"How long did they say the journey would take?" Mara asked, letting the curtain fall and turning back to the others.
"Two full days," Alice replied. "We'll stop tonight at an inn halfway, rest, and continue tomorrow. We'll reach the mansion at dusk on the second day."
"Two days," Mara repeated, letting the information sink in. Two days traveling toward the unknown, toward an experience that promised to be unlike anything she had ever lived through.
Kira stretched like a satisfied cat, her tail swaying lazily.
"Well then, we'd better get comfortable. It's a long trip."
And with that, the carriage continued on its way, carrying Mara farther and farther from the familiar—and ever closer to the extraordinary.
The second day of travel had been considerably calmer than the first.
After spending the night at a rustic but cozy inn—where all the girls slept in shared rooms filled with laughter and whispered conversations—the caravan resumed its journey at dawn.
Mara spent most of the day chatting with her carriage companions, learning about their lives, their stories, their hopes and dreams.
It was fascinating to discover the diversity of experiences they all carried, and yet how all of them converged on this same journey toward a shared destination.
Now, as the sun began to descend once more and the sky was painted in shades of pink and violet, Mara felt the rhythm of the carriage change.
"We're arriving," Alice announced, as if she could feel the shift in the air.
Mara pulled aside the curtain and looked outside—and what she saw stole her breath.
In the distance, rising against the sunset sky like something straight out of a fairy tale, stood the mansion.
No—mansion didn't quite cover it.
It was a palace.
The structure was massive, with towers stretching skyward, windows catching the last rays of sunlight and turning them into golden flashes, and gardens spreading in every direction, perfectly maintained and bursting with vibrant flowers.
There were fountains—Mara could see at least three from here—and stone paths winding through the gardens like pale rivers.
"By all the gods…" Mara murmured, unable to look away.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Kira said beside her, also gazing out the window in awe. "And just wait until you see the inside."
The caravan passed through the grand wrought-iron gates marking the entrance to the estate, decorated with intricate designs of vines and roses.
Along the path, lanterns began to light up automatically, as if sensing the arrival of dusk.
The carriage finally came to a stop before the main entrance of the mansion, where a wide staircase of white marble led up to double doors of dark wood carved with elaborate patterns.
"We've arrived, ladies," the coachman announced from outside.
One by one, the girls began to descend from the carriages.
Mara was the third to step down from hers, and when her feet touched the polished stone, she had to make a conscious effort not to gape openly.
Up close, the mansion was even more imposing.
The towers loomed overhead, the windows glowed warmly from within, and the air was perfumed with exotic flowers she couldn't even name.
"Come," Alice said, gently taking her arm. "Let's go inside."
They climbed the steps along with the others, a steady stream of color and beauty flowing toward the open doors.
And when Mara crossed the threshold and entered the mansion itself, she stopped short.
The foyer was absolutely breathtaking.
The ceiling soared at least three stories high, with a massive crystal chandelier hanging at its center, seemingly holding a thousand candles, all lit and casting dancing light across the walls.
The floor was polished marble in black-and-white patterns, and the walls were adorned with elaborate tapestries and paintings that likely cost more than Mara would earn in her entire life.
Curving staircases rose on both sides, leading to upper levels she could only imagine.
"Incredible," she whispered, slowly turning as she tried to take it all in.
The foyer was filling with girls, all looking around with varying degrees of amazement.
Some, like Kira, seemed familiar with the place and moved confidently.
Others, like Mara, were clearly overwhelmed.
"Mara!"
The familiar voice made her spin around.
And there, pushing through the crowd, were Mordred and Cecilia.
Mordred wore her usual casual outfit—bandages across her chest and short pants—which clashed hilariously with the elegant surroundings, yet somehow suited her perfectly.
Her tail swayed enthusiastically and her feline ears were perked up.
Cecilia, on the other hand, had opted for something more formal: a sleek black dress that matched her large witch's hat, noticeably lighter than her usual combat attire.
"Girls!" Mara exclaimed, a wave of joy washing over her at the sight of familiar faces.
She rushed toward them, and the three met in the middle of the foyer, hugging tightly.
"I didn't know you were coming," Mara said when they pulled apart.
"Miss a Marquis Dahlia event? Not a chance," Mordred replied with a wide grin. "Besides, Reiko contacted us personally. Apparently, she wanted to make sure we'd be here."
"She was quite insistent, actually," Cecilia added with a small smile.
"Speaking of Reiko," Beckie asked as she approached with Alice, "where is she?"
"We haven't seen her yet," Mordred replied. "She's probably—"
"ATTENTION, LOVELIES!"
The voice echoed through the foyer, magically amplified somehow, making every girl fall silent and look up.
And there, standing on the second-floor balcony with her arms spread dramatically, was a woman who could only be one person.
Emi.
Mara recognized her from the descriptions she'd heard: platinum-blonde hair, almost white, pulled into a high ponytail, and eyes of such an intense blue they seemed to glow even from this distance.
She wore a tight silver dress that caught the chandelier's light and made her look almost ethereal.
Her presence demanded absolute attention.
"Welcome," Emi began, her voice clear and confident, "to Dahlia Manor. On behalf of the marchioness, it is an honor to have you all here tonight."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd.
"But before we begin the true festivities," Emi continued with a playful smile, "the marchioness wishes to address you personally. So please, get comfortable, have a drink if you like, and shortly…"
She paused dramatically.
"…the show will begin."
With that, Emi disappeared from the balcony, leaving the girls buzzing with electric anticipation.
Mara looked at Mordred and Cecilia, then at Beckie and Alice, and finally at all the gathered girls.
This is just the beginning, she thought, her heart pounding.
And honestly, she couldn't wait to see what came next.