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."

Sophia,

of the girl that they had

at the photo, Penelope

can't tell me

photo, Sophia

"...Sure."

The girl was indeed

huddled up together and

the

to see because of all the lights, but she's

cute. Just look at

a cheerful atmosphere prevaded

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

of the

the girl, Sophia bluntly

"As if..."

she is, the ice

from the side as she lowered her phone. Her lips curled into a

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

"No thank you."

rejected.

don't have time for

didn't want a boyfriend, however, she just didn't have

she had to

time for herself, let

...and.

Well.

of them are as good

her mind with a longing look

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

brighter and more important stage than she

on him, Sophia found all of the boys near her dull and

bad that he's

that she could casually talk

her idol status, their achievements were worlds apart

do was focus on herself and maybe hope that one day she could reach for

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

the back, I

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

revelation was a pleasant surprise since I could use this as an excuse to help

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was one

you so nervous

me a

was none other than Leopold who looked extremely nervous

This was understandable though.

I'd also be nervous if I were in his

Click—! Click—!

suddenly heard a

"Stop that!"

I found Leopold hunched up, trying to light up a

the lighter and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at Nola who was currently in

here, why in the world

boss, you know that they aren't

at me with a

pleas, I put the lighter and

means no, let's

"Haaiizzzz..."

and exaggerated sigh, I managed to drag Leopold all the way

stopped multiple times by security, however, prior to coming here, the manager had given Leopold a special card that

don't

moment we arrived at the door, Leopold suddenly started to

going to let

back of his shirt, I

To Tok—!

instantly stiffened, and I finally let go

'This guy...'

him, I couldn't help

Leopold so nervous. Even when he was fighting against a horde of demons, and duergars he didn't look

a weird sight if I had to

Clank—!

of

the side of the door, was one

name if I

Wasn't really sure.

How may

"Hello, there."

and flashing a brilliant

wants to

left my

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

of the changing

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

"Father?"

voice sounded from the other side of the

stiffened even more as he forced

dear, it's been

has indeed

she looked at Leopold with cold