They are all characters I control.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for the people around to hear clearly: "Your Excellency, you truly possess a rare treasure without even realizing it."

"About two weeks ago, I ran into Miss Lydia von Rost in the corridor of the Royal Academy."

"Her long, flowing golden hair, like the glow of the sun, had a few playful strands that slipped off her shoulders and swayed gently in the breeze."

"Those azure eyes, which might normally be like a tranquil lake, at that moment, I glimpsed the shimmering starlight reflections at the bottom of the lake, clear and deep."

"Since then, I have often thought of Miss Lia's appearance and demeanor."

This lavish description left not only the Marquis of Rost and Lady Mara speechless.

While Lia is indeed good-looking, she's not quite to the extent that Earl Orlando praised her, is she?

Elena's expression turned even more unpleasant.

She had never heard anyone praise Leah like that, especially not in such an admiring tone.

Was the other party none other than Earl Orlando, a confidant of His Majesty? Earl Orlando, whom all the young women and girls in the capital wanted to get close to, was going to tell them he liked someone as insignificant as Leah.

A mix of jealousy and resentment welled up in Elena's heart.

She couldn't help but look up, forcing a somewhat forced smile: "Your Excellency, have you only met my sister? I often take walks at the Royal Academy in the afternoons too."

She tried to remind the other person of her presence, even implying a comparison with Lia.

Earl Orlando seemed to only then notice Elena, but when he looked at her, there was little interest in his eyes.

However, the elegant and handsome gentleman politely replied, "Oh? Miss Elena also enjoys the tranquility amidst the noise of the library?"

“I especially love the window seat in the history section, where I sometimes browse through some literary and art books.”

Elena didn't like going to the library; the Royal Academy's library was a place for people like Lia who had no talent.

Although they tried very hard, they could never match their own exceptional talent.

However, upon hearing Earl Orlando's love for literature and art, she immediately nodded in agreement: "Yes, I also really enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the library. I often borrow poetry collections and music theory books there. I also like the window seats in the history section."

After saying that, Elena even put on an expression of being captivated by art.

Upon hearing this, Earl Orlando's smile seemed to deepen, yet it carried a hint of amusement: "Poetry and music theory? Indeed, refined. However, I was mistaken earlier; the bookshelves by the window in the history section are filled with books about men and women."

His gaze, which held a half-smile, swept over Elena's face, which flushed instantly.

“Men, men and women…?” Elena waved her hands repeatedly, her voice stammering, “No, no! How could I read such, such indecent books!”

She felt like everyone around her was staring at her, and she was so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear into the ground.

Earl Orlando shrugged as if regretful and sighed, "That's a real shame. I thought I might have met a kindred spirit who was equally interested in these 'unrefined' yet insightful subjects."

His sigh, coupled with his incomparably handsome face and languid demeanor, strangely transformed Elena's shame and annoyance into regret.

I should have admitted it earlier. Would admitting that I like those kinds of books make me feel closer to Earl Orlando?

Just then, a cheerful, deep voice broke in: "Earl Orlando, watch your words. Don't be too frivolous and make Miss Elena feel embarrassed."

It is Prince Alvin.

He had clearly noticed the conversation, especially seeing Elena blushing and Earl Orlando's ambiguous smile, so he walked over.

He stood beside Elena, adopting a protective stance, and looked at Earl Orlando with a slight frown: "Furthermore, Earl, it's best not to casually discuss your preferences regarding certain books with young ladies. Your Excellency should be more mindful of your reputation."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.

Earl Orlando's reputation for being a womanizer and a womanizer was no secret among the noble circles of the capital.

Countless noblewomen were abandoned and toyed with by him, including many married women. In the end, most of them were forced to leave the capital.

Faced with the prince's rebuke, Earl Orlando simply smiled indifferently, raised his wine glass in a toast, and said in a relaxed tone, "Your Highness is right. I misspoke, please forgive me, Miss Elena."

"No, no, I'm honored to joke with Earl Orlando."

Elena looked at Earl Orlando with a lingering gaze. Handsome men are attractive to women, but men who are both handsome and wicked are even more attractive.

The Marquise Marla, who was standing nearby, had to remind her daughter.

However, Earl Orlando seemed to have lost interest in Elena, and his gaze turned to Marquis Rost, bringing the topic back to the present.

"My lord, I wish to get closer to Miss Lia. Would there be such an opportunity? Would I have the privilege of visiting the Rost family?"

Seeing Earl Orlando so deeply attached to Leah, Marquis Rost's heart pounded with excitement.

In an instant, an idea took shape in his mind.

Earl Orlando, His Majesty's confidant.

Although his title was not as high as his own, the young Earl of Orlando was undoubtedly at the center of power.

If you give Lia to this count, regardless of whether he will eventually abandon her, it will definitely bring you closer to him.

But there's still a problem.

"But, Lia's personality has some problems. She can be very irritable at times and may offend the Earl."

If Lia were to slap the count in return, she would end up losing more than she gained.

"Irritable? I love wildcats the most." Earl Orlando grinned, now even more interested. "Marquis Rost, you must trust me, and trust my reputation. I can win over any woman, and I will never hold a grudge against you, Your Excellency."

"I see, that's reassuring. But besides her temper, Leah has another small problem: she's not single right now..."

Marquis Rost glanced at Prince Alvin.

Leah is ostensibly Prince Alvin's fiancée. If Earl Orlando wants to get closer to Leah, then Marquis Rost will have to consider Prince Alvin's attitude.

“Oh~ Speaking of which, Miss Lia is Prince Alvin’s fiancée.” Earl Orlando instantly understood Marquis Rost’s look and looked apologetically at Prince Alvin.

"Hmm? Miss Liya?"

Upon hearing Lia's name, Prince Alvin couldn't help but recall the scene of her insulting him at the classroom door.

Without hesitation, he shook his head: "Don't worry about me. It's Miss Lia's freedom to associate with whomever she wants."

Just moments ago, Prince Alvin was protecting Elena, who was being harassed by Count Orlando. Now, when Count Orlando tries to approach Leah, Prince Alvin says it's Leah's freedom.

Such an attitude was obvious, and Count Orlando smiled broadly upon seeing it.

He turned to the Marquis of Rost and said, "Then when I have time next time, I will personally pay a visit to the Rost family."

Marquis Rost's face quickly broke into a flattered smile, and he bowed deeply, his tone incredibly enthusiastic: "It is an honor for the Rost family!"

Lady Mara chimed in with a smile, "Yes, since Your Excellency is coming, we will make sure that Lia is well prepared and will not disappoint you."

Although they had just been thinking about what to do with Lia, now that Lia has a new use for them, it saves them the trouble.

The family was completely unaware of the unusual smile playing on Earl Orlando's lips.

Chapter 42 The Most Harmonious Day in the Marquis's Household

Rost House, Lydia's bedroom.

Lia slowly opened her eyes, and what came into view was the familiar ceiling of her room.

A heated argument in the afternoon, the stepmother's vicious curses, the father's cold scrutiny, and the burning pain in my arm...

These chaotic fragments of memory flooded her mind, and Leah sat up abruptly.

But at that moment, she found herself lying in her own bed.

He was covered with a thin blanket, and the wounds on his body and feet had healed, reducing the pain considerably.

The sky outside the window had completely darkened.

"What... what's wrong with me?" She propped herself up in bed, full of confusion.

"Young Miss, you're awake."

A calm voice sounded from beside the bed.

Lia turned her head and saw the maid Anna standing beside her with a glass of warm water.

Anna's face was somewhat pale, and there was still a faint red mark around her neck.

"Anna! Are you alright? Your neck..." Leah immediately became worried and struggled to sit up straighter.

"I'm fine, young lady." Anna handed her the water glass, her voice calm. "It's been treated with magic. How are you feeling?"

"I... I'm okay, just a little dizzy and my wrist hurts a bit."

Lia reached out to take the cup, but felt a strange soreness in her wrist.

She sipped the water, and the warm water made her feel a little more comfortable.

She looked at Anna, hesitated, and asked, "What happened before... what happened afterward? Father and the others... didn't do anything to you, did they?"

Anna lowered her eyes and said in a calm tone the words she had prepared beforehand: "That matter is over. The Marquis, the Marquis, and the Second Miss have already gone to the banquet."

"Now you can rest, Miss, don't worry about it."

"It's over?" Leah asked incredulously.

She remembered how coldly her father looked at her, and how coldly her stepmother and stepsister looked at her.

Lia even felt that it would have been a natural outcome if she had been beaten, thrown into a dark room, and left to die.

But now Anna says it's all over? Just like that?

"Yes, Miss, you should get some rest," Anna repeated, indicating to Lia not to overthink it.

But how could Leah possibly be in the mood to rest?

She was filled with doubt.

This time, she had inexplicably survived another crisis. Although it was something to be happy about, Keliya was also uneasy.

"But Anna, how many times have I fainted already? The first time was when you were injured, Anna. I woke up and found myself at the dining table."

This wasn't the first time; Lia held tightly to her maid Anna's hand.

"After that, there were a few more times when I seemed to discover a lot of things without my knowledge?"

"Anna...please, can you tell me what happened?"

Looking at Lia, who was pleading with her so earnestly, Anna fell silent.

Everyone thinks Lia is stupid, but Lia isn't as stupid as others think.

After sleeping for several nights, I found that the people around me had changed their attitudes towards me, and my world had undergone such a big change without my knowledge.

Anyone would feel uneasy, and even if Lia is slow to notice, she would have noticed the problem.

“Young Miss…” Anna took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

She no longer avoided the question, but met Leah's gaze and said in a low voice, "Actually, I did all of that. I proposed those new taxes to Lord Rost on your behalf."

"It was also behind your back that I told Marquis Mara that you were willing to give her the engagement ring, which is why the Marquis and the second young lady were so nice to you those few days."

"In the end, it was me who injured myself without your knowledge, Miss, and then said it was you who did it, so that the Marquis would think that I still listened to her."

The maid Anna watched Lia's reaction with some nervousness, knowing that her excuse was rather clumsy.

But Anna wants Leah to stay the way she is now.

Otherwise, if that evil 'Lia' doesn't clock in for work, it will be a huge problem. Kind-hearted Lia will have no chance of changing her situation in the Marquis's family.

Only the evil 'Lia' can solve these problems and prevent previous efforts from being in vain.

Therefore, Anna hopes that Leah will continue to maintain her current innocent, kind, and naive demeanor, and Anna is willing to take the blame for this.

"You did this? Anna, you..."

Lia looked at the maid in front of her with suspicion, her expression showing disbelief.

Although the maid Anna had indeed been quite bold in her dealings with her, acting on her own initiative and even doing many things behind her back, she did not have the courage to defy the Marquis.

"What? Lia, you don't believe me?" The maid Anna pretended to be angry and was about to leave.

"No, no, I believe you, I believe you, Anna..."

Lia quickly explained, but her doubts remained unresolved.

Previously, she bumped into Prince Alvin at the classroom door, and then lost her memory when she was harassed by her stepsister Elena.

When I woke up, I found myself in a library, holding three magic books I had never seen before. It turned out that Anna was the one who had given me the magic books.

Anna didn't go to the Royal Academy that day; in fact, she even avoided him.

"Well, since you believe me, then don't overthink it. You should get some rest." Anna breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at Lia, who was no longer pressing for answers.