After some time moving through the city streets, the carriage finally came to a stop beside a small inn tucked along one of the narrower alleys.
Compared to the busier roads near the center, this part of Lily Pier was quieter, though the distant noise of the city still lingered in the air. Voices, footsteps, and the occasional sound of merchants calling out drifted faintly between the buildings, blending with the salty breeze coming from the sea.
Jack stepped down first and gave a brief order for everyone to come with him, leaving only Thomas behind to deal with the carriage and find a proper place for the horses nearby.
As the others began gathering outside, Evelyn glanced toward Stella, a faint trace of curiosity appearing in her expression, "you usually keep your hair tied during the journey," she said casually, "it looks nice like this."
Stella answered with a small smile,"thank you."
The exchange was brief, but not uncomfortable.
Afterward, both stepped down from the carriage and followed the others toward the inn's entrance. For a moment, Stella's gaze wandered through the alley around them.
Even here, away from the larger streets, Lily Pier still felt alive.
Open windows, hanging flower pots, bits of conversation spilling from nearby shops, the city carried a constant sense of movement that never seemed to fully settle.
Then, as if remembering something, Stella turned slightly toward Evelyn.
"Is this your first time here?"
A quiet look crossed Evelyn's face before she answered,"No. Actually… I spent my childhood here."
The response caught Stella's attention more than expected.
"So you know the city pretty well, then?"
"More or less," Evelyn replied with the same indifferent tone as always.
"But I've been away for a long time. A lot has probably changed since then, so…"
The sentence trailed off naturally, neither dismissive nor particularly nostalgic.
Stella remained silent for a brief moment, as though considering something carefully before speaking again.
"Would you mind showing me around?"
The request sounded casual, almost innocent, "the city seems really interesting. I'm from the western region too, but… I grew up in a remote mountain village. I've never actually been somewhere like this before."
Stella pressed the matter a little further, persistent enough that Evelyn eventually gave in. In the end, she promised to ask Jack for permission so they could go out the following day before the mission began.
"Really?" Stella asked, allowing a small hint of relief to appear on her face.
Evelyn shrugged lightly. "We should still have some time before things get busy."
The conversation ended there, and both entered the inn alongside the others.
Compared to most of the buildings they had passed throughout the city, this place was relatively small. Only two floors tall, with a modest exterior that blended easily into the surrounding alley. Still, despite its simplicity, the interior felt clean, orderly, and unexpectedly refined. Warm light spilled softly across polished wood, giving the inn a quieter atmosphere than the noisy streets outside.
As the others settled in, Stella's eyes moved silently across the room out of habit.
The arrangement of tables, the narrow staircase leading upward, the placement of doors and windows, even the spacing between exits.
Only two people appeared to be working there, a middle-aged couple managing the inn together. At first glance, they seemed ordinary enough, with calm expressions, simple clothing, movements shaped by routine repetition.
But that impression didn't last long.
Near the counter, Jack exchanged a few quiet words with the couple while the others remained distracted.
The interaction appeared casual on the surface, yet the familiarity between them was difficult to miss.
Stella noticed it immediately, they were connected too, not merely innkeepers.
They are part of the mission.
Her gaze shifted briefly toward the staircase, then toward the nearby window overlooking the streets outside.
Lily Pier was crowded, noisy, and constantly moving.
A city filled with unfamiliar faces, narrow alleys, and endless distractions, a place where someone could disappear.
The request she made to Evelyn had never been innocent. It was part of her plan.
The idea had started forming the moment Thomas explained the city's attitude toward long, loose hair. In a place like this, a disappearance would not seem unusual.
If she vanished, the most likely assumption would be simple, someone had taken advantage of the city's reputation. Kidnapping, harassment, getting lost in unfamiliar streets… any explanation would sound believable enough to delay suspicion, at least for a while.
And Evelyn…Out of everyone in the group, she had been the safest choice. Not weak, but easier to handle than the others if things went wrong.
A small breath escaped Stella as her eyes returned toward the streets beyond the glass.
Tomorrow, that would be her chance.