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 girl that they had taken to

the photo, Penelope squealed

can't tell me that's not

photo, Sophia nodded

"...Sure."

couldn't deny it. The girl was

members huddled up together and stared at the image of the little girl

isn't that the girl from today's

of all the lights, but

my, how cute. Just look at

atmosphere prevaded

you look excited? ...You perhaps thinking of

of the

the girl, Sophia bluntly

"As if..."

the ice queen is

as she lowered her phone. Her lips

popularity, I don't doubt the fact

"No thank you."

rejected.

have time for

however, she just

she had to focus on her

had any free time

...and.

Well.

them are as

muttered inside of her mind with

her mind when she thought about love, however, he was not someone that someone

shone on a brighter and more important stage than

him, Sophia

too bad that he's not someone I

that

status, their achievements were

herself and maybe hope that

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

in the back, I urged

currently headed backstage to meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia Ray, and the group leader of

use this as an excuse to help Nola

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was

you so

me a

that problem was none other than Leopold who looked extremely nervous at

This was understandable though.

not met her for almost two years, I'd also

Click—! Click—!

heard

"Stop that!"

I found Leopold hunched up, trying to light up

lighter and cigarette from his mouth and

girl over here, why in the world are you

come on boss, you know that they aren't

me with a

his pleas, I put

means no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

and exaggerated sigh, I managed to drag Leopold all the

the manager had given Leopold a

I don't want to go

at the door,

I'm going to

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

To Tok—!

body instantly stiffened, and I finally let go of his

'This guy...'

at him, I couldn't help but shake my

was fighting against a horde of demons, and duergars he didn't look that

was a weird sight if I

Clank—!

only after a couple of seconds

from the side of the door, was one

her name if I didn't remember

Wasn't really sure.

How may I

"Hello, there."

a step forward and flashing a brilliant smile, I patted

over here wants to meet

those words left my mouth, Evylin's

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

the door open, the insides of the changing room

there, we instantly found multiple eyes staring in our direction. They were the other members of the

"Father?"

from the other side

even more as he forced a

dear, it's been

has indeed been a

looked at