Side Story: Let’s Go to the Beach!
TODAY, we were going on an outing. Finally, my heart’s desire would be granted! I’d made a request to the emperor, and after seemingly endless coordination and preparation, finally, we were going!
“You seem really excited, eh, Neema?”
“Well, yeah, it’s the beach! The beach!”
That’s right. I told the emperor I wanted to go to the beach in the Linus Empire.
And I had no intention of just sitting on the sand gazing at the ocean, oh no! I wanted to swim! If at all possible, I really, really wanted to swim.
Paul and the others had packed for the trip, so all that was left to do was wait for someone to come get us when it was time to leave.
Karna giggled at the sight of me fidgeting excitedly, hardly able to sit still.
Finally, there was a knock on the door, and I followed hot on Paul’s heels as he went to answer it.
Is it someone coming to get us? It has to be, right?
Paul opened the door, and Theo stood out in the hall.
“Neema…”
Why is Theo laughing at me?!
It was rare for Theo to show any kind of emotion on his face, so I must’ve looked especially strange to elicit such a response from him.
“It looks like you’re ready to go.”
“We’re good to go!”
Although I can’t take much credit for that, Paul and the others handled all the preparations.
Theo picked me up, and we all headed to the room containing the teleportation circle, where it turned out the others were all assembled waiting for us.
It wasn’t just us going on this beach trip. No, it was an extremely rare occasion when the entire imperial family would join.
Apparently, after I’d made the initial request to the emperor, Euche had said that he wanted to go, and then Sache started saying that she wanted to go…
As a result, the emperor and former emperor had no choice but to attend, and when the empress and former empress heard about the trip, they thought it sounded interesting, so they’d also decided to join—and drag the others along as well.
In summary, because all of the most important people in the country had decided to go on a group beach vacation, a lot of time and effort was required to coordinate a date that worked for everyone’s schedules and attend to the necessary security concerns.
The emperor’s brothers would be joining us as well.
Marie’s father, Towen, was the emperor’s oldest brother and had a very kind-looking face. He was pretty much living proof of the old saying, “You can tell everything you need to know about a person by their face.” His smile was identical to Marie’s. It made me secretly a little happy to see since it was one less way she resembled her mother.
As for Marie’s mother, she’d refused the invitation on the grounds that she wasn’t a member of the imperial family. The emperor had made it clear that she was welcome to join Marie’s father on the trip, but it seemed that she was just using that as an excuse when the real reason she didn’t want to come was because I’d been the one to suggest the trip in the first place.
“Good, everyone’s arrived. Shall we get going, then?”
Everyone stepped into the teleportation circle, and the retired empress came to stand beside me. She clicked her tongue and said petulantly, “Oh, Celly! I’ve been nearly beside myself with excitement. And to think this is our first time going on a trip all together as a family like this!”
Whaaat?! Is it okay for outsiders like Karna and me to intrude on such an epic occasion?!
While I was reeling in shock, the teleportation spell kicked in, and sparkles covered my entire field of view.
Our destination was one of the imperial family’s private residences, the Aquamarine Palace.
Immediately upon arrival, we were led to a tastefully decorated room that boasted a stunning ocean view. When I stepped out onto the balcony, the rhythmic sound of the waves and salty ocean breeze greeted me.
There’s just something about the smell of the ocean that gets me all riled up with anticipation! I can’t wait to go down to the beach!
In the Kingdom of Gaché, it was unheard of for members of the nobility to engage in such an unseemly activity as swimming, but in the Linus Empire, it was perfectly acceptable.
So, they also had swim outfits similar to bathing suits.
However, they were extremely ugly.
The female version of this swim outfit consisted of a tight garment similar to a wetsuit with short sleeves and shorts, except that several layers of ruffled sheer fabric hung from the waist. In addition to being simply decorative, these filmy layers of fabric provided ample room for embroidering written magic spells to prevent drowning, so I supposed they did serve a purpose, but…
The swim outfits are still super ugly! If I’d known how drab they looked, I would’ve designed something and had it custom-made! I suppose there’s no point in complaining about it now, though. I’ll just have to write to Auntie Olive later and see if together we can come up with something a little better for next time.
I dragged Karna and Paul along and made a beeline for the beach.
Clay had already arrived with Aise and Daux, and together, the brothers were playing in the shallow waves right offshore.
…Why is it that men’s swim outfits in this world are ordinary swim trunks?! I mean, they’re a bit shorter and tighter than the “loose, above-the-knee shorts” style that are popular on Earth, but that’s fine. At least they’re not speedos! I might’ve pulled a muscle laughing if that were the case…
All right! Before swimming, you need to warm up properly!
I sang the familiar tune of the Japanese warm-up exercise routine “radio taisou” in my head on repeat as I moved my body along with the lyrics, stretching and dancing to the beat only I could hear.
Even though this song and the accompanying exercise routine were deeply engrained in the subconscious of every Japanese through frequent repetition, without the music playing in the background, I was surprised to find that I didn’t remember the lyrics as well as I thought I did. I probably got the order wrong a few times, but since no other Japanese were around to know the difference, I figured it was fine.
“…Lady Nefertima, what is the purpose of this strange dance you’ve suddenly started doing?”
When you put it that way, you make me sound like Gratia! Everybody knows if you don’t warm up before swimming, you’ll likely get a cramp and drown! This is a very important pre-workout routine, not a silly dance!
“It’s important to move your body before you go in the ocean!” I insisted.
Last move—deep breathing!
Phew, I’m done!
With that out of the way, I dashed headlong straight into the ocean.
However, almost as soon as I entered the ocean, the drag of the water rising up around my calves caused my speed to drop drastically. But I didn’t let it deter me—I carried on splashing water in all directions as I trudged at top speed through the waves until I got far enough out that I felt the water start to support my body weight. At that point, I bobbed up and down in time with each wave that rolled in.
This strange, weightless feeling is really indescribable!
When the next large wave came, I lifted my feet off the sandy bottom and let it carry me to shore.
Hmm, I wish I had a surfboard or at least a bodyboard right about now…
I wonder if I can get someone to find me something I can use instead? If it’s successful, we might even be able to introduce surfing as a tourist attraction in the Shiana Special Region!
I was so deep in thought I didn’t notice anyone approaching until with a SPLASH! I was plucked out of the water and found myself cradled in a strong pair of arms.
“Are you tired already?”
“Theo…”
It was Theo who’d picked me up.
So Theo’s one of those people who look deceptively slender with clothes on, huh?
He wasn’t nearly as muscular as Shinki, but Theo was more built than my brother, Ralf.
He seems to be a capable swordsman, so maybe he got this muscle from training? Oh! Speaking of muscular bodies, where is Paul?!
I got Theo to put me down and hurried back to where Karna and the others were waiting on the sand. Karna was wearing the same ugly swim outfit as me, but because the model was so beautiful, it didn’t look too bad on her.
It’s so unfair!
Shinki and Paul were in swim trunks, but the sight of them side-by-side was really something.
It was like I’d suddenly found myself smack dab in the middle of a bodybuilder competition. Although, rather than the almost artificial perfection of a bodybuilder’s sculpted physique, their musculature was a bit rougher, proof that their bodies had been hardened by hours spent fighting, not working out in a gym.
They’re both built like an upside-down triangle… Their arms and pecs are massive, and they’ve both got abs for days, leading down to trim waists… I think many men would kill for bodies like this!