They are all characters I control.

"Miss, what should we do with these flowers? Should we just throw them aside?" asked Anna, the maid.

Lia didn't know, but her maid Anna could guess who sent the flowers.

Without a doubt, it is Earl Orlando.

Several days have passed since their unexpected encounter in the Rost family cemetery, but it's clear that Earl Orlando hasn't given up on his pursuit despite the evil 'Lia's' sarcastic remarks.

Kind-hearted Leah was unaware of her meeting with Earl Orlando in the cemetery. The gifts and flowers she received on the first day were left on her seat in the classroom, and she assumed they had been sent by mistake.

But this continued for several days, and Leah didn't think that someone had delivered the wrong item.

“…Perhaps someone is trying to play a prank.” Lia gently touched the soft petals, but her face showed little joy, only confusion and a hint of unease.

She showed no joy at receiving the gifts and flowers; in fact, she seemed quite troubled.

You see, she had grown accustomed to such a quiet daily life at the Royal Academy.

Everyone distanced themselves from her because of her stepsister Elena, but Lia didn't care much, as long as her maid Anna was by her side.

However, the constant showers of flowers and gifts made Lia the center of attention, which bothered her somewhat.

"Then I'll take it and throw it away," said Anna, the maid, looking at the flowers and gift box.

Just as Anna picked up the flowers and gift box to place them in the fountain, she looked up and saw Elena and her group walking over.

Anna realized something was wrong and turned to leave with Lia.

But the other side had anticipated this, and their servants had already blocked their retreat.

"Sister, my moonstone necklace is missing. The maid said that you were the one who went to my room after the banquet." Elena blurted out this before she even reached Lia.

Her gaze darted back and forth between Lia and the flower box, a hint of jealousy creeping into her eyes.

Just now, during class, a servant barged into the classroom and gave Lia flowers in front of everyone.

The tutor reprimanded the other person, but after the servant leaned in and whispered a few words, the tutor stopped interfering. The other person seemed to be a person of considerable status and position.

Who on earth would be interested in Lia instead of himself?

Thinking about this, Elena was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.

She would never allow Leah to surpass her in popularity.

This is also a good opportunity to further make Prince Alvin hate Lia and eventually annul the engagement.

"What moonstone necklace? Elena, I don't know what you're talking about." This scene was all too familiar to Lia.

Although he was tired of this script, he still had to make a gesture in front of Prince Alvin and the other students.

Even if it's troublesome, you must personally deny the other party's framing.

"I know you're definitely angry with me." Elena said, her eyes slightly red.

With a perfectly timed tremor and a hint of grievance, she added, "But sister, that necklace was a birthday gift from Mother, and it means a lot to me."

"Because I attended His Majesty's banquet, and you were angry that you couldn't attend His Majesty's banquet, you can't take my birthday present."

"Or are you unhappy with my ordinary interactions with Prince Alvin, sister? Actually, I'm doing this for you, to help you clear up the misunderstanding about Prince Alvin. Don't be jealous, sister!"

"Please, sister, don't punish me for these things! I apologize! I'll kneel down and beg you!"

After saying that, Elena made a move to kneel down.

“Miss Lia, although we are engaged, we are not a couple blessed by the goddess.” Prince Alvin helped Elena up, and Elena leaned into his arms.

"Elena has always told me how good you are and explained your good qualities to me."

"Even if I'm with Elena, that's my freedom."

"Of course, it's your freedom to associate with others, but please don't take it out on Elena. Elena is only thinking of you."

Prince Alvin frowned, his gaze towards Lia filled with scrutiny and disapproval.

He didn't have much affection for his fiancée to begin with; she was taciturn, mediocre, and often bullied Elena. And now someone was openly sending her flowers and gifts?

Prince Alvin's impression of Lia now includes the label of "immoral".

"That's right, that's right! How could the older sister steal her younger sister's things like that!"

"Theft is too shameful."

"Theft may not necessarily be due to poverty; it may simply be jealousy of Elena that leads people to do such despicable things."

"In a marquis's family, as the eldest daughter, you must be able to have anything you want, right? Why would you steal your own sister's things?"

"..."

The other followers started criticizing Lia, who was being attacked by the whole group.

Looking at Elena, who was on the verge of tears and seemed to have suffered a great injustice, and at Prince Alvin's undisguised suspicious gaze, Lia felt a surge of irritation.

The problem wasn't that she didn't take the necklace, but that she actually did have a moonstone necklace.

But it wasn't Elena's; it was given to her by Lia's mother.

Young Elena saw the necklace and tried to steal it, but failed.

Elena never forgot that necklace.

Unexpectedly, Elena is now trying to force him to have that necklace again; similar scenarios have played out countless times in the past few years.

With a sigh of exhaustion, Lia said, "Then you can search however you like, whether it's in my room or on my person, if you can find the Moonstone Necklace."

"How could we possibly find it? I saw you just had the maid hide the moonstone necklace in the fountain. Why don't you go look for it?"

Elena flashed a triumphant smile; this was exactly what she had wanted to achieve.

“Elena…” Lia suppressed her emotions, swallowed her breath and said, “Your request is too rude. You can see right to the bottom of this fountain pool. Where would you find a necklace?”

From the very beginning, did Elena intend to embarrass herself in the fountain pool?

"Really?" Elena tilted her head, her smile sweet yet venomous. "But I clearly saw your maid hide something in a crevice in the rocks just now."

“Since you insist on your innocence, why don’t you go down and look for me yourself?”

The noble ladies and gentlemen around Elena were also urging her on.

Prince Alvin looked at Lia at this moment, and although he hesitated, he did not stop her.

"I...I understand." Lia took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and walked towards the edge of the fountain.

"Miss! No!"

Anna tried to stop Lia, but was blocked by Elena's two henchmen.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lia slowly immersed her feet in the cool pool water.

Suddenly, the water that had been flowing quietly in the pool rose up and sprayed a jet of water towards Lia in the pool.

She was caught off guard and was drenched in water.

"Pfft—" Someone burst out laughing first, and then suppressed laughter rose and fell.

However, at that moment, an elegant male voice came from the side.

"In the name of light, purify this place of filth."

Chapter 47 Prince Alvin is a Clown

A magical light enveloped Lia, instantly cleaning her soaked body.

The water in the fountain was now flowing and swirling around Lia's body, and a rainbow even appeared.

At this moment, Lia did not look disheveled at all; on the contrary, she looked as elegant and refined as a figure in an oil painting.

"Who is it? Who's there?!"

Elena and her companions, annoyed that their show had been interrupted, turned and glared at the newcomer.

When the man in the pure white tuxedo walked up to them, he took off his top hat, revealing a handsome, almost otherworldly face.

These ill-tempered noble ladies immediately changed their attitude.

The visitor was none other than Earl Orlando.

The afternoon sunlight outlined his perfect profile, and his amber-colored peach blossom eyes swept over every face present, whether it was one of astonishment, longing, or guilt.

His gaze finally settled on Elena's bewildered face, and a flawless social smile curved his lips.

“Sunbathing in the afternoon, that’s certainly a novel activity.” Count Orlando’s voice was as elegant and melodious as a cello.

He stood before Elena and the noble ladies, his upright posture exuding the aristocratic air of a count.

Even Prince Alvin, standing to the side, seemed to pale in comparison to Earl Orlando.

“Earl Orlando, it’s actually because…” Prince Alvin stepped forward and tried to explain.

However, before he could finish speaking, Count Orlando interrupted him.

"Miss Elena, are you and your friends engaged in some kind of entertainment? But your way of playing seems rather unbecoming of nobles."

Even when he's scolding someone, he's still so handsome and charming.

Under Earl Orlando's gaze, the blush on Elena's cheeks was not out of shame.

The young ladies who followed her were even more so; these noble ladies, who usually looked down on boys, were now squinting and desperately inhaling.

A rumor circulated among the noblewomen of the capital that simply inhaling a few breaths of Count Orlando's unique fragrance could make one more beautiful.

"What's wrong? Why isn't Miss Elena saying anything?"

Earl Orlando maintained his elegant smile and moved even closer to Elena.

"I...I...I just..." Elena, who had been quite talkative before, stammered in front of Earl Orlando.

At this moment, someone stepped forward to answer on Elena's behalf.

"This isn't Elena's fault. It was Lia who stole Elena's necklace and hid it in the fountain," Prince Alvin finally finished speaking.

He stepped forward and stood between Elena and Earl Orlando.

Looking at the count before him, who captivated all the women of the capital, the young prince, being a man himself, was wary.

"Oh? Lia stole Elena's necklace?" Count Orlando looked at Elena, who was avoiding his gaze, and then at Lia, who was now walking out of the fountain.

He smiled knowingly; how could he not understand such a scene?

"Really? May I take Miss Leah with me, ladies?"

As he spoke, Earl Orlando gently lifted Elena's chin with his hat.

"Of course."

Elena nodded quickly, her breathing rapid.

At this moment, she couldn't care less about making things difficult for Lia; all she could think about was the most popular man in the capital standing right in front of her.

The other noble ladies around her looked at Elena with envy.

"..."

Seeing Elena completely lose her ability to think, Prince Alvin felt a mix of emotions.

It's completely incomprehensible, given that everyone knows about Earl Orlando's reputation for womanizing and abandoning many noblewomen.

But why would Elena and the noble ladies still fly into the fire like moths to a flame?

The moment Earl Orlando appeared, he immediately attracted the attention of all the women, who completely disregarded the presence of the prince.

Thinking of this, Prince Alvin, still harboring resentment, asked tauntingly, "Earl, why are you here? You shouldn't have already graduated from the Royal Academy, should you?"

Yes, why is Earl Orlando here?

Elena and the others regained some of their senses, and they all looked at Earl Orlando with confusion.

Ignoring the puzzled looks from the crowd, Earl Orlando snapped his fingers. He calmly removed his coat, and then...

"I'm here to pick up Miss Leah. I had arranged with Marquis Rost to have dinner with Miss Leah to get to know each other better and clear up any misunderstandings."

As soon as he finished speaking, Earl Orlando turned his head and smiled slightly at Leah and Anna.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, he snapped his fingers, and the men's jacket in his hand flew to Leah, who was walking out of the fountain, serving as a step.

The person most shocked at this moment was not Elena, but Lia.

"Me? Aren't you Elena? Are you looking for me?"