The Author's POV

"W-what?"

Unknowingly Sophia's face started to become bright red.

"Hm? Are you okay?"

Noticing her slight change in demeanor, I tilted my head to the side.

There was something about her behavior.

It didn't seem like I was the only one who noticed this as Leopold worriedly placed his hand on Sophia's forehead.

"Sophia dear, are you okay?"

"S..stop."

Smacking Leopold's hand away, Sophia stuttered as she looked at me.

"It can't be...it..."

'Hold on…'

Meeting her gaze, I suddenly had a strange thought inside of my mind.

'That can't be...'

I quickly shook my head, trying to deny such a thought.

It just couldn't be…or rather, I wanted to not believe in the thought.

It was then that Sophia once again spoke up.

"Y..you're Ren Dover, right?"

As she spoke up, I managed to pick up a slight tremble in her voice.

Letting out a small sigh, I nodded my head.

'It looks like my hunch was right.'

"Yes, I am indeed him."

"Oh my god!"

Sophia's face instantly brightened up. Her face quickly snapped in Leopold's direction.

"Dad! Why didn't you tell me that he was your boss!"

"Huh?!"

Turning his head, Leopold looked at me with a look that said 'what is she on about?'

I shrugged my shoulders in response.

Although I already had an idea, I really wanted to deny it.

It was right then that Sophia suddenly lunged in my direction and grabbed both of my hands and said.

"I'm a huge fan!"

"What!?"

Finally, Leopold was able to understand what was happening. Turning his head, he looked at me with a betrayed and hurt look. His face then proceeded to contort.

'How is this my fault?"

I wanted to rebuke; however, before I even had the chance to do so, Sophia had already started speaking.

"I've watched and replayed all of your matches back at the conference, especially when you beat up that orc and that pretty boy."

A word suddenly caught my interest.

Raising my brow, I asked.

"Pretty boy?"

"Yes, yes, that Kevin guy. Although he looks pretty, he clearly was no match for you. All my friends say he's handsome, but honestly, you are way better looking. Oh, and the way you forfeited was so cool!"

For a split moment, I wanted to let her continue.

Just the fact that she was praising me over Kevin made me like her instantly.

However, knowing just how wrong the situation was, I quickly freed my hands and looked at Leopold. My hope was that he would try and stop his daughter, but...his response wasn't really what I had expected.

With his arms crossed, and with his head lowered, he nodded his head.

"…I have to agree with my daughter. You were pretty cool back there."

"Oy."

Now it was my face's turn to contort.

"What in the world is he doing? This should be the bit where you are supposed to deny!"

Leopold shook his head.

"Boss, I'm an honest man."

"Haaa…"

how to react, I

sudden outburst seemed to have caught the attention of the other people present, as

god!

"Kyyaaaa!"

"It's him!"

"I…."

direction in the hope of some help, however, all I was met with

this aren't

I assumed it said as her

since she was currently

because she simply attracted way too

why during the time the camera was pointed in our direction, no one took

her mask, I could've guaranteed that all attention would've been drawn to her, instead of Nola. Well, at least for a

not been for the mask, she would've never pulled

"Mr. Dover, Mr. Dover."

"Wow."

finally snapped out of my

"Sorry."

Quickly apologizing, Sophia coughed.

you were single and

slightly, she glanced

your daughter, but doesn't she look a little bit too old to be

fact that Nola is our daughter

sentence. The

"However..."

cue up, I quickly followed up by pointing in Amanda's

that she is my girlfriend is

"Hiip!"

exact moment I said those words, I suddenly heard a

already imagine what face Amanda was making. However, this was something I had

because I didn't want Leopold's daughter to fall

was using

"Oh."

turned to look in Amanda's

the side, she smiled

"Is that true?"

around, my eyes met

understanding each other, Amanda simply took off her

"Waaah! So beautiful!"

"Oh my god."

her! She was

Kimbol apart from Sophia looked at Amanda

gathered around her and tried to strike up a

good note, I managed to get rid of all the attention away from me, on a bad note, it seemed that Sophia had still not given up on me as she looked at me with a skeptical look

girlfriend?" She asked

"Well, sort of."

I nodded my head.

"Sort of?"

too long ago.

exactly what she was going to try

me, prove to me that

but no

because I disliked Amanda or anything like

everything that happened today, the idea

still was unsure

was incredibly beautiful, kind, and more than anything else a calming person to stay with, but I had been too busy preoccupied with

was afraid that my emotions were

put, I needed more time

"Hmmm…"

her eyes, Sophia looked at me with a skeptical look on her face. She was still unconvinced by

stood up from my seat and looked

it's getting late and Nola is getting sleepy. Guess it's time for us to go back. You stay and have fun with your

out of here before things became too

"Sure."

Leopold nodded his head.

I could turn around to the others, Leopold

"Ren, wait up."

it?" I

"Well…"

lips and looking around the room, Leopold scratched the side of his

cigarettes

"Nope."

before he could

in hell I was going to give him

cigarettes, think about spending time

I grabbed Amanda's wrist and dragged her out

I made sure to say goodbye to

enjoyed your performance…oh, and keep

Clank—!

reply, I

"Haaa…"

let out a long and tired

Amanda, I bitterly

even more tiring

"…"

was met

"Amanda?"

at Amanda and looking at her line of sight, I realized where the problem lay and quickly let go of her

"Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay."

Nola who had her arms wrapped around her neck. A smile involuntarily appeared on my face