Chapter 35
“Vacation on the Beach (1)”
(Kai and Lutia’s Summer Break Arc, Part 4)
The duke’s family carriage rolled along the cobblestone road until at last the vast blue sea spread out before them.
The waves glittered under the summer sun, and the beach shone like silver.
“Whoa… so even another world’s got beach resorts, huh?”
Kai narrowed his eyes, letting out an impressed whistle.
Wilhelm stepped down from the carriage proudly.
“This is our family’s seaside retreat. It’s open to our citizens as well, but today, we’ve reserved it for ourselves.”
“Reserved? The scale of this place is like a whole tourist resort…”
Julius grinned.
“Since I brought my sister along, you should take the chance to relax too, Professor.”
“…Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
◆◇◆
When they reached the sand, Lutia appeared from beneath a large parasol.
She was wearing a one-piece swimsuit of crimson and white, with a light wrap tied around her waist. Her golden hair fluttered in the salty breeze.
Later Kai would learn that bikinis simply didn’t exist in this world.
Unlike her usual formal dresses, she now looked lively, healthy, and unmistakably feminine.
“Kai… is something the matter?”
Lutia blushed faintly and lowered her gaze.
“N-no, it’s just…”
Kai’s face went red as he quickly looked away.
“Hey now, Sir Cross,”
Wilhelm said teasingly, patting him on the shoulder.
“Isn’t it rude to avert your eyes?”
“Yeah, well—if I look straight at her, my self-control’s gonna collapse!”
Julius burst out laughing.
“So even you can get flustered, Sir Cross. My sister’s finally growing into a lady, after all—”
“Brother Julius! Don’t say weird things!”
They spread out a mat on the sand, setting baskets full of fruits and bread.
Nearby, the servants were kindling a fire and preparing to grill seafood.
“This is totally a barbecue. And these ingredients are way too fancy…”
“Kai, let’s swim already!”
Lutia grabbed his hand and tugged.
“H-hold on! I ain’t even used to wearin’ swim trunks!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on you.”
“Stop treatin’ me like a kid!”
And so, dragged along, Kai found himself in the sea.
The waves lapped at their feet, splashing white foam.
“Ah! So cold!”
Lutia squealed, then immediately scooped water into her hands and splashed him.
“Hey! You started it!”
Kai retaliated, and before long it turned into an all-out splash battle.
Wilhelm and Julius joined in too, and the beach became a chaotic battlefield of the three siblings and their teacher.
“Brothers, help me!”
“Sorry, dear sister—we’re on Sir Cross’s side!”
“Traitors!!”
Their laughter echoed across the shore.
After playing for a while, Lutia floated on the waves, hugging an inner tube.
“Kai, look! I’m riding the waves!”
“No, you’re just riding the float.”
“No need for such boring corrections!”
Her smile as she bobbed with the tide shed the usual image of a proud “villainous lady,” revealing instead a normal, carefree girl her age.
Seeing her like that warmed Kai’s heart a little.
(Well… if I get to see her smile like this, maybe being dragged along ain’t so bad after all.)
◆◇◆
By lunchtime, the scent of roasting seafood drifted over the beach.
They gathered around grilled fish and clams for a lavish seaside barbecue.
“Whoa… this beats Japanese seafood by a mile.”
“Kai, here—say ‘ahh~’.”
“Why do you keep tryin’ to feed me everything!?”
“Because it’s a wife’s duty.”
“How many times you gonna say that today!?”
Her brothers just laughed, cups of wine in hand.
“Hang in there, Sir Cross.”
“You might as well surrender.”
The sky was filled with soft white clouds, and the sound of the waves rolled gently in the background.
Watching the fire crackle, Lutia murmured quietly,
“Kai… like this, it really feels like we’re a family, doesn’t it?”
Kai froze for a moment, then looked at her.
Her cheeks were flushed, and the tips of her hair trembled in the sea breeze.
“Yeah… not a bad moment at all.”
(Though the problem is… every single one of this ‘family’ keeps calling me their ‘future son-in-law.’)
Hiding a wry smile, Kai turned the grilled shellfish over.
