It was too late to fix things now. The only thing that could smooth over this crisis was time.
So, after draining the last drop of her honey water, Lady Anya stood up decisively, ready to retreat to the safety of her own room.
But as she rose, she found Jon standing up in sync with her, blocking her path.
"Move! Don't tell me that in addition to beating me three times a day and starving me, you're also going to deprive me of my sleep?"
The red fox bared her fangs and claws again, using deliberate hostility to cover her intense embarrassment.
Opposite her, Jon narrowed his eyes, scanning this unusually flustered but brilliant woman.
Caught in a sudden flash of inspiration, he couldn't resist teasing her.
"Since you've already claimed we are an engaged couple, surely I should enjoy the rights of a husband while fulfilling my obligations... so, where are you sleeping tonight?"
As he spoke, Jon's hand naturally reached out to lift her perfect chin, muscle memory guiding him to lean in closer.
Unfortunately, all he touched was empty air.
With a nimble spin, the agile red fox slipped out of his grasp, dashed back to her room, and slammed the door shut, bolting it securely.
Even with the door locked, the girl didn't feel safe. She dug out a sturdy hunting outfit, put it on, and buckled five separate belts around her waist. Only after grabbing her rapier did she feel slightly more secure.
Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest. Her mind raced with wild thoughts: If he breaks down the door, what do I do? Do I point the sharp end at him? Or, to protect my virtue, do I point it at myself?
However, as time passed, there was no sound from outside the door. Only the silent night remained to keep the conflicted girl company.
---
In the days that followed, Jon stepped back from the spotlight, shedding the heavy mantle of the "Baron of Tampa" whenever possible.
Instead, he adopted the role of the "Summer Camp Director," spending his time mingling and enjoying life alongside the young nobles.
The coastal resort district underwent another transformation.
With the owner's permission, the young lords and ladies realized they were free to customize their accommodations. They began to decorate their originally sparse rooms with their own luxurious touches, inadvertently saving the Baron a fortune in furnishing costs.
But the real change happened outside. After the mud was cleared from the coastline and replaced with fine golden sand, a brand-new "outdoor salon" culture quietly emerged.
The first revolution was in fashion.
In Tampa's most famous boutique, racks were filled with new arrivals from the Summer Sea.
These silk garments, dubbed "beachwear," quickly caught on within a small circle.
The tailored trousers and vibrant shirts were a godsend for male nobles suffering in the summer heat. Soon, they were swapping their heavy doublets for the light silk, lounging by the beach while sipping iced plum water and grape juice.
The only thing that raised eyebrows was Baron Jon's attire, which was far more radical than anyone else's.
While the style was similar, Jon had taken scissors to his clothes, cutting off the pant legs and sleeves. This bold look attracted a lot of attention.
Even the noble ladies hiding in their rooms sent their maids out to "ask questions." These loyal servants, while executing their duties, took the opportunity to steal long glances at the Baron's exposed physique before rushing back to share the vivid details with their mistresses.
Of course, such exotic clothing wasn't for everyone.
Especially the price tag. It made even nobles accustomed to bespoke tailoring gasp at the extravagance from across the Narrow Sea.
A standard set of silk beachwear cost around fifty Gold Dragons. But Baron Jon's colorful shorts and short-sleeved shirt? That set was selling for a staggering one hundred Gold Dragons!
Yes, this new fashion of "shorts and tees" was just a small interlude in Jon's grand plan to pry open the nobles' wallets.
However, he was smart enough not to force everyone to change at once.
Anytime anyone wants to introduce change—even the smallest shift—they face massive resistance.
So, when faced with Westerosi tradition, Jon chose a subtle approach... like hell he did!
He chose to go straight for the jugular!
Take the shorts and short sleeves, for example. If he hadn't worn them himself first, absolutely no one would have accepted them.
But once Baron Jon chose to show some skin, the other young nobles quietly accepted the compromise and started wearing the long-sleeved, long-trouser versions of the beachwear.
Once that baseline was established, the rest was just a matter of time.
Of course, this was only the first step.
Jon designated separate beach zones for men and women, dividing the coast with a wall woven from vines.
Currently, the men's zone—where the new fashion was already taking hold—acted like bait, radiating the scent of freedom. It wouldn't be long before the noblewomen, driven by curiosity and competitiveness, would make their own bold attempts, shocking the men in return.
Jon just needed to keep adding fuel to the fire. Once the trend started, it would sweep through the group, and they would accept his entire concept of a "vacation resort."
When this wind blew back into King's Landing, that would be harvest time.
But before that, under Jon's instruction, Lady Anya began quietly launching new shops.
Essential oils, cosmetics, hats, and shoes were just the first batch. These products, either imported from Essos or locally blended, began to harvest coin from the nobles sunbathing on the beach, just as the clothing store had.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the resort district, several workshops began operating day and night.
Blacksmiths, carpenters, leatherworkers, and even dyers and carvers were gathered around circular tables, producing fish-shaped wooden boards in sequence.
These diamond-like boards were carefully shaped, sanded smooth, and coated with beeswax until they met the Baron's exacting standards.
Then, on a windy afternoon when the young nobles were bored out of their minds, a figure flew out from the waves.
Like a god riding the sea, Jon surfed all the way to the shore.
When the young men and women realized the person gliding on water was Baron Jon, whispers started spreading that the Shadow Hand might actually know magic. The rumors were getting wilder by the second.
But as the Baron picked up his surfboard and explained the mechanics, the crowd realized the truth: Wait, anyone can do this?
With that spark, the first to jump in were inevitably the men who refused to grow up.
Shortly after, thrilling activities like surfing, deep-sea fishing, sailing, and even shark hunting were introduced by Jon one by one. His personal demonstrations drew unimaginable attention and pulled in entirely new crowds.
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