Being reincarnated as the 2nd male lead's daughter

thank you

As I approached them a pin drop silence took over the corridor, I went to my office.
And asked for the audience of Stephan .My trusted war comrade who also acquired and checked information for me like strategies of war by our enemies , monster outbreaks ,dirt on noble households etc.

He came with a smug smile on his face it was his signature smile . Always on his dumb face
anyway I said
" Do a background check on each and every maid and butler present in the castle if they have ever spoken shit or has any dirt on them find it by all cost and give me the list "
"Why suddenly?"
"I feel like some pests have been buzzing around "
"Let me tell you just because someone has spoken shit about you ,we can't kill them "
"Who said I am going to kill them "
"Your face speaks otherwise "

Aurelia's pov
I came back without talking to him . Aish dumb me . Wait a min it's good actually what would I have talked to him about like oh your first love and the crown prince will be the reason you will be killed.
He would think I am Wacky.

I want a goal first and foremost that would be
first-  I need to gain his favour as his daughter
Second -make him fall in love with another women
Third -get him married to another women
Then happy ending

My old maid whose name was Caster knocked on my room door  and upon getting the permission she entered.
She has been my maid after my birth mother passed away as everyone proclaimed but she has been grandmother figure for me after I came to this world . I had no memories of my father and mother but this body seemed to I would remember some moments bit by bit.

"You didn't give them to the duke ? Young lady"
She pointed at the flowers on the table.
"No" I replied. My personality went through a momentary dip which was noticed by Caster.
"What happened my lady ?"
"Nothing"
"It's not the answer ,something happened if you feel comfortable share it with me "
She took me in her warm embrace.
I felt all those moments fading away as I drifted into deep slumber.

The time I woke up it was already past five .
"You have woken up ,my lady "
"Hmm"
"What would you like to do now "
"I want to go on a walk with Carter"
I smiled innocentaly
"Sure let's get you ready for it "

As I walked through the castle to the garden the no. of maids seemed to be less .
"Why are the maids in the main hall not there"
"They got fired"
"What "
"His grace fired them all "
"Why "
"According to Stephan his grace wanted a list of all the servents who had caused harm to the honor of dukedom "
"He did ?"
A smile broke out on my face , I realised why he did that .
"Caster let's go to his grace I mean father "

I reached his study the butler announced and opened the door for me . While working with the documents he looked at me and asked
"why are you here?"
"I came to give these flower , they remind me of you , their red and black combination goes well with your eyes and hair" I replied smiling as innocently and sweetly as possible.
"Place them on the table and come here  "
I placed them on his document table and went near him .
"Why were you crying earlier?" His Voice was gentle and soothing , he was learning how to handle children I guess , his voice was hella awkward.
"Thankyou father" that's all that came out . My words were held back with a lot of questions.
"I don't like repeating myself why were you crying?"
"Ah nothing just something went into my eyes "
This was the monotonous reply which slipped out of tongue everytime someone asked me why was I crying. It was a force of habit to me in my past life .I couldn't open up to anyone when my trust was shattered by my father. So how could I open up to someone else.
My trance of thoughts broke when I felt a pair of hands lift me up ,he put me on the table and clasped both of my tiny hands in his huge hands .
"I know I don't seem to be making efforts but I am genuinely trying Aurelia, I don't have experience of being a father before nor do I know how a father acts towards their child. I am trying my best by dinning together,initiating conversation and learning how to talk .I have spend my 20 years in battlefield, I am not hoping for you to understand just express yourself more, I won't know if you didn't . I am not the best but I want to be good enough so that you can rely on me just like I did on your father" he spoke nothing other than care at that moment he seemed just like a father I never knew he had such a side to himself while I regret thinking he was cold and aloof , he was trying his best all this time.
I hugged him and unconsciously words slipped out of my mouth "yes father"
I looked up at him he was smiling
The smile was expressing happiness,love and care which were embedded carefully like perls in it .
Just like that a tear flowed out of my eyes which I whipped away and whispered "thankyou father"