Three hours later.

I'm home!
Oh, welcome back to ......?

　Charlotte greeted Allen with a confused but polite smile as he returned to the house with a large package in his hands.

　After making a mysterious declaration, Allen ran out of the house.
　Then he went to the city to buy some things.

　The sky was already dark, and the crescent moon was shining brightly and pleasantly.
　Allen put his belongings on the table in the living room.
　There were four large boxes and three cloth bags. Charlotte's head tilted more and more in front of the large package.

It's a great deal of shopping,......, but you don't have any cash left,.......
Yeah. That's why I sold off all the magic tools I had. I've got fifty gold pieces.
"Gosh, ......?

　Charlotte was speechless.
　It's enough for a single person to live on for at least three months.

　A magic tool is an item that contains a special magic. For example, a bonfire that will not go out even if it rains, or a wand that can produce a ball of flame just by waving it.
　There is a wide range of magic items, but if it sells for fifty gold coins, it must be a very high quality magic item.

Why would you pay that much?
"Is it worth it?　You're a duke's daughter, but your money sense is like that of a commoner.
I'm not saying that, because when I was little, I lived with my mother in the country. ......

　Charlotte shook her head and pieced together her words in a shaky voice.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.
I'm not sure what to do. And there are other magical tools out there that you can make if you want to.

　Unlike potions, magic tools are quite troublesome to assess. That's why Allen rarely turned them into gold.
　But this time was special.

"All right, Charlotte. Sit here.
"Eh, ......, yes.

　Charlotte slowly sat down in the chair that Allen had pulled out for her.
　Allen nodded in satisfaction. But she's confused.

Charlotte. Earlier, I told you. I'm going to teach you all the pleasures of this world.
"Yes. You said, ......, 'pleasure'?
"Pleasure, pleasure. But what I said was .......

　Allen gently cupped Charlotte's chin and chuckled.

"It's an unethical kind of pleasure.
"What, moral ......?　
Exactly. You know, naughty things are fun. It's addictive.

　Charlotte's eyes grew more and more black and white. Charlotte's eyes grew blacker and blacker, as if she had no idea what Allen was talking about.

You're one of the most honest and sincere people I've ever met. You've never rebelled against a duke before, have you?
I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who'd love to have you in their lives.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.
　It's an expression of fear, more like that of an owner than a family member.

　In fact, she had never spoken ill of the dukes before. Even though they had betrayed her so cruelly. I guess her ingratitude outweighs her resentment.

　That's not healthy, in Allen's opinion.

"From now on, I'm going to teach you something naughty. I'm going to teach you some naughty things and you're going to drown in them and become a beast of instinct.
"I'm kind of scared, Mr. Allen. ......

　Charlotte showed a hint of trepidation, but she stubbornly glared at Allen.

And you mustn't do anything wrong!
"Don't worry. It's not against the law, and it won't bother anyone.
Are you sure about that, ......?
Yes, it is. It's something we all do in secret.

　The chaste wife, the strict teacher, the exemplary clergyman...
　Chaste wives, stern teachers, exemplary clergymen, they all secretly do naughty things behind the scenes and are prisoners of their pleasures.
　When I told her that, Charlotte gulped and cleared her throat.

What is this ...... thing that you do?
You want to know ...... what it is?

　Allen took his hand away from Charlotte and instead slowly untied the ribbon from the box.
　He slowly untied the ribbon from the box, as if he were undressing a woman.

"Now, burn it in your eyes. This time the naughty thing is .......

　Finally, the box is opened.


　The only thing that fit in there was--

. ............ cake?
"That's right!

　Allen nodded vigorously.