"Welcome to The Velvet Veil, Mara," Alice said, hugging the orange-haired girl tightly.
The new chapter of Mara's life, it seemed, had already begun.
"Well, I think it's time to head back to the lobby," Alice commented as she stepped away from her.
Mara stayed silent for a few seconds, the older woman's words echoing inside her.
Working and living here. Serving food, cleaning rooms… and attending to beautiful women who asked for it and paid for it.
A spark of joy flared within her.
This… is definitely paradise, she thought, almost laughing at the irony.
But just as the excitement began to build, a clear memory brought her to a sudden halt… the conversation at the table, Cecilia's and Mordred's looks, their clear offer to take her somewhere safe if she had nowhere to go.
An uncomfortable knot of guilt tightened in her throat. She had accepted Alice's offer without even thinking for a second about theirs.
"Mmmmmm, Alice…" Mara said, her tone dropping a little. "I think I should tell Mordred and Cecilia about this, since they offered to go with me if I didn't have a place to stay."
"Of course, dear. I'm sure they'll understand," Alice replied calmly, as if she already knew everything.
Mara nodded and left the kitchen, feeling her steps grow a little heavier this time.
When she reached the lobby, she found them seated at the table again, now immersed in what seemed to be a calm, pleasant conversation.
Mara hesitated for a moment, feeling as if guilt were gripping her shoulders.
When they saw her, both interrupted their chat and turned their gazes toward her. Mordred tilted her head, feline ears alert. Cecilia simply waited.
"Mordred, Cecilia…" Mara began, sitting down across from them. "I need to tell you something… I'm going to turn down your offer."
The words came out faster than she wanted. Mordred didn't take her eyes off her; neither did Cecilia.
"I know I told you yes a moment ago, but… I think I've already found the place where I want to be," she added, bracing herself for disappointment, coldness, maybe reproach.
Instead, Mordred burst into a bright, carefree laugh.
"Ahahahaha! To be honest, I was already expecting it," she said with a grin. "I saw that look in your eyes when you headed to the kitchen… I knew Alice would snag you."
Cecilia took another sip of her tea before speaking in her neutral—but not hostile—tone. "It's a sound decision. Alice is trustworthy. This place is… stable," the witch said, taking another sip from her cup.
Mara looked at them, bewildered. There was no resentment, not even a shadow of disappointment.
"So… you're not upset that I changed my mind at the last minute?" she asked, confusion written all over her face.
"Of course not, beautiful!" Mordred exclaimed, leaning over the table."You're free to make your own decisions. And if that means staying here, with Alice herself, then good for you," she said in her usual playful tone.
"That's right," Cecilia agreed with a slight nod. "If you feel more comfortable here, we won't stop you. It's your path."
The relief that flooded Mara was almost physical, like someone lifting a weight off her shoulders.
"Thank you… truly," Mara said, her tone clearly more relaxed.
"Speak of the devil… look who's coming!" Mordred announced theatrically, pointing toward the door that connected to the kitchen.
Alice appeared in the doorway, wearing her usual serene smile.
"Ara, ara… why are you calling me like that? You'll make me cry," she said, feigning a dramatic sob as she covered her face.
"Clearly, we're no match for the great Alice!" Mordred proclaimed, joining the act with a hand over her heart. "Oh, Cecilia, my love! Comfort this broken heart…"
And before the witch could protest, the catgirl lunged at her, trying to trap her in an exaggerated hug.
"Get off me, you stupid cat!" Cecilia protested, though her resistance was more symbolic than real.
Mara watched the scene with a genuine smile forming on her lips.
Everything has been going so well since I arrived in this world, she thought, and the idea itself felt like an absurd and wonderful miracle.
Suddenly, Mordred scooped Cecilia up in her arms like a princess, making the witch scream and flail—though without real force.
"All right, girls! If you'll excuse me, I must go heal my broken heart from Mara's rejection with my beloved Cecilia," Mordred announced, heading toward the stairs while carrying the furious but blushing witch.
Her protests faded as they went upstairs, until only the echo of playful laughter remained.
"…Are those two always that… lively?" Mara asked, not really expecting an answer.
"Fufufufu… yes," Alice replied with a knowing smile. "Ever since they started dating, they're inseparable. In their own way, they take very good care of each other."
Mara nodded, storing that image in her mind as another small piece of the new world she now belonged to.
"Oh, before I forget," Alice said, changing her tone."Now that you work here, you'll need appropriate attire. That simple outfit Mordred gave you doesn't do your face justice."
Without giving her time to respond, Alice gently took her by the arm and guided her down a short hallway on the ground floor to a wooden door.
When she opened it, Mara saw a room used as storage: stacked boxes, rolls of fabric, kitchen utensils, and in one corner, several crates filled with clothing.
"Wait here a moment, dear," Alice said, approaching one of the fabric boxes and beginning to rummage through it with practiced hands.
Mara looked around, soaking in the calm of the place, when suddenly a clear, metallic sound rang out from the lobby.
ting, ting, ting.
It was the reception bell.
"Ara! Looks like a client has arrived," Alice said, turning around. "Wait here a moment, dear. I'll be right back."
And with the silent fluidity that characterized her, she left the storage room and closed the door behind her.
Mara was left alone among the boxes, surrounded by the scent of clean fabric and old wood.
So this is what my life will be like from now on, she thought, a wave of gratitude washing over her.
Thank you for everything, mysterious and unknown god of reincarnation. I can't imagine how these two days could possibly get any better.
Just as Mara was lost in her thoughts, the door swung open.
Alice had returned faster than Mara expected, quickly closing it behind her.
Her expression was still serene, but there was something different in her posture—a contained urgency.
"All right, dear," she said, her voice soft but quick. "Let's get you dressed fast—your first client has just arrived."
First client?
The words echoed in the still air of the storage room.
Mara felt her heart flip inside her chest. It wasn't fear. It wasn't rejection.
It was… anticipation.
Oh my God, she thought to herself as Alice pulled an outfit from the box.This just keeps getting better.
Paradise, it seemed, had just knocked on her door.