They are all characters I control.

In any case, Elena could not bear to see Lia being taken to the banquet by the Marquis of Rost.

"My lord, do you really think that a single meeting can restore the Rost family to its former glory? Or do you think that a fool like Leah knows how to please His Majesty and the bishop?"

Marquis Marquis Rost's words made him freeze in place. He turned to look at Lia, who was still looking completely bewildered.

Lia's magical talent isn't great, but if she's smart or knows how to read people, she can help the family manage their business. He won't mistreat Lia, who is the eldest daughter.

Unfortunately, Lia doesn't fit either of those criteria.

There was still a thorn in the Marquis of Rost's heart: he had always doubted whether Lydia was his biological daughter.

"If Lia does something impolite, at the very least she will waste this opportunity to gain the favor of His Majesty and the Bishop."

“What’s worse is that it might provoke His Majesty and the bishop’s wrath, which could bring disaster to the Rost family.”

"I think it would be better to let Elena attend the banquet in place of Lia. Elena is much more sensible than Lia."

Marquise Mara finally spoke her mind.

She wanted to use a substitution trick, wouldn't it be better to give her own daughter the opportunity to meet His Majesty and the bishop?

How could such good things happen to Leah? Even though Leah was the one who secured this dinner party.

“But…” Marquis Rost wavered. He released Lia from beside him and frowned.

"I have already informed His Majesty and the Bishop that it was Liya who proposed the new tax to me. If I don't let Liya go, I'm afraid I will be blamed."

"So what? Isn't Elena a daughter of the Rost family?"

The Marquise Margrave saw that the Marquis of Rost was about to give in, and immediately pressed her advantage.

She pulled Elena aside and said, "Besides, sir, don't forget that our family has a marriage agreement with the royal family. Elena is quite close to Prince Alvin at the Royal Academy."

"Although the engagement is between Lia and Prince Alvin, it's obvious that Elena is more suitable for Prince Alvin, isn't it? I heard that Prince Alvin really dislikes Lia, and Lia even insulted Prince Alvin."

"If this banquet can bring Elena closer to His Majesty and the Bishop, then Elena becoming Empress would be the best way for the Rost family to rise to prominence again."

Seeing this, Elena also tried her best to adopt courtly manners in front of the Marquis of Rost.

From birth, she was destined to replace her sister, Lia, as queen.

Therefore, from a young age, Elena had been learning royal etiquette. Compared to Lia, who knew nothing, she was clearly more suitable to attend His Majesty's banquet.

"My lord, you must think carefully about whether to choose Leah or Elena to attend His Majesty's banquet. This will determine the future of the Rost family!"

The Marquis of Rost looked at his wife, then at his second daughter, Elena, who was gazing longingly at him.

Turning back, Lia seemed completely unconcerned about their conversation and was running to Anna's side to untie her.

His eldest daughter seemed completely oblivious to the importance of this dinner party to the Rothschild family.

“I understand, you’re right, Mara. Let Elena go to the banquet in Lia’s place.”

At this moment, the Marquis of Rost made a final decision in his mind regarding his two daughters.

Chapter 30: The Family Comedy Begins

Marquis Rost's words at this moment were like a final verdict; between Leah and Elena, he still chose Elena.

Mrs. Mara and Elena's eyes instantly erupted with uncontrollable ecstasy, while Lia's body swayed almost imperceptibly, her face turning even paler.

She held Anna's hand even tighter; in this house, only Anna was on her side.

Although she didn't really know anything about the new tax, it didn't matter who came up with it anymore; it was all Elena's idea now.

"Master..." Even Anna, a servant, couldn't bear to watch any longer.

She wanted to fight for Lia, even though Lia's mother had passed away, Lia shouldn't be bullied like this, right?

But Marquis Rost did not change his mind. He waved his hand and said, "Lia, as a member of the Rost family, it doesn't matter who attends the banquet. What matters most is that the Rost family can recover."

These words sounded very high-sounding and, on the surface, they seemed to align with the Marquis of Rost's so-called principle of 'everything for the family'.

Mrs. Mara immediately became arrogant. She walked up to Leah with a victor's sneer on her face: "Did you hear that, Leah? Now, hand over those notes about the new tax that you peeked out of the study! Elena needs to see them in more detail."

Even so, Leah looked up blankly: "I really don't know anything about this new tax, and I didn't peek at my father's..."

Before she could finish speaking, Elena stormed up and interrupted her.

"Still playing dumb? Enough! Can you please stop being so ungrateful?"

"We're not going to pursue the matter of you stealing from the study anymore, so why are you pretending you don't know anything?"

"You must have been peeking at the Rost family's notes, and you must have burned them! So write them down for me right now!"

The thought of meeting His Majesty and the bishop tonight made Elena feel that her engagement to Prince Alvin was just around the corner.

At this moment, Elena no longer cared about putting on her usual obedient and gentle lady-like demeanor in front of her father, Marquis Rost. She only hated that her useless older sister was still blocking her way.

"I...I really didn't steal any notes. Believe my father, I don't know anything about any new tax!" Lia tried her best to convince the Marquis of Rost, her stepmother, and stepsister.

But her pleading gaze only earned her an increasingly dissatisfied look from the Marquis of Rost and an impatient expression from the Marquis de Margrave.

At this moment, Elena, Elena's stepsister, raised the whip in her hand.

"Miss Lia!" The maid Anna quickly stepped in front of Lia.

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound of whipping echoed in the courtyard.

Anna staggered and fell to the ground from the whip, causing Lia, who was helping her, to also fall to the ground.

Anna hadn't even had time to treat the injuries from the whipping, and now new wounds had been added, almost causing her to faint.

"Anna!" Lia exclaimed.

She climbed to her maid's side and carefully helped Anna up.

At this moment, Leah felt an unprecedented desolation. Looking around at all the members of the Rost family, only Anna stood by her side.

If, if I had the chance...

"M-Master?!" Anna called out tentatively, looking at Lia who had suddenly lowered her head beside her.

Lia slowly raised her head, her clear, fragile blue eyes, which had been brimming with tears, were now unusually calm.

She was completely different from the weak and submissive person she had been just moments before.

When Marquis Rost, Marquis de Marla, and Elena saw this, they assumed that Leah was just stunned by the whip she had just received.

"Lia, are you going to write it or not? Hurry up and write down the new tax!"

Elena urged again.

However, 'Lia' did not speak, nor did she even glance at Elena.

She casually wiped the dust off her face with the back of her hand and slowly patted the dust off her clothes.

Under everyone's astonished gaze, 'Lia' walked straight toward Marquis Rost.

"Lia, what are you doing? Are you trying to beg me? You should know better and hurry up and write down the new tax." Marquis Rost's face was gloomy; he had no patience for Lyia, who only knew how to apologize.

"Get out of here, old man." Claire (Lia) uttered four words as she looked at the old man.

As soon as he uttered those words, the Marquis of Rost choked as if something was stuck in his throat, and his face turned bright red.

When did Leah dare to talk to him like that? Calling him 'Old Deng'?

Although he didn't know what Old Deng meant, Marquis Rost knew from the attitude of 'Lia' in front of him that it wasn't a nice word.

"Sir, why don't you give way? Let's see what she wants to do next." Marquis Marla was overjoyed.

She was hoping that Lia would do more foolish things, so that the Marquis of Rost would hate her even more.

"..." Marquis Rost, being pulled along by his wife, looked at the cold and aloof Lydia standing in front of him.

He forced himself to stand up, his face ashen, and watched as "Lia" swaggered into his chair, even adjusting herself into a more comfortable position.

Claire's gaze swept over the grim-faced Marquis Rost, the bewildered Mrs. Mara, and Elena, who had a look of anticipation on her face.

His last gaze fell on Anna, who wore an iron collar around her neck and had bloodstains on her back.

Why do I always have to face these clichéd and boring scenes every time I log in? Next time I choose a character, I won't choose this damn noble background. It's so boring, like a palace intrigue drama.

"Alright! Now you can write down the details of the new tax, right?"

Marquise Mara looked at Claire and urged her on.

“I can write down the details of the new tax for you,” Claire said, her voice calm and even.

Mrs. Mara and Elena's eyes lit up.

But Claire's next words froze their joy on their faces: "However, you hit me hard just now. Before I start writing, I have to hit you back, otherwise I might not remember the details if I'm in a bad mood."

"What?!" Marquis Rost finally erupted, "Lia! Do you know what you're saying?! Elena is going to attend the banquet! How dare you..."

Claire finally turned to look at Marquis Rost, her eyes filled with mockery: "What are you barking about, you dog?"

"Why didn't you say anything when she hit me?"

"Now you're begging me for a favor, and I slap you in the face? Is there a problem?"

"This is also for the sake of the Rost family~ You all need to consider the bigger picture! Isn't this banquet very important? I'm just slapping you back, not trying to kill you."

The Marquis of Rost was so choked up that his face turned red, and he was speechless for a moment.

Isn't that what he just said to Lia?

Elena was both shocked and furious; she didn't want to have an injury on her face at such a crucial moment.

What if there are wounds on the face or body? What will happen to the banquet?

Elena, who always valued her reputation more than her life, immediately grabbed Marquis Rost's arm and pleaded in a tearful voice, "Father! I don't want to! I still need to see His Majesty and the Bishop! What kind of appearance do I have with a scar on my face!"

"..." Marquis Rost looked at his youngest daughter, and he hesitated.

"We must consider the bigger picture! This is a once-in-a-century opportunity for the Rost family!"

Claire, adding fuel to the fire, repeated the same words.

These words were more effective than any curse on Marquis Rost. He looked at Elena and advised, "Elena, you shouldn't have acted rashly just now. Now, why don't you..."

“Let me do it.” Mrs. Mara took a deep breath, forced a seemingly magnanimous and restrained smile, and stepped forward: “Lia, Elena was indeed impulsive. Why don’t I take this slap for her?”

She glared at Claire (Lia) with resentment, all because of Elena.

As long as Elena wins the favor of His Majesty and the Bishop after attending the banquet, it won't matter if Lia slaps her.

Anyway, she'll definitely pay me back a hundredfold later, so I'll just keep track of it for now.

“You?” Claire glanced at the Marquise Margrave, then at Elena.

He frowned somewhat awkwardly, and after a long while, he nodded: "Hmm, that works too."

In short, we need to settle one of the issues first, either the stepmother or the stepsister.

While no one else was watching, magic gradually gathered beneath Claire's sleeve.

Chapter 31 How much damage can a slap do?

Marquise Mara's idea was simple.

Now, whatever Lia says or asks, is acceptable.

If Elena can please His Majesty and the Bishop at the upcoming banquet, then they can take the opportunity to cancel Lia's engagement and replace her with Elena.

Before that, it wouldn't kill Lia, who's not quite right in the head right now, to slap her.

"Alright, come on, Leah. I know you usually have a lot of complaints about me as your mother, but it's okay." Marquis Mara walked up to Claire, putting on a tolerant look.

She was so engrossed in her performance that she was completely unaware that the Lia in front of her was not the Lia she knew.

"For the Rost family, for a better life in the future."

"As a mother, I'm willing to let you slap me."

"But we agreed that after you hit me, you would write down the details of your so-called healing magic insurance and other new taxes. The master is watching."

Claire scoffed at the Marquise Margrave, who was spouting so much nonsense.

The Marquis of Rost? What can he do about it?

"Stick your face over here, what are you mumbling about? I said I'd write it for you, so I'll write it for you. Do you think I'm going to run away?" Claire beckoned to Marquise Mara.