The Marquis's Grand Entrance
We turned around, puzzled, following the staff's gaze to the back. The employees had lined up in two rows at the lobby entrance. The transparent glass doors slid open, and someone stepped inside—a white-bearded old man who looked exactly like the portrait hanging in the lobby.
That must be Marquis Kekers, I thought. The marquis had a straight back and sturdy build that could rival any young man's. His oiled white hair swept neatly back and his thick white beard didn't make him look aged; if anything, they enhanced his dignified presence.
All the standing staff bowed deeply at the waist.
"Good day, Marquis!"
A dozen or so people followed behind him—likely his retainers handling affairs at the lord's castle and the club operators.
"It's a fine day today. Carry on with your work, everyone."
The marquis smiled amiably as he passed through the lobby and ascended the central marble staircase. Only after he had fully disappeared upstairs did the staff straighten up and disperse. It was quite the impressive entrance. A marquis through and through.
His title was the second highest in the five noble ranks of duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron. Most marquises controlled vast territories outright. It was that immense power and wealth that allowed him to develop such a luxurious resort complex.
I had no idea what had happened, but it seemed Grace Bay had truly been incorporated into Marquis Kekers's domain.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Let me continue the tour."
The attendant resumed her explanation with an apology.
"We have one suite left for seven guests. The layout is like this."
She showed us a luxurious hinoki wood plaque engraved with the room's floor plan—likely burned into the surface with a heated iron by a skilled craftsman. The suite had a large central living room with a kitchenette, and three attached bedrooms. I could take the smallest one alone, and the others could pair up in the rest.
"How many beds per room?"
"Two per room standard, but we can add more if you'd like."
"What do you think, Saint... er, Celereja?"
There was no need to advertise that Celereja was a saintess. Fanatics might make trouble over it. Called by name, Celereja fidgeted coyly, twisting her body this way and that before responding demurely.
"I-I'm fine with anything..."
"Then we'll take this one."
The attendant tallied the room fee, parasol rental, and so on with a small abacus, then announced the total.
"Ten gold coins, sir."
"What?!"
Celereja shrieked before I could even react, drawing stares from the other desks and guests.
"Ten gold coins, sir."
The attendant repeated it with a beaming smile, apparently thinking Celereja had misheard rather than balked at the outrageous price.
"Bertrand... ten gold coins..."
Hmm... ten gold coins. That's ten months of Idi's salary for one night. Meals definitely not included. Dining at the restaurants across the way or using other facilities would rack up even more. With seven people, probably at least another five gold minimum.
This place was insanely expensive. I had no doubt it was worth every coin, but... my lips were going dry.
I repeated Francois's words in my head. Fine. We're here to have fun—might as well enjoy it.
I emptied my pockets: five gold coins. A hefty sum for seven people, but nowhere near enough.
"Is there a bank here?"
"Of course, sir. Cross to the club opposite—there's a Guild Bank branch on the first floor."
A bank too? Marquis Kekers was dead serious about turning this into a business empire.
Celereja and I headed to the so-called "club" building. I showed my ID and withdrew another ten gold. The Guild Bank, run by the noble council, charged higher fees and interest than the royal central bank. The teller handed over the coins without question, and Celereja stared at me with deep suspicion.
"Bertrand, are you loaded?"
"Nah, just scraping by."
Back at the hotel desk, I paid upfront. Celereja watched wistfully as the gold coins—stamped with a profile of King Blavane the Twice-Conqueror—passed from my hand to the attendant's. A single night's ten gold was utterly incomprehensible to her.
But for a beachfront luxury hotel suite with three rooms? Pricey, sure, but not absurd.
"Why the long face? We're here to splurge—might as well."
"But ten gold coins! I've never even held that much in one hand my whole life."
"Haha. Come on, the others are waiting."
As we left, the attendant explained Grace Bay's payment system and handed me seven metal bracelets, each engraved with a four-digit number. No cash needed—just flash the bracelet for anything in the club. They'd settle up at checkout.
Smart system. I'd been worrying about handing out cash to the pocketless crew and them losing it.
The marquis clearly knew his stuff.
We bought four cocktails on the way out. Couldn't grab all seven—hands full. The rest could fend for themselves.
"Kali. Stick behind us. No bothering people, got it?"
Kali wagged his tail furiously and barked once in excitement. Thankfully, he trailed us obediently to the parasols.
Celereja and I returned to the beach where the attendants waited. Francois sat up under her parasol at the sight of me. I handed her one of the chilled cocktail glasses.
"Where'd you go?"
"Secured a room at the inn—er, hotel. Wow."
Francois was draped in black mesh silk from neck to ankles—a sleeveless dress with sides completely open from underarm to hip, zigzagged with thin straps. A black bikini peeked through underneath. Plain on its own, but the mesh made it exotic. Her ample breasts asserted themselves even through the layers.
"What? Weird?"
"No... you look beautiful... Ow!"
Celereja stomped my instep with her heel. Francois chuckled and sipped her cocktail. Beside her, Pelle lay asleep, sunglasses slipping unnoticed over closed eyes.
"Kyaaah!"
A shrill scream pierced from the sea. Della, Marim, and Idi were tangled in a tussle—but not fighting.
"Gimme that! Lemme ride!"
Marim blinked around frantically, arms outstretched for Idi's chest. She wore a rainbow string bikini. Lean overall, but years of deliveries had etched fine muscles into her frame. Her back rippled with every reach, and her hamstrings curved sharply as she lunged.
"Hehe. Even if I drown, Idi's sis boobs'll save me."
Marim finally seized one breast with both hands. Idi flailed—"Eee?!"—and splashed down into the water. Della laughed brightly, splashing over. She sported a big ribboned straw hat and a lacy frilly two-piece bikini—not too revealing, but perfect for her bright, cheerful vibe. Against the emerald sea and pale sky, her golden blonde hair and sapphire eyes shone like the sea goddess Mer.
"Ughhh... swallowed water..."
"Grab my hand, Idi. Up you go."
Idi took Della's hand but—oomph!—her weight yanked Della forward into a tumble.
"Hehe... sorry..."
Idi helped Della up, her skimpy bikini miraculously holding firm under those heavy breasts. Unlike the string-only one she'd tempted me with before, this at least covered the essentials (barely). Without Pelle, it'd probably have chicken feathers sprouting there.
"Hey! You lot, over here!"
They splashed ashore at my call, drawing stares from every passerby.
"Wear these bracelets. Flash 'em—no cash needed for anything. Hands full, so get your own drinks."
"Whatcha got?"
I listed what I'd seen. Their faces mixed utter disbelief with eager excitement.
"Hurry up, c'mon!"
Marim grabbed Della and Idi's arms, dragging them off. Della, fine—but Idi?
"Idi sis! Quit dragging your feet!"
"Hehe... okay... let's go..."
With the kids(?) gone, things quieted a bit. I sat under Francois's parasol with my cocktail. Celereja scurried over and glued herself to my side.
"Celereja. Sorry, it's hot—scoot over?"
"Nope."
She clung tighter to my arm. It was hot...
"Bertrand. Too hot? Wanna hit the sea together?"
Celereja perked up, yanking my wrist. I wanted to lounge, but refusing felt awkward, so I followed. She led me waist-deep before turning.
"Bertrand. Come closer."
She pulled my hand to her ass. Stunned, I gripped it. She pressed into my chest, sliding her hand between my legs. I recoiled in shock, but her other arm locked around my waist.
"I saw it all, Bertrand."
"Saw what...?"
"You eyeing the attendants all lewd."
Me? I was just looking... Was she imagining things?
"Never once looked at me like that."
"Huh...? How do you eye a cleric like that? And I wasn't thinking anything looking at our girls..."
"This."
She squeezed hard. Pinned by my weakness, I stared down helplessly.
