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, here

an image of the girl that they had taken to

the photo, Penelope squealed in

you can't tell me

the photo, Sophia nodded her

"...Sure."

couldn't deny it. The girl was

that the other group members huddled up together and

isn't that the girl from today's

because of all the lights, but she's quite

how cute. Just look at her

a cheerful atmosphere

you look excited?

one of the group

girl,

"As if..."

is, the ice queen

she lowered her phone. Her lips curled

looks and popularity, I don't doubt the

"No thank you."

rejected. She then

have time for things

wasn't that she didn't want a boyfriend, however, she just didn't

idol activities, she had to focus on her

time for herself,

...and.

Well.

are as

muttered inside of her mind with a longing look on her

mind when she thought about love, however, he

brighter and more important stage than she had

Sophia found all of the boys near her

too bad that he's not someone

that she could casually

idol status, their achievements

thing she could do was focus on herself and

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

back, I urged him

meet Leopold's daughter,

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

'How convenient.' I thought.

was

are you so nervous

give me

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

This was understandable though.

two years, I'd also be nervous if I were

Click—! Click—!

suddenly heard a familiar clicking

"Stop that!"

no surprise, I found Leopold hunched up, trying to light up

direction, I snatched the lighter and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at Nola who

here, why in the world are you

come on boss, you know that they aren't that

looked at me with a

I put the lighter

means no, let's

"Haaiizzzz..."

to drag Leopold all the way toward the changing room

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

second thought, I don't want to

at the door,

I'm going to let that stop

his shirt, I proceeded

To Tok—!

body instantly stiffened, and I finally

'This guy...'

at him, I couldn't help but shake

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

was a weird sight

Clank—!

of seconds had passed that the door

the door, was

was her name if I

Wasn't really sure.

may I

"Hello, there."

forward and flashing a

here wants to meet his

left my mouth, Evylin's eyes lit

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

the door open, the insides of the changing room became

we instantly found multiple eyes staring in our direction. They

"Father?"

from the other side of the

even more as he forced a

dear, it's

indeed been a

as she looked at Leopold with cold