There was no way Filia had any business in the hallway to the mansion's storage room.
　I think she was eavesdropping on the conversation between me and Notaras.

　I had told Filia to stay hidden in the back room with Saint Sophia.
　It was a bad idea.

　Notaras looked back at me suspiciously.

'Lord Solon?　Who is this man?

Well, it's just, you know, she's kind of in our custody.

　There is no excuse for being a servant.
　It is obvious that the dress Filia is wearing is a luxury item, and even her tone of voice is not typical of a servant.

　I could say that I am an apprentice, but saying so is likely to attract the interest of Notaras.
　If that happens, the risk of Notaras, a summoner, finding out that Filia is the daughter of a demon is high.

　But my consideration was in vain.

''You are the daughter of a demon, aren't you?''

　Hmmm, Notaras nodded with an unconcerned look on his face.
　Easily, Notaras realized the identity of Filia.

　Notaras is a summoner who uses the demon race.
　Moreover, Notaras was good enough to become a cadre of the Order.
　This much, of course, he would be able to notice it.

　Notaras said.

''When you say you're in charge of it, who are you keeping it from?

I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that.

　I shook my head.
　The fact that Filia was an imperial daughter should never be known by Notaras.

　Even though it was an open secret in the imperial palace that the princess was the daughter of a demon, it could still be a problem if the world found out.

　However, Notaras asked me more questions.

''Then can you also tell me who this girl's mother is?''

Mother?

''Yes. This girl has strong magical powers. And the only way a half-breed can inherit a lot of demonic power is if their mother was a demon.

　Filia's mother.
　I don't know anything about who she was.

　All I know is that she was a woman who was a slave to the devil, conceived the emperor's daughter, and then died already.

　And Filia herself remembers almost nothing about her own mother, who died early.

　Notaras looked at Filia intently.
　As if frightened, Filia hid behind me and squeezed the sleeves of my clothes.

　Notaras smiled.

'You miss her well. What is this girl of Lord Solon's?'

He's my apprentice.

　I said simply, since I no longer had to hide it.
　'Ho,' said Notaras, raising his voice.

You're an apprentice? Very well, very well. You have chosen a good one. But the boy must not be allowed to meet a rogue like the wise man Artae.

What's the reason?

'Because the blood this child is drawing has a special use value. Details.........

Any details?

"I will tell you if Lord Solon agrees with my proposal and promises to ride into the Order's headquarters and defeat Arthe.

　Notaras chuckled.
　Weak.

　Apparently Filia had special use for him, and the reason for that was Filia's mother.　
　But Notaras is going to use this story as a bargaining chip.

　I shrugged.

'I'll take that into account and think about it.

You'll be glad you asked.

　Notaras said, but he didn't try to convince me to pile on any more.
　Anyway, tomorrow I will have to decide which way to go, whether I will work to stop Arte and the others or pretend to ignore them.

　So if I choose the former, Notaras is going to tell me Filia's secret.

　I told Notaras I'd catch up with him soon and told him to go ahead to the wine vault.
　We had to leave the building through a doorway at the end of the corridor and go across the gardens to another wing to reach the vaults.
　It was a bit far, so I asked him to go ahead.

　And after he disappeared, I chided Filia.

'Master Filia,' I said. I told you to stay in the back room, didn't I?

'I'm sorry. But I was worried about Solon...

I don't need Filia-sama to worry about me, but if Filia-sama is in danger, I'm in trouble too. So please do what I say.

　When I told her to admonish me, Filia got a stern look on her face.
　This is for Filia's sake.
　If Filia is acting on her own, I won't be able to protect her, even if I can.

"Solon?　Are you angry?

　Filia looks into my eyes anxiously.
　I shake my head.

'Don't look at me like that. I'm not mad at you. I just want you to keep your promise to me. Can't you trust me, my master?

No. I believe in Solon.

'Then you have to promise me again. A promise that you will keep your word to me.

　And I held out my little finger.
　I cut my finger off.

　Filia hesitated a little, then teased her own finger with mine.
　Then she whispered, "Hey, Solon?

Hey, Solon?　Don't worry about me, you can go back to the Order.

'I knew you were listening in on the conversation between Notaras and me. You can't eavesdrop, can you?

Um, I'm sorry...

　I smiled at Filia, who apologized honestly.

　I leave Filia behind and return to the Order.
　I knew I couldn't do that.

　I told Filia to keep her promise.

　Then I must also keep my promise to Filia.
　I promised her that I would be there for her.

　I'll keep my promise to Filia, and then I'll put a stop to the Order's reckless plans.
　Isn't there a third way like that?

　As I was thinking about it, a scream came from across the hallway.
　It belonged to Notaras the Summoner.

　Me and Filia headed over there immediately.
　What on earth was going on?

　Notaras was sitting on the ground in the courtyard, hunched over.
　Beyond him, he could see several young men.

　In the center of them was a sorceress wrapped in black robes with her eyes.

　A girl with beautiful black hair and dark eyes, and a dainty appearance that rivaled that of Saint Sophia.
　The sorcerer was the wise Arute.

　Arte glared at me unhappily.

''Not only is Solon-senpai useless, but he's really a hindrance!