The Author's POV

"Thank you all for coming, and we hope you enjoyed the show!"

Doing her signature pose, Sophia waved at the crowd causing them to cheer even more loudly.

Unfortunately for them, it was already the end of the show, and therefore, giving them one last goodbye, Sophia quickly headed back to the changing rooms with her group.

Upon entering the changing rooms, Sophia slumped down on her chair and let out a long and tired breath.

"Haaaa, I'm tired."

"Tell me about."

Slumping down on the chair next to her was Penelope, her other group member.

Taking a wet towel, she covered her eyes with it and leaned her head back.

"Ugh, my legs are hurting like crazy..."

"Same."

Sophia replied in agreement.

"...but, I'm used to it by now "

Raising the towel on her face and uncovering her eyes, Penelope skeptically looked at her.

"Stop pretending, I know that you're not tired at all. You are one of the star students at the Lock, you don't need to be humble."

Sophia merely smiled in response to Penelope's comment. She then added.

"Just because I'm a student of the Lock doesn't mean that I'm immune to tiredness."

"Yeah, yeah."

Penelope completely dismissed her comment. Sophia shook her head when she saw this.

In a way, what Penelope was correct.

Thanks to her training at the Lock that she was now able to keep her stamina in check during her performances.

She also wasn't wrong when she said that she was one of the star students at the Lock as she was in fact ranked in the top fifty in her year.

An achievement that was quite considerable.

"Say, I've always been meaning to ask..."

Putting the towel down, Penelope suddenly sat up straight and looked at Sophia.

A frown appeared on her delicate face.

"Is money still a problem? I know that the Lock costs a lot of money, but if you spend your time with us, won't you fall behind the others in your year?"

"It's fine."

Bending down and taking a similar wet towel, Sophia covered her eyes.

Feeling the cold towel on her face, Sophia smiled in pleasure.

"Money is not really a problem..."

This was a bit of a difficult topic for her.

The main reason why she was an idol in the first place was because of her family's past situation.

Although they lived comfortably, they weren't particularly rich.

At least not to the point of being able to pay the Lock's yearly tuition fee which was incredibly expensive.

Despite making 7 million U per year herself, she was still unable to pay the whole tuition fee.

Had it not been for her father, she probably wouldn't have been able to attend the Lock.

Thinking about her father, Sophia felt a mixture of different emotions.

She couldn't quite explain what happened, but one day while she was still a trainee for her idol group, she came home to find that her tuition for the Lock had already been paid in advance by him.

Before she could confront him about the situation, she found out that he had gone on a long trip.

A trip that lasted a whole two years.

During that time, Sophia panicked a lot as she thought that in order to pay for her tuition fees her father had decided to undertake some extremely dangerous job, and only recently did she finally receive a call from him.

Though relieved, she was still very angry at him.

How could he just leave her like that? Without any explanations and making her worried sick for the past two years?

Unknowingly, Sophia's teeth clenched and she secretly swore to herself.

'He said that he's coming to visit me today, when he comes I'll let him have a piece of me.'

"Hey Sophia, what did you think about the girl you brought on stage today? Wasn't she just adorable?"

It was then that she suddenly heard Penelope's excited voice.

Raising the towel in her head, she found Penelope's face a couple of inches away from her.

Sophia quickly moved her back.

"Wow, move back a little."

like that, Sophia,

out her phone, Penelope showed Sophia an image of the

the photo, Penelope squealed in

can't tell me that's

at the photo, Sophia nodded

"...Sure."

couldn't deny it. The girl was

the other group members huddled up together and stared at the image of

that the girl from

the lights,

how cute. Just look at

cheerful atmosphere prevaded

Sophia, why don't you look excited? ...You perhaps thinking

one of the group

the girl, Sophia

"As if..."

the ice queen

side as she lowered her phone.

are interested in, Sophia? With your looks and popularity, I don't doubt the fact that you will

"No thank you."

rejected.

have time

wasn't that she didn't want a boyfriend, however, she just didn't have the time for

she had to focus on her academy

time for

...and.

Well.

are

of her mind with a longing

guy that come to her mind when she thought about love, however, he was not someone that someone like her could

was someone that shone on a brighter and more

set her sight on him, Sophia found all of

bad that he's

was not someone that

their achievements were

she could do was focus on herself and

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

the back, I urged him to

we were currently headed backstage to meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia

since I could use this as an excuse to help Nola

'How convenient.' I thought.

was

you

me a

who looked

This was understandable though.

years, I'd also

Click—! Click—!

heard a

"Stop that!"

Leopold hunched up, trying to light up a

and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at

here, why in the

boss, you know that

at me with

put the lighter and cigarette

means no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

sigh, I managed to drag Leopold all the way toward the

stopped multiple times by security, however, prior to coming here, the manager had given Leopold a special card that enabled him private access, and thus, we were able to get

second thought, I don't want to go

at the door, Leopold suddenly started to get cold

going to let that

of his shirt, I proceeded

To Tok—!

body instantly stiffened, and I finally let

'This guy...'

him, I couldn't help but

I seen Leopold so nervous. Even when he was fighting against a horde of demons, and duergars he

a weird sight

Clank—!

after a couple of seconds

of the door, was one of the members of the

her name if I didn't

Wasn't really sure.

may I

"Hello, there."

step forward and flashing a brilliant smile, I patted Leopold's

here wants

those words left my

"Ah! You're Sophia's father!"

insides of the changing room became visible for all

our direction. They were the other members

"Father?"

sounded from the other

stiff body stiffened even

dear, it's

indeed been a

she looked at