I'm Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness: I'll Spoil Her with Delicacies and Style to Make Her the Happiest Woman in the World! Volume 2 (Light Novel)

By Fukada Sametarou and Sakura Miwabe

The wizard Allen’s naughty lessons take a new turn when he begins to realize his true feelings for Charlotte—feelings that he knows he should keep locked away but threaten to burst out any minute. With a zany elf novelist, a rebellious young Fenrir, and a formidable Infernal Capybara jumping into the scene, will Allen finally succeed in confessing his love to Charlotte? Can he save her from her mysterious pursuers? Meanwhile, they journey to the Athena School of Magic and Allen’s family home when they hear the news that Charlotte’s sister Natalia has enrolled as a student, but there’s trouble brewing... Magic explodes and emotions overflow in this wholesome hurly-burly romcom!

• Language: English
• Publisher: J-Novel Club
• Release date: Nov 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781718376403

Book preview

Chapter 1: A Naughty Game of Make-Believe

Charlotte was standing in the garden one sunny summer day, wearing a short-sleeved blouse and a skirt that was a bit on the short side. Though her outfit was light and casual, she had an air of tension about her. She gulped with a serious expression.

Okay then... Shall we, Roo? she said in a rigid voice.

Gawr! The young Fenrir barked in response. Her deep crimson eyes were shining intently, and her stunning silver fur gleamed in the sunlight. The rare magical beast—that had not too long ago attached herself to Charlotte—sat patiently in front of her, awaiting instruction.

Charlotte took a deep breath and announced, First off... Shake!

Woof! The Fenrir popped her front paw onto Charlotte’s outstretched hand.

Now, the other paw!

Woof!

Sit!

Gawr!

Down.

Woof!

Roo obeyed every command faithfully. When Charlotte had gone through every move, she ruffled Roo’s head with shining eyes. Wow! Well done, Roo!

Woof woof, woooof!

Allen could only look on in admiration at their demonstration. You really are a fast learner...

He flipped a page in the book he was holding, Introduction to the Art of Magical Beast Taming. He had acquired the volume the day after they had returned home from their holiday with the Fenrir. The subject of the last chapter was Let’s train your new beast friend to follow your commands. Charlotte had read the textbook and mastered everything in only a week. Well, you managed to understand each other even when you first met, after all. I suppose this is all easy as pie for you.

It’s not me, it’s Roo who’s amazing. Here you go, Roo, your treat. Charlotte gave her a bone as a reward.

Woof!

Charlotte had given the Fenrir a name, and the two had already built a trusting relationship. Hers was an exemplary start as a beast tamer.

Roo happily chomped away on the bone. At first, she had seemed a little lonely away from her mother, but now she was completely at home with them in the mansion.

Good girl. Allen stroked Roo’s head. Hope you’ll keep taking care of Charlotte.

Woof! Roo gave a little bark, narrowing her eyes. Even though she was relaxed around Allen, her attitude toward him was decidedly more stripped-down than toward Charlotte. Roo clearly differentiated between the two of them. Allen felt even more pleased to know what a keen judge of character Roo was.

Charlotte gave him a little bow and smiled. Thank you so much, Allen, for teaching me so many things.

Oh, it’s nothing. It’s a topic I’m interested in anyway, he replied casually.

On their trip to the Yunoha Zoo of Magical Beasts, Allen and Charlotte had gotten mixed up in a bit of a commotion. It was there that Charlotte’s hidden talent had become apparent. She had the natural gift of a beast tamer—a person who could communicate with any kind of magical beast. In Charlotte’s presence, the Fenrirs and even the Infernal Capybaras, which had a hidden vicious streak, reverently bowed down to her.

The Infernal Capybaras all paid their respects to Charlotte when she and Allen were departing from the zoo. Please come visit anytime, Lady Charlotte. We’re all ready to welcome you whenever you’d like.

Yes! I hope you’ll take care too, my friends!

The Infernal Capybaras had a mild disposition, but they were well-known for being guarded around human beings. Knowing their ways, Allen was truly astonished by their courteous display of affection to her. And when he explained this to her on their way home in the horse-drawn carriage, Charlotte responded with a determined look in her eyes. So I have the power...to make friends with magical beasts. I wonder how it works? I’d like to learn about it properly.

Hm, in that case, I can teach you the basics. I have a fair amount of knowledge in the Study of Magical Beasts.

Really?! Please do!

And so, Allen came to be her teacher. He thought it best not to overwork them at the beginning, so for now, they had a lesson once a day for about an hour, in which he taught her about the special skills of a beast tamer, the various species that existed in the world, and so on.

Charlotte was studious, showing up well prepared for each lesson, and she displayed remarkable progress. Whenever she made a mistake, she would thoroughly review it afterward and master the answer by the next lesson. She also read different books about magical beasts on her own time. All in all, she was a very dedicated student, and the lessons also felt rewarding to Allen as her teacher.

It’s really great that she’s found something she’s so interested in... When Allen had taken her in, Charlotte had had no hobbies. But now, she had something she could engage in at will, and she smiled more. He would never have imagined she would transform so much.

Allen flashed a smile as he suggested, Once Roo’s more accustomed to life with us, it would be good to enter beast tamer competitions too.

Competitions?

Uh-huh. They’re shows for tamed magical beasts. I bet you’d win first place.

I-I don’t know about first place...but it sounds interesting.

Woof?

Charlotte became lost in thought, stroking Roo’s head.

At present, Charlotte was a wanted person. Although they saw fewer wanted posters around town, there was still a bounty on her. It would probably be wise to avoid attracting attention, but Allen wanted her to have a big goal to work toward. Either way, it was all up to her. If the occasion arose, Allen would merely set things up for her and give her his full support.

Anyway, that’s something to think about in time. For now, we should celebrate your achievements.

Oh...celebrate? Charlotte looked puzzled.

Woof?

Allen took her hand and led her to a corner of the garden. Roo trailed along with light steps. And there they found...a small square pool. It was only knee-deep, but cool, clear water was bubbling up from below, and it looked positively refreshing.

It’s going to get even hotter now. I thought we’d better have a swimming pool just for Roo, so I had a go at making one.

The pool not only drew water from an underground water source, it also had a filtering mechanism. It was as clean as drinking water, so Roo could play freely without any worries. When Allen explained this, Charlotte lit up.

W-Wow! That’s wonderful for you, Roo!

Woof! Roo looked happy too. She dipped her front paw in the water and tested the temperature. Then she dove in.

Go on, Allen said to Charlotte. Can you go in and check if everything’s in order too?

Yes! Charlotte slipped off her shoes and stepped in the pool. Though they were slightly timid playing in the water at first, Roo got used to it in no time. She rolled around in the pool, then shook herself, sending droplets flying everywhere.

Hee hee. It’s cold, Roo, Charlotte giggled.

Woof!

The pair looked dazzling as they frolicked about. Allen, watching them from the shade of a tree, murmured, So peaceful... He knew it was out of character, but he couldn’t find any other words to describe the scene in front of him. He was idly hoping their life could go on like this forever when Charlotte’s voice called him out of his reverie.

Allen!

Hm? He looked up to find Charlotte beaming at him.

I really am grateful. Thank you so much for everything.

What are you talking about? I told you, I’m going to teach you all the pleasures of the world. Playing in a pool is trivial.

It’s not just the pool, she giggled, weaving her hands together. These days, I can’t wait for morning to come. I’m always looking forward to what fun things you’ll teach me next. Before I met you...I was scared of every day and every night. A shadow fell over her face for a moment, but she shook it off and broke into a dazzling smile. Thank you, Allen. I’m glad I met you.

...

Allen was lost for words. His gaze was sucked into her sparkling smile, and he couldn’t help staring as if engraving her image into his memory. But he came back to himself and shook his head with an awkward smile. That’s nice, but—Roo’s calling you. Don’t mind me, go play with her.

Roo tugged her sleeve to get her attention. Gawr, gawr.

Charlotte waded deeper into the pool, giving way to Roo’s pestering. Ah, please Roo, I’m coming.

Allen could only let out a sigh. ‘I’m glad I met you,’ huh... He placed a hand over his heart and felt his pulse, which had sped up a little. Then he sighed again.

He’d been feeling strange lately. Whenever he was talking with Charlotte, he would feel his heart make a big leap. His brain would shut down completely, and he’d have to stop whatever it was he was doing. He wouldn’t be able to think about anything else, and he couldn’t fall asleep. When he managed to make her smile, he was elated; when she was sad, he felt like it would tear out his heart. Every word, every gesture from her stirred him up in all directions.

All his life, until now, he had led a life totally devoid of anything even close to romance. He scoffed at other wizards who were distracted by the object of their fancy and neglected their studies, and he had never understood why they would waste their time and energy on such trifling matters.

As these inexplicable phenomena continued in Charlotte’s presence, however, even Allen began to suspect what was happening. Does this mean...I’m in love with Charlotte? Retrospectively, he had been acting strange from the very beginning. However charitable he might be, it didn’t make any sense that he would look after a girl he had never seen before with so much care and interest. But the banal phrase, love at first sight would explain away everything that had been puzzling him.

However—he could never fully admit it to himself. If I become aware of how I feel about her...it’ll only be a burden for her.

Charlotte was finally beginning to change. This was an important period in her life. The most Allen could do at this point was watch over her and stay by her side. If he became conscious of this feeling inside him, he probably wouldn’t be able to hold his feelings back. Most likely, he would seize her hands on the spot and shout, I love you! And—knowing how kind she was—Charlotte would try to reciprocate his feelings even if she didn’t see him that way. And that would be a step back for her, turning her back into a doll without her own will, just as she was taking her own step forward.

That would really be...bad, not naughty. Allen was resolved to teach her all the pleasures in this world—and that was all. He certainly didn’t want to do anything to hinder her. Therefore, he decided to suppress his own feelings. He shackled it down, wrapping it many times over in heavy chains, locking it with a key, and hiding it in the depths of his heart.

Remember, I’m Charlotte’s guardian, he muttered to himself. Even if I like her, it’s from the perspective of a father or an older brother, something like that. Making a move is definitely out of the question. If I can’t stop myself, I’ll kill myself off without further ado. All right, good, that’s how it should be.

When he had convinced himself, he looked up at Charlotte again, only to swiftly look away. Her clothes were wet from the water, and he could see through them quite clearly. He could even tell the color of her lingerie, though she herself seemed unaware of it. The feelings that he thought he had just locked away started to break out again. With iron self-discipline, he kicked it back down.

Charlotte, he said in a quivering voice, maybe it’s time to dry off soon. I know it’s summer, but you might catch a cold. Allen snapped his fingers, and a bath towel fell from the empty air right on top of her head.

Oof! She smiled warmly. Yes, I’ll do that. Do you want to keep playing, Roo?

Wrooo.

Hee hee. I’ll leave you to it then. Take your time.

She sat on the edge of the pool and started drying her hair. Allen sat down next to her. When he dipped his feet in the cool water, his earthly desires melted away.

After a few moment’s rest, Charlotte tilted her head and said, You really do have a big garden. Wouldn’t you like to use more of the space?

Hm...well, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to grow more crops, perhaps.

The garden was ridiculously large, enough to build another mansion. At the moment, however, the only piece of land that was actually in use was the corner where Allen grew various herbs for his potions. Now that he had a bigger family, it could be nice to grow some vegetables.

But for that, I guess I’d have to do a lot of maintenance, he groaned, casting his eyes around the garden. He had bought the property three years ago, and the weeds were expanding their territory even more than before. He’d have to mow the grass, level the ground, remove the pebbles—an endless list of work to be done. Well, let’s think about that in time. The previous owner doesn’t seem to have touched the garden much either.

Was there someone living here before you, Allen?

Yeah. I’ve never met them, though, he said. From what I’ve heard, the previous owner suddenly went missing about thirty years ago.

Charlotte froze at the unsettling word. Oblivious to her reaction, Allen went on, gazing at Roo, who was still enjoying the swimming pool.

Thirty years ago, there had been a peculiar elf living in this mansion. She stayed away from the town and kept to herself. Always busy with some kind of research, she sat at her desk all the time; her papers and pens were her only friends. But one day, she suddenly disappeared. Some said she was devoured by some magical beast that she had created herself. Some said she devised a magic spell to bridge worlds and departed from this one. And some said she fell in love with a human, and the forbidden couple chose to kill themselves.

With those rumors going around, this mansion was much cheaper than the market price, and— he paused, finally noticing how pale Charlotte looked. Uh, hey. You okay?

She gulped audibly, then murmured timidly, I-I read about it in a book the other day...

About what?

Why...haunted houses, of course!

Huh? Allen cocked his head.

Charlotte spouted off, her face still ashen, People who pass away with some regrets return as ghosts and haunt their mansion...! And then they curse anyone who sets foot in that house! I-It was a really frightening story...!

Ah, you’ve also been reading popular novels these days.

Charlotte was reading not only books for her studies, but also novels and books on other topics. Since it was a good thing to broaden her world, Allen had been encouraging her, but he hadn’t realized exactly what kind of books she was picking up.

Y-Yes. There were lots of books in the storage room, so... Aren’t they your books?

Allen shook his head. They probably belong to that elf who disappeared.

Whaaat?! Wh-What should I do, Allen? Charlotte was trembling. I’ve gone through her things without any permission... Do you think she’ll come back as a ghost? Is she mad at me?!

Allen smiled helplessly at her. That’s impossible. I’ve lived here for about three years now, but I’ve never encountered anything like a ghost. When sounds came at night, they were either the wind or some wild animals outside. He’d never witnessed any paranormal activity. Besides, there’s nothing for you to worry about. Even on the off chance that a ghost appears, I’ll get rid of it.

Oh! You can do that to ghosts too, Allen?!

Of course. They’re only the leftover thoughts of dead people, you know. They don’t stand a chance against the living.

Once in a long while, there were reports of ghosts with a deep-rooted grudge so powerful that they could curse the living to their deaths, but he couldn’t sense any presence like that in this mansion. Even if a ghost was around, it was probably the harmless type that merely wandered the grounds.

If you see a ghost, you can call me over. I’ll make it vanish in a second, he assured her.

I-I’d feel a bit sorry for the ghost then... Charlotte mumbled nervously. It was just like her to feel pity for something she was scared of.

Allen chuckled. Anyway, no one even knows if she actually died. Races that live a long time like elves often disappear on a whim. Most likely she just got bored of living here.

I see... That sounds nicer and more peaceful. Charlotte seemed to finally relax.

Right? So don’t worry—

Woofff? Just then, Roo let out a weird yelp. They looked over at the pool to find her holding something in her mouth. She looked concerned.

What’s wrong, Roo? Charlotte asked.

Gawr. Roo threw the thing over to them.

Allen looked down at the strange sphere. Oh...what’s this?

It was a perfectly white mushroom about as big as his palm, with a round, ball-shaped cap. When they looked at the pool again, they realized that similar mushrooms were bobbing up and down on the surface of the water. It was a bizarre sight.

Did the water bring them up from underground? Ah, Roo, careful not to— Allen was about to tell her not to eat it when something popped up from the ground nearby and a furious shriek rang through the air.

Whaddaya think you’re doin’?!

Allen jumped in front of Charlotte to protect her and turned around to find a woman’s head poking out from the ground near the pool. He stared at her, rooted to the spot. At first glance, she looked like she was buried, but there was apparently a trap door leading underground. She had dark skin and silver hair. It wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say she was a woman of ethereal beauty, but she was wearing thick glasses and an old baggy shirt, and her hair was a mess. She clearly didn’t care about her appearance in the least.

And this woman was inexplicably glaring at Allen and Charlotte as if they were her nemeses. She pointed straight at them and shouted, Are you the thieves who stole my precious food?!

Precious...food...? Allen could only parrot back her words, still holding the mushroom.

♢

Phew, sorry to give you a fright there. My apologies.

Sure...

Um...? Allen and Charlotte exchanged glances. They didn’t know what to say.

They were now sitting in a basement under the garden. They had climbed down the rope ladder hanging from the trap door into a small room. There was a bookshelf, a bed, and a small writing desk, as well as a simple set of cooking utensils and pots stacked up in one corner of the room. They could even make out another room for growing mushrooms at the back. Magic lamps were glowing all around. Though small, the space looked cozy.

The woman who