"Huh?" slipped from Mara's mouth, this time with genuine confusion at hearing that name.
And then she remembered her—Reiko.
That girl with the gloomy gaze and awkward steps.
The girl who had left on a "special assignment" Alice had barely explained.
Truth be told, Mara had completely forgotten she even existed.
The brief flash of guilt she felt was quickly overshadowed by curiosity.
What kind of event had Reiko been sent to?, Mara thought with curiosity.
"Reiko and Marchioness Dahlia have been working on something special for the past three weeks," Alice began, choosing her words carefully. "They've organized an… event."
"An event?" Beckie repeated, leaning forward. "What kind of event?"
Alice laughed softly, and there was something mischievous in that laugh that made Mara pay even closer attention.
"Well, officially they're calling it a 'party,'" Alice said, making a gesture with her hands as if placing the word between invisible quotation marks. "But in reality… it's an orgy."
Silence fell over the room like a heavy blanket.
Mara blinked. Once. Twice.
An orgy? The thought echoed loudly in her mind.
Beckie was the first to react, letting out a laugh that started as a snort and ended as genuine laughter.
"Of course it's an orgy," Beckie said, shaking her head in amusement. "I knew Reiko was planning something big, but this… this exceeds my expectations."
Mara, still processing the information, felt a mix of surprise and… excitement? She couldn't deny it. Since arriving in this world, her life had taken turns she never would have imagined, and this seemed to be yet another one.
"Wait, wait," Mara interrupted, raising a hand. "Did you say they've been organizing this for three weeks? How big is this… 'party'?"
Alice smiled, and even with her characteristic blindfold, Mara could feel the intensity of her gaze.
"Very big," Alice replied. "Marchioness Dahlia has made her mansion available—it's a two-day journey from here. They've invited girls from all over the district… not just from The Velvet Veil, but from other establishments as well."
"Incredible," Beckie murmured, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Reiko really doesn't do things halfway, does she?"
"Never," Alice confirmed. "And they want all of us to go. Especially you, Mara."
Mara felt her cheeks warm slightly.
"Me? Why me?"
Alice leaned forward, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper.
"Because you're new, dear. Fresh. And believe me when I say that at events like these, someone like you… with your unique appearance and that natural charm you have… you'll be the center of attention."
Mara's heart began to beat faster. The idea was both terrifying and intoxicating.
"And when is this party?" Beckie asked.
"We begin the journey tonight," Alice replied. "The carriages will leave at dusk. We'll arrive at the mansion in two days, and the party will begin that very night."
Mara swallowed, feeling the reality of the situation start to sink in.
An orgy. In a mansion. With dozens of girls.
The rational part of her mind—the part that still carried remnants of Logan, her former self—told her this was insane.
But the part of her that was fully Mara, who had embraced this new life with all its pleasures and excesses, was absolutely thrilled.
"So… are we going?" Beckie asked, looking at Mara with a mischievous smile.
Mara returned the smile, feeling adrenaline begin to course through her veins.
"Of course we're going," she replied, her voice sounding more confident than she felt.
Alice clapped her hands softly, clearly pleased.
"Excellent. Then you have the whole day to prepare. Pack whatever you need… although I should warn you," she added with a playful smile, "you probably won't need much clothing."
The three of them laughed, and in that moment, Mara knew this trip would be unlike anything she had experienced before.
And honestly—she couldn't wait.