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."

that, Sophia,

her phone, Penelope showed Sophia an image of the girl that they had taken to

photo, Penelope

can't tell

the photo, Sophia nodded

"...Sure."

it. The

then that the other group members huddled up together and stared at the image of the little girl

the girl

all the lights, but she's quite

my, how cute. Just look at

cheerful atmosphere

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

of the

at the girl,

"As if..."

is, the ice

she lowered her

and popularity, I don't doubt the fact that you will be able to find a boyfriend

"No thank you."

quickly rejected. She

don't have time

that she didn't want a boyfriend, however,

had to focus

barely had any free time for herself, let alone

...and.

Well.

them are as good as

mind with a longing look

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

a brighter and more important stage than

moment she had set her sight on him, Sophia found all

bad that he's not someone I can

he was not someone that she could casually

their achievements were worlds

was focus on herself and maybe hope that one day she

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

Leopold in the back, I

meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia

use this as an excuse to help Nola meet them and take

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was

you so nervous

give me a

none other than Leopold who looked extremely nervous at the prospect of meeting his

This was understandable though.

her for almost two years, I'd also be nervous if I

Click—! Click—!

I suddenly heard a

"Stop that!"

found Leopold hunched

snatched the lighter and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at Nola who was currently in Amanda's

a little girl over here, why in the world

come on boss, you know that they

at me with

his pleas, I put the lighter and

means no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

managed to drag Leopold all the way

to coming here, the manager had given Leopold a special card that enabled him private access, and

thought, I don't want to go

we arrived at the door, Leopold suddenly

I'm going to let that stop

the back of his shirt, I proceeded to knock on the

To Tok—!

and I

'This guy...'

I couldn't help

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

weird sight if I had

Clank—!

after a couple of seconds had passed

was one of the members of the

name if I

Wasn't really sure.

How may I

"Hello, there."

a step forward and flashing a

wants to meet

those words left my mouth, Evylin's eyes

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

the door open, the insides of the changing room became visible for

found multiple eyes staring in our direction. They were the other members of the

"Father?"

familiar voice sounded from the other side of

stiffened even more

dear, it's been

indeed been

icily said as she looked