Being reincarnated as the 2nd male lead's daughter

birthday

Karl's pov
It's been a month, Selene is still away .
Lia is learning the basics of magic by textbooks and occasional lessons .
During the initial month she was too tensed for god knows what reason.
Bumping into walls , zoning out , sudden calls for lene in sleep . Which helped me figure out the situation maybe she was just worried, she is still a child although the way she behaves is turning more into an adult.
Makes me question myself and all the decisions I have made so far .
After the letter addressed to her by Selene ,did she stop tensing.
Now she is focused on her studies ,too much .
And I particularly don't like it because I get no attention to me whatsoever by my precious daughter .

She spends hours in library. So I decided I should shift my study to library too but damn Stephan ,that dude won't let me .
He goes like .
"YOUR FREAKING GRACE, DAMN YOU , WHO THE HELL WILL SHIFT THESE PAPERS TO THE LIBRARY AND WHERE ,DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE PLACE THERE.LET LITTLE LADY STUDY , YOU NEVER DID ,NOW YOU WON'T LET ANYONE ELSE DO IT . DO YOU KNOW THE NORM HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN FROM TWO GENERATION , YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS THE LAST ONE TO HAVE AN ACADEMIC BRAIN huff "
He scolds me like he is my mother.

"Here water uncle " lia said handing over the water .
"Thank you little one " he said .

"Let me ask my honey bun" I said
"Just bun , no honey, I hate it and you are not allowed to come"
"Why " I whined, maybe puppy eyes will work but utter defeat, all I got was bring thrown out from Library. I am a duke , can someone respect me and take my side .

*Sigh * I have no one .

Lia's birthday is coming up and I wonder can lene make it . The situation has started to settle down just can't wait for it to end .

Aurelia's pov

I was really worried, I knew it how the novel went . I knew it was the same situation which caused the death of original Selene Rovertole and it was pretty much clear that the story was still going in the direction ,war is still there and who knows .

I wrote to mom and after a weak I got a reply .

I know what you are worried about lia , and I feel the same too , it's crazy even when I know I'll still jump in just because of that ounce of hope . I guess being born as Selene rovertole it naturally comes to me and I can not back off . But still I am not crazy, I made sure to take preventive measures  , mages and medical experts have been hired  in large numbers , I am no more dependent on the royal family for support . I have used my hard earned fortune and it's a cheap deal for the lives of people beside me at this point and myself too. So don't worry too much sweet heart I will be back before your birthday , till then be a good girl.

~~ your mother lene 

I trust mom , hope she returns unharmed . I pray for her safe return home .

Skipping to today ,it's my birthday . Few days ago, Stephan uncle suggested father to host a ball but I didn't want it so eventually he didn't . I don't want myself to be exhausted on such a important occasion , there will be many times where I will get exposed to the circle so till I am fully ready ,I want to be in the most comfortable setting although everyone was here father , grandfather, grandmother , Uncles  still the absence of mother was big setback , I wondered even if it has been not that long , why was I so attached to her ?.

I was surprised by father in midnight , he covered my eyes .

" what happened , father ?"

"nothing , I have a gift "

I laughed maybe father was getting dementia .

" you have already given it "

" just so you wait ? "

He uncovered my eyes , In front of me was mother .

I leaped over her , she made it before the end of my birthday . Best gift I could ask for .

Father shouted " oh lia don't "

But too late my weight was on mother , and she held me and yelped eventually making a muffled sound .

I looked at her I was too overjoyed, I overlooked mothers wound, her shirt was stained with blood .

Father eventually took me from her .

" Mom " I called out .

"Yes " she said. Smiling so brightly but I noticed it now, her eye bags , her pale and dry skin and all the fat loss she had , wound on her wrist and collarbone tied with worned out bandage , Why was she here to meet me , when she should obviously be visiting a healing mage , oh I forgot she is swordswoman , Her body can't accept magic but still why hasn't she been treated properly by a doctor .

" You have seen her lene , let's go , you need TREATMENT , no more absurd request please " Father said almost begging . 

" Happy birthday baby , I made it before your birthday, didn't I ? are you happy "

No words left my mouth , So I was the reason . Before I knew, Tears left my eyes and I was crying .

" baby , why are you crying ? Am I late "

" Obviously she is crying because you are hurt , don't you realise it , you call me dumb yet you are the dumbest here " karl scolded .

" it is not that serious come on guys "

" damn it look at yourself , will you "

" ok ok I am sorry , so stop crying please  ahhhhhh" She said soothing me but soon screamed , I looked up grandmother was holding mother's ear and dragging her .

" You need to see a doctor , everyone does but you in the room don't realise it "

" Bye Bye baby good night and happy birthday , I must deal with my mom first , you know right she is fierce , go on karl put lia to bed, good night to you too love  " She said as she was eventually dragged out .