Clarice was still frozen for a while, as if she couldn't understand what I was saying.

　Well, it's surprising, I suppose.
　I'm going to take the princess Filia away from the palace and let her live in my mansion, a commoner.
　Normally, this would be an insane method.

　But it's the most effective way to do it now.

Of course, it's entirely possible.

　After waiting for a moment after I said it, just to be sure, Clarice came out of her rigid state and then said with a look of disbelief.

'So, Master Solon's mansion!　Master Solon had a home in the Imperial City?!

Is that what you care about?

''Because, Solon-sama is from a frontier dukedom, right? I was in the imperial capital when I was at school, but I lived in a dormitory, and the headquarters of the knights are in the port city in the east. It seems unlikely that there would be a mansion in the imperial capital.

'Well, yeah, you're right. I don't have a mansion.

'What?　But just now, 'Filia, Sophia, and Clarice, I'll make you all three of you into my women, and I'll adore you, and you'll live in my mansion! You said that.

I didn't say that. Is that the image of me in your mind, Clarice, that kind of devilish?

Just kidding. The Master Solon I know is a very kind man.

　When she said that, Clarice smiled softly.
　I was embarrassed when she said that to me by surprise, though.
　Sure enough, Clarice teased me.

''Solon-sama, are you embarrassed?''

Because of Miss Clarice.

I'm kind of glad you're embarrassed by me, Master Solon.

'Happy?　Why?

'If you don't know, that's okay. ...it's okay if you don't know. The main topic is the matter of Solon-sama's mansion. It could have been misunderstood by another subject.

'No, Mr. Clarice was joking and diverted the conversation.

　Regardless of my modest protests, Clarice asked me.

'So, why is it that there is no mansion in the Imperial City, but 'I'll make you three my girls all together and adore you! What did you say?

I didn't say that!　.........well, I did say that I wanted the three of you to live in the same mansion. Because there's a good chance that Sophia won't be able to live in the Imperial Palace. Furthermore, the Imperial Palace is full of Filia-sama's enemies, and besides, she could become the target of an extremist attack at any moment. Then we can go outside the Imperial Palace.

So is that why you are going to live in Master Solon's house?

That's right. We have Saint Sophia here, and with the magical wards tightly locked up, the enemy won't be able to get through so easily. At least we're a lot more reliable than the guards.

　Despite the many minor problems, this is the best way to go about it.

　As long as Filia is by her side, Sophia can act freely with the status of an imperial squire.

　On the other hand, if you want to protect Filia, you can ask for her help.
　After all, Sophia is the strongest adventurer in the Order of St. Sophia. There is no one more reassuring than her.

　And then there's Princess Filia's personal maid, Clarice. To Filia, she is indispensable.

　And she has me as her bodyguard. Filia and Clarice are powerless in battle.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

　Sophia is a saint who specializes in offensive magic and recovery magic.
　In other aspects, especially in terms of defense, I can be somewhat useful to Sofia as well.

　I'm sure there are some members of the Order who are more reliable assistants to Sophia, though.
　For example, the Holy Knight Creon.

　But Sophia left the Order because she wanted to. Since I'm the only one here, I'm the only one who will be fighting with her.

　Objectively speaking, there shouldn't be too many adventurers who can beat the pairing of Sophia, the former leader of the Knights of St. Sophia, and Solon, the former deputy leader.

''But the problem is that mansion. You can't live in a mansion that doesn't exist.''

''Clarice-san is right, my mansion isn't in the imperial capital right now. But if that's the case, don't you think we should get one?

'You're buying a house?　.........I can't give that kind of money to Filia-sama. It's all I can do to pay Solon-sama's salary.

It does cost money. Besides, if you leave the palace, the budget allocated to Lady Filia might also be cut.

　There is no reason to pay the imperial fee to someone out there.
　The financially strapped imperial family would gladly reduce the imperial fee payments from Filia.
　Even if it's just for that, there are a lot of imperial princesses, and if you add it up, there's a significant amount of money being spent on the budget.

　Conversely, in exchange for the reduction in the imperial allowance payment, the imperial family and the government would be willing to allow Filia to live outside the imperial palace.

　With the collapse of the imperial palace, some of the princes and princesses would take refuge in the nobleman's house, the maternal family home, and in that sense, it would not be unusual for the imperial family to leave the imperial palace.

　What remained as a problem was still the issue of money.
　I said, "No, it's not a matter of money.

''I'm not going to rely on Filia-sama for funding.''

What do we do then?　Is Master Solon buying a house for the three of us to live in?

　I chuckled and Clarice said jokingly.
　I nodded, not laughing.

'That's what it comes down to. I'll buy the mansion personally.'

Really?　And, but it's an awful lot of money.

Adventurers, you can make a lot of money doing what you normally do, but you can make more if you do it right. For example, if you have a merchant under your control who sells your treasures, you will be able to make a profit from this.

'You mean that's how Master Solon got his money, too?

''Exactly. So it's nothing like buying a mansion in the Imperial City.

　The wealth that my position as the deputy commander of the strongest adventurer group in the empire brought was quite a bit of wealth.

　As long as it wasn't about buying a large mansion, from my total wealth, buying a mansion really wasn't a big deal.

　Even without the problems of Filia and the others, if I plan to continue living in the imperial capital, it's not a loss to have one of the mansions.

　If it was true, Sophia should have quite a bit of property, but Sophia had left her property with the Order, and given the circumstances of her leaving the Order without officially leaving, it was doubtful how much of that property she would be able to secure.

　Clarice murmured as if she was impressed.

''As expected of Solon-sama. You really can make a harem, can't you?''

'I won't make it, but I forgot to ask the most important question. 'Are you sure that's what you want, Clarice?　I hope you will agree with my proposal. Mr. Clarice, you could even stay here in the Imperial Palace.

Do you think I would object?　I think that Solon-sama is the best, and if it's for Filia-sama's sake, I'm all for it. I don't feel comfortable in the Imperial Palace, and I'll feel safer with Master Solon by my side.

　As I said that, Clarice looked me up and down.

''You understand, but you'll have to hire me as your maid, won't you?

'Of course. As a maid, Miss Clarice, I need you as a maid, as do I and Lady Filia.

'Yes!　Oh, but I do have one thing to say.

　As I said this, Clarice's eyes twinkled mischievously and she whispered in my ear.

'If you really want to propose to me, that's fine.

I'm sorry for giving you the wrong impression earlier.

When Master Solon and I get married, Lady Filia will be like a daughter to us.

　For a moment, I wondered if Clarice knew about the father-daughter game I played with Filia the other day, but that couldn't be true.
　Clarice laughed and continued, "I'm sure they will be a happy family.

'I'm sure they will be a happy family. And Filia-sama is lovely!'

Is that a problem?

'Lady Sofia, yes, Lady Solon's sister, I suppose. Now we have a family of four!　Hey, honey...

　For a moment, I thought of Filia calling me "Solon dad" and Sophia calling me "Solon brother".
　I shook my head, trying to shake off the delusion.

　Clarice looked at me and giggled happily.
　Then, in a bouncy voice, Clarice said.

'I was just kidding.'