But when Mara stepped fully into the street and her eyes adjusted to the dim light of dusk, she came to a sudden stop.
It wasn't a carriage.
It was several.
Many carriages.
"Wow," Beckie murmured beside her, clearly just as surprised.
Stretching along the entire street was a caravan of at least eight or ten carriages, each elegant and well maintained, their horses pawing impatiently at the ground. Some were open, others closed with velvet curtains. The streetlamps cast dancing shadows across polished wood and metal ornaments that gleamed in the night.
And gathered around the carriages, forming small groups, were girls.
Many girls.
Mara recognized some from the Velvet Veil and other nearby establishments in the district. There were girls of every race she had seen since arriving in this world: humans, elves with pointed ears, beast girls with tails and ears, even one whose skin had a faint bluish hue that subtly shimmered under the light.
All of them were elegantly dressed, in outfits ranging from discreetly sophisticated to boldly revealing.
The murmur of lively conversations filled the air, mingling with occasional laughter and the sounds of the horses.
"This is… much bigger than I imagined," Mara admitted, her eyes widening as she took it all in.
"Marchioness Dahlia never does things halfway," Alice said beside her, wearing that knowing smile. "Come, our carriage is over there."
Alice guided them through the crowd, greeting several girls as they passed. Mara noticed the looks she received—some curious, others appreciative, some even hungry—and felt her skin prickle with a mix of nerves and excitement.
They reached one of the carriages near the middle of the caravan, a closed one with deep purple velvet curtains and cushioned seats inside that looked surprisingly comfortable.
"This one's ours," Alice announced, and with a grace that shouldn't have been possible for someone without sight, she climbed elegantly into the carriage.
Beckie followed, then Mara, who had to make a conscious effort not to trip over her dress.
Once inside, Mara settled into one of the padded seats and looked around. The interior was more spacious than it appeared from outside, with room for at least six people to sit comfortably.
They had barely settled when two more girls climbed into the carriage.
The first was an elf with silver hair and emerald-green eyes, moving with effortless elegance. She wore an almost ethereal white dress that seemed to float around her slender body.
The second was a beast girl—specifically a fox girl, judging by her triangular ears and fluffy tail—with reddish hair and bright golden eyes full of life. Her dress was considerably more daring, with a deep neckline and a short skirt that showed off her toned legs.
"Hello," the elf greeted softly, her voice like a gentle breeze. "I'm Lyra."
"And I'm Kira," added the fox girl with a wide grin, revealing slightly sharp teeth. "Do you mind if we share the carriage?"
"Not at all," Alice replied warmly. "The more, the merrier. I'm Alice, and these are Mara and Beckie."
"Nice to meet you," Mara and Beckie said almost in unison.
The newcomers took the seats across from them, and soon the carriage filled with light conversation as they waited for the caravan to depart.
"Is this your first time going to one of the marchioness's events?" Kira asked Mara, her fox ears twitching with curiosity.
"Yes," Mara admitted. "Actually, it's my first time at something like this at all."
"Oh, a newcomer," Kira said with delight, her eyes sparkling. "You're going to love it. The marchioness knows how to throw an unforgettable party."
"Have you been before?" Beckie asked.
"A couple of times," Kira confirmed. "The last one was almost a year ago. It was… intense, in the best possible way."
Lyra nodded in agreement, though her expression remained calm.
"The marchioness's mansion is beautiful," the elf added. "And the way she organizes these events… there's something for everyone. No matter your preferences or limits."
Before the conversation could continue, a shout rang out from outside.
"Prepare to depart!"
The carriage jolted slightly as the driver climbed onto his seat, and a moment later Mara felt the familiar motion as the horses began to pull.
The caravan was on the move.
Mara parted the velvet curtain slightly and looked outside. From her position in the middle of the caravan, she could see the carriages ahead and behind them, all moving in unison through the city streets.
Some people on the sidewalks paused to watch the procession with curiosity, but most simply went on with their business, likely accustomed to unusual sights in this district.
"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.