It was already late at night when we returned to the mansion.
　Lucy went back to her room and I went into mine.

　The candelabras were already extinguished and there was no light except for the moonlight shining through the window.
　Sofia and Clarice seemed to have already fallen asleep and were fast asleep.

　Only Filia was sitting on her bed and looking at the moon outside the window.
　Her silver hair shone in the moonlight.

　Noticing that I was back, Filia stood up and turned around to look at me.
　The hem of the white negligee of her nightgown swayed softly.

'Welcome back, Solon,'

I'm back, Miss Filia. Are you all set to go?

Yeah. My fever's gone down. Thanks to Solon and Sophia and Lucy for that!

　The cause of Filia's physical condition was due to my use of Filia's magic power from the connected magic circuits.
　I used the herbs that I had found in the ruins and recovered without any problems.

　I was relieved. Just imagining Filia continuing to suffer because of me is unbearable.

'Even though you're better, you should still go to bed early. As Lucy-sensei said, it's important for you to regain your strength.

'Yeah. But I've been sleeping all day yesterday and all day today, so I can't sleep. My eyes are bright and I'm bored.

That's not good news.

　It's true that this often happens after you've caught a cold and been in bed.

However, if you think you're getting better and move around, you'll come back to it.

　I've had a bad experience with that too.

　When I was a kid, I came down with an epidemic cold and spent a few days in bed.
　The day the fever finally came down, the Lord's daughter, the Duke's son, came to me and said, "If you're better, let's go play! And then he took me out into the winter fields.

　As a result, I had to fall back on the bed.

　With that in mind, it would be better to let Filia be quiet.
　But I felt sorry for her, as if she had no choice but to be bored, and I felt sorry for her for leaving her alone.
　Besides, if this was the case, Filia was "already fine! And then he might sneak out of the room.
　I thought about it for a while, then I had a good idea.

'If you can't sleep, I don't blame you. Why don't we have a cup of tea together to warm you up?

　Filia's face lit up in a flash.

'You and Solon alone?'

No one else is awake, you know.

　I said with a laugh, and Filia nodded.

'Yeah. Yeah, I know. I'm looking forward to it!'

　Filia murmured, then suddenly looked worried.

'But ... doesn't Solon want to sleep?

'I need to do some thinking too. Besides, if it makes you happy, Lady Filia, I'll be able to blow off some sleep.

　At my joking words, Filia said in a bouncy voice, "Thanks, Solon.
　I took my jacket for Filia and handed it to her, and together we went downstairs to the lower level of the mansion.

　This might be a good time to talk with Filia about Lucy and her group's plan to make Filia the emperor.
　But Filia is ailing, and even if I did, I'd rather just enjoy a normal cup of tea with her first.

　The dining room is completely dark, and the small area around the table is dimly lit as I light the candlesticks on the dining table.

'Sit down and wait. I'll make you a cup of tea.

Yes, sir.

　Sometimes Filia will make her own tea and serve it to me and Clarice and the others.
　It's not really something the princess herself would do, but it's a kind of hobby, and apparently she enjoys being able to make tea for us.

　But this time, Filia is an invalid, so naturally, I have to make the tea for her.

　I poured water into the metal kettle on the tabletop, opened the top and put in the tea leaves.
　The iron and brass kettle was shaped like a pot with a beautiful pattern painted on the surface with blue paint.

　It is a tea brewing machine and is in reasonably widespread use in the Empire.
　I liked the atmosphere of this machine so much that I went out of my way to buy a high-end one from Perse's store and keep it in my mansion.

　When I tapped my finger on the water heater, magic power was poured into it and it began to heat up.
　The top is filled with pine cones as fuel and the tea leaves are automatically boiled.

　The tea is brewed quite thickly when using this machine, so the hot water that has accumulated at the bottom of the machine needs to be poured in at the end to adjust it.

　Filia, who was waiting, let her feet wander.

'Where did you and Lucy go out today?'

'It's a tavern on the outskirts of the Imperial City. I had to run a few errands.

It's so nice. I want to go too.

'You promised Lady Filia that you would go explore the ruins.

　I turned and chuckled.
　Filia puffs out her cheeks.

'I'd like to go on an adventure in the ruins, but I'd also like to go to the imperial capital with Solon for a meal or something. You made a promise like that with Clarice, didn't you?

How do you know this?

The one Clarice was so proud of.

　Clarice smiled brightly, "I'm going on an upcoming trip to the Imperial City with Master Solon! I can see him saying that.
　I couldn't help but giggle.

　On the other hand, Filia, on the other hand, blushed a little and looked up at me.

''I wish I could go to the imperial capital alone with Solon, too.

It's...

Clarice is good, and I'm not?

No. I was afraid that if the Empress came unexpectedly to the shop, it would cause a stir.

'Just disguise yourself and pretend you're a normal girl and you'll be fine. We've been to Mr. Perse's shop together before.

'That might be true too. Well then, shall we go around the Imperial City store together?

Promise?

　Filia said, and smiled, her red face still red.

　I thought about it.
　The plan to put Filia on the imperial throne will probably start working in not too long.
　If that happens, it might make it impossible for Filia to go to the Imperial City store in secret.

　Still, I nodded to Filia.

''Yes. I will definitely guide Filia-sama through the Imperial City.''

　Just then, the top of the metal water heater glowed red, signaling that the tea was in.
　I poured the tea into a teacup and handed it to Filia, who looked at me with a happy smile and said, "It's a midnight tea party, Solon," as she looked at me.