The sun was bright and warm, the seawater blue and crystal clear. Fine white sand grains glittered with threads of gold under the sunlight — White Gold Beach truly lived up to its name.
Nearly a hundred nobles and their families who had accepted Duke Kenmais's invitation frolicked happily on the beach and in the surf. For Grand Duke Fisablen from the northeastern steppes and the three former central grand dukes, this was a thoroughly novel experience — they had never played at the seaside like this before. Though they had seen the ocean, standing waist-deep in the water was a first for them. Some even scooped up seawater to taste, only to spit it out in disgust, laughing heartily...
On White Gold Beach, many awnings had been erected from white silk. There were semi-enclosed changing rooms and washrooms for the ladies, as well as simple pavilion-like sunshades.
Duke Kenmais walked over and sat down beside Lorist, casually picking up a bottle of fruit wine and draining half of it in one gulp. Then he grabbed a handful of sand and let it trickle through his fingers. "People once thought the sand of White Gold Beach contained gold, which is why it glitters in the sunlight. They tried every method they could think of to extract the gold from the sand, but nobody ever succeeded. I think those people were all fools. White Gold Beach is indeed a gold mine — they just went about it the wrong way..."
"This is the only scenic beach on the cursed northern coastline, a summer retreat and vacation paradise. Once the northern nobles learn of this place, the nobles who come flocking each summer will bring our family a steady stream of gold-coin revenue. I've already invested nearly two million gold Fordes here to perfect the facilities and services. Do you think there's anything that needs improvement?"
Lorist glanced at Duke Kenmais's smug face and replied languidly, "In terms of accommodations, what you've done is quite perfect — the palace-and-garden-style villa estate you spent so heavily on deserves full marks. The food is decent enough, but you haven't adapted to local conditions. Nearly all the ingredients are shipped in from elsewhere, which ignores the simplest principle: live off the mountain when near mountains, live off the sea when near the sea. Serving freshly grilled or cooked seafood at White Gold Beach should be a major draw for nobles and merchants alike."
"Also, transportation needs work. The distance from the villa to the beach is considerable, and your carriages are still the old-fashioned type — they clash with the scenery. I suggest you build some light, open-topped carriages painted with colorful patterns and designs, with silk awnings overhead. That would fit the setting much better."
"Or you could build a covered walkway from the villa to the beach, decorated with grapevines or other climbing plants and fruits for shade. You could also set up a few small shops along the way selling beach souvenirs — shell crafts, rare conch shells, that sort of thing — and a few beverage stalls to break up the monotony of the walk."
"Besides, you may have overlooked the most important point. Summering at White Gold Beach would be women and children's favorite thing — for men, it's just a novelty. If you want to attract nobles here every summer, you need to focus on their families. Nobles can hardly find the time, but their wives and children have plenty of leisure. Take me for example — I don't know if I'll have time to come here next year, but Sylvia and the others are having a wonderful time here. I'm sure they'll want to come back next year..."
Lorist pointed toward Princess Sylvia's group in the distance. She, his three concubines, and the maids were playing with utter abandon, having dug a big pit in the sand and sculpting sand figures — they seemed quite proud of their work. She had even left her three-year-old son Andebel in Anna's care. Anna watched her own seven-year-old son Wardbel leading little Andebel around, bottoms in the air, catching small crabs on the beach, while glancing back at Princess Sylvia's sand sculptures, looking as if she wanted to join in.
"From a women's and children's perspective, your White Gold Beach doesn't seem to have any recreational facilities for them — things like swings or slides in the shallow water. I've heard from fishermen that there are dolphins that are very friendly with people and will actively rescue those who fall in the water. Perhaps you could have a few trained and placed here — they'd become a huge draw for women and children. You should also build a handrail extending from the beach into the sea..."
"Why build that?" Duke Kenmais asked, bewildered.
"Are you stupid?" Lorist gave him a look that said he was beyond saving. Duke Kenmais hung his head in shame. "Haven't you noticed that very few people on the beach actually go into the water? They wade in up to their thighs and don't dare go any farther, because the vastness of the ocean makes them feel helpless and afraid. Nobody wants to learn swimming from those female instructors you set up. So I'm suggesting a handrail extending into the water — once people have something to hold onto and feel safe, they won't be afraid to go deeper. It's a psychological issue. Safety should be ensured as well, of course..."
"It must be done overnight. Anything else to watch for?"
Lorist jerked his thumb toward the maids nearby. "And them — don't you think something's off about how they're dressed?"
"Hmm?" Duke Kenmais eyed the maids dubiously. "I don't see anything wrong. They're all wearing traditional maid outfits. Do you think they're not sexy enough?"
Duke Kenmais's face lit up with a knowing smirk. "What, you've got your eye on them? No worries — you can take them right here. Want me to set up a screen for privacy?"
"Get lost..." Lorist laughed despite himself, grabbing a strawberry and tossing it at Duke Kenmais's head. "You think I'm like you — a randy dog in heat at all times? I'm being serious here. Yes, they're wearing traditional maid uniforms, but don't they clash with White Gold Beach? The visitors here dress like us — shorts and bare-chested — the women over there are in their undergarments, some of the kids are even running around bare-bottomed. These maids in long traditional dresses with aprons in front — aren't they overdressed and too formal for the setting?"
Duke Kenmais wiped the strawberry juice from his head and nodded earnestly. "You make a good point. Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit too formal. It's not like we're hosting a dinner dance or anything... Or maybe we should just have them strip naked — that might attract even more nobles..."
"Idiot, are you planning a nudist party? With so many women and children around? What I mean is they should dress more lightly, blend in with White Gold Beach's scenery — or even become part of the scenery themselves," Lorist scolded.
"But — but how do you make the maids into scenery..." Duke Kenmais pondered hard. "Dress them lightly — maybe just bare skin with a sheer veil? I remember when I visited the imperial capital, the maids at Queen Kairi's garden party were dressed just like that..."
"Get me a charcoal pencil and some white paper." Lorist couldn't be bothered to explain in detail to this fellow whose head was full of lust. He took the paper and pencil and quickly sketched out several bikini designs — the string type, the two-piece, the one-piece, and so on.
Duke Kenmais's eyes lit up. "This is magnificent! These strips cover just enough while adding sex appeal and seductive charm. You've been hiding your true nature all along, haven't you..."
Duke Kenmais gave Lorist a knowing look — the kind that says "old pro, you know what I mean" — and said, "I'll have the tailors get these made immediately."
Lorist didn't know whether to laugh or cry and didn't bother to argue. "Have the same style made from the same fabric for the maids. Noble ladies tend to be more conservative, so make them one-piece swimsuits from good silk — the last design I drew, the one that only shows the calves and forearms. Different colors and patterns would be best, so they can enjoy the water too..."
Duke Kenmais eagerly snatched up the hide paper with the bikini designs and turned to leave. After two steps, he looked back. "What — what should these be called?"
"Kenmais Swimwear..." Lorist waved him off. Let this fellow have the spotlight for causing a sensation — his reputation for womanizing and philandering was already notorious enough...
The next day, the string bikinis, sewn overnight and donned by the maids, caused a sensation among the attending nobles and their families. Many nobles stared at the maidens wearing the revealing garments, nearly drooling. Had their wives and children not been nearby, they might have actually pounced on whichever maid was closest. Lorist, however, was pleased as punch. Sun, beach, bikini-clad beauties — now this was the proper way to vacation.
On the way back, Lorist noticed that many nobles' bare chests had been pinched black and blue by their jealous wives and secretly chuckled. He got off comparatively easy — Princess Sylvia had stuck by his side the entire day, refusing to let those maids attend to him.
On the third day, Princess Sylvia and Lorist's four concubines finally mustered the courage to put on the one-piece swimsuits Duke Kenmais had sent over and head to White Gold Beach. When they arrived, they found that most of the nobles' families had also switched to these suits, and some of the bolder ones were showing their entire arms and legs...
Now this was more like it. Lorist's heart swelled with satisfaction. After being severely punished and tormented by Sylvia and the four concubines the previous night, his energy was spent, so he decided to take a nap. Basking in the sun and drifting off, he was startled by hurried footsteps rushing toward him. "Your Highness! Your Highness, wake up!"
"What is it?" Lorist was a bit annoyed — he had only just fallen asleep.
"His Majesty has arrived. Duke Kenmais wants you to come greet him as well..."
"Hmm? Didn't that fellow Kenmais already invite him? And His Highness said he didn't have time and wouldn't come? So why is he here now?" Lorist got up, wiped his face, and signaled for a maid to bring a basin of clean water, which he poured over his head to wake himself up. Then he said to the guard, who was blushing and unable to raise his eyes because of the scantily clad maids, "Lead the way. Let's go."
Lorist stood at the grand entrance of the palace-style garden villa estate before White Gold Beach, waiting for the
Rather than standing at attention at the gate in formal attire — in this sweltering heat, dressed so properly, he'd be drenched in sweat before long — Lorist stood there bare-chested in a pair of shorts, a large bath towel draped over his shoulders, and a pair of woven slippers on his feet. He stood out like a sore thumb among the formally dressed nobles behind him, drawing many stares.
Grand Duke Fisablen stood beside Lorist, glancing over at him repeatedly. Lorist glared at him. "What are you staring at?"
The Grand Duke pointed at Lorist's bath towel. "Don't you think this is rather rude? He is our king, after all. You should show him some respect."
Lorist flared up. "I didn't invite him here! He's making us stand here baking in the sun for half the day. This is supposed to be a vacation — why are you all dressed up so formally? If you want to discuss state affairs, don't do it here! Can't we just enjoy a peaceful holiday for once?"
Grand Duke Fisablen burst out laughing. "That's a remarkably good point. I have no rebuttal..."
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Distant rumbling hoofbeats announced the Second Prince's arrival, escorted by Duke Kenmais and nearly a hundred guards. Drawing near and catching sight of Lorist's breezy attire, the Second Prince was somewhat taken aback. "Lorist, what's going on?"
"Your Majesty, we're on vacation. What else would we wear at the beach? After greeting you, I'm heading right back to the sand, so I figured there was no point dressing up. Better than these old fogeys, cooking themselves into a rash..." Lorist bowed, then replied with perfect self-assurance.
"Uh..." The Second Prince paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. He dismounted, opened his arms, and gave Lorist a hug. Then he began removing his vest and cloak, followed by his shirt, trousers, and boots...
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Duke Kenmais and the nobles and guards were all stunned. Was His Majesty about to do something?
"Lorist's right — of course you take your clothes off at the beach. Duke Kenmais, get me a pair of slippers too, and a bath towel..." The Second Prince pointed at the slippers on Lorist's feet and the towel draped over his shoulders.
"Yes, Your Majesty — right away." Duke Kenmais hurriedly sent his attendants to fetch slippers and towels. The nobles present also began removing their formal attire. Obviously — if His Majesty was down to just shorts, why would they keep dressed up?
"Come, Brother Lorist — take me to see the beach. White Gold Beach is famous throughout the Empire, but I've never been here..." The Second Prince treated Lorist with extreme familiarity, like a brother, which made the nobles behind them quite envious.
Lorist sighed inwardly. How did that saying go from his previous life? "Courtesy extended to others must have something behind it." It seemed the Second Prince was scheming something again...