into the room.
　I hurriedly jumped up and checked my watch.
　It was only six a.m.
　It couldn't be the time I needed to get up.
　But Clarice said.

'Neither of you should sleep in!　I know it may be embarrassing, but could you please help Master Solon wake Lady Filia up?

Well, Miss Clarice. What time is it?

What time is it? It's 7:30, right?

　Me and Clarice got together and looked at the clock.
　Apparently, Clarice's watch was broken.
　Clarice blushed.

'I'm sorry. It was only six o'clock, wasn't it? I woke you up too early.'

'Don't worry about it. I was already awake half the time, too.

　Then I checked on Filia next to me.
　Filia was sleeping soundly, not moving even slightly.
　Me and Clarice looked at each other and giggled.
　Then Clarice looked into Filia's face and gently stroked her hair as if she were compassionate.

'A happy sleeping face,'

　Clarice murmured.
　I nodded.

'Yes,'

Lady Filia-sama, she didn't always sleep well when she was alone. Even so, Lady Filia is quite scared.

'Why don't you let Miss Clarice stay with you?'

You can't. I wouldn't be able to help Filia if she was attacked.

Well, that's true.

Besides, maids are required to sleep in the maids' quarters. We work early in the morning and we're different in status.

My status.

　In terms of status, I'm a commoner too, no matter how much I'm treated as a tutor and attendant, I'm still a commoner, no matter how much I'm treated as a nobleman.
　As a man, I feel much more insane and uneasy about Filia and me sleeping together.
　Clarice chuckled.

'No matter how cute Filia-sama is, you can't put your hands on her, can you?

'I wouldn't do that. Lady Filia is fourteen, and she's much younger than me.

So you'd give her a hand if she was my age?

　Clarice says teasingly.
　Clarice says she's seventeen, and even though she's a lot closer to my age than Filia is, she's still younger than me.
　I think she's pretty cute, though.
　I'm starting to feel like I'm imagining something I shouldn't be, and I said in a deliberately throwaway tone.

'I'm not going to mess with you or anything, Clarice-san isn't sleeping in this room with you.

Then I'll sneak into Master Solon's bed in the middle of the night!

I wish you wouldn't do that.

　When I said that, Clarice's eyes narrowed in amusement.
　Somehow, I have a feeling that Clarice could really do that.
　Clarice sat down on my bed and cupped my right hand in both of hers.
　Then she looked up at me.

'If you want, you can still do it now, right?

I think we should keep the bad jokes to that.

'Master Solon. My face is red.

　Whose fault is it?
　I was about to protest, but decided not to as Clarice was giggling happily.
　Well, it's not a bad way to spend your early morning free time with Clarice and her jokes.

''If Filia-sama sees me like this, she'll be mad at me.　

　I have nothing to feel guilty about, but I do wonder if it could be misunderstood.
　Clarice and I looked at each other again and then looked at Filia.
　She was still dreaming, but she was mumbling in her sleep, "Solon," she said.
　Clarice's expression became gentle and she turned to me.

'It's because you're with Solon-sama that Filia-sama can sleep so safely.

　Then I think it's worth it for me to be here.
　Unlike when I was in the Order, I feel needed.
　If that's the case, then this is a much better place to be than the Order.