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…"

to react, I could only let out

the attention of the other people

god! I remember

"Kyyaaaa!"

"It's him!"

"I…."

in Amanda's direction in the hope of some help, however, all I was

this aren't

say. Or at least what I

she was currently wearing

it to her before because she simply attracted way too much attention due to her

the camera was pointed in our direction,

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

had it not been for the mask, she would've never pulled her previous

"Mr. Dover, Mr. Dover."

"Wow."

of my thoughts as I moved my head away from her

"Sorry."

Quickly apologizing, Sophia coughed.

from reports that you were single

head slightly, she glanced in Nola's and

that she was your daughter, but doesn't she look

Nola is our

sentence. The moment I said those

"However..."

quickly followed up by

she is my girlfriend is not a

"Hiip!"

those words, I suddenly heard a weird sound

could already imagine what face Amanda was making. However, this

I didn't want Leopold's daughter to fall

short, I was using

"Oh."

turned to look

head to the

"Is that true?"

around, my eyes met with

brief moment and seemingly understanding each other, Amanda simply took off her

"Waaah! So beautiful!"

"Oh my god."

was also

of the girls from Kimbol apart from Sophia looked at Amanda

this, they instantly gathered around her and tried to strike up

bad note, it seemed that Sophia

your girlfriend?" She asked

"Well, sort of."

I nodded my head.

"Sort of?"

too long ago. Our

what she was going

to say something along the lines of 'Prove it to me, prove to me that you two are in a relationship.'

but no thank

wasn't because I disliked Amanda or

honest, with everything that happened today, the idea that Amanda liked me

if that was true, I still

a calming person to stay with, but

afraid that my emotions

I needed more time to figure things

"Hmmm…"

me with a skeptical look on her face. She was

her, I stood up from my

time for us to go back. You

out of here before things became

"Sure."

Leopold nodded his head.

could turn around to the

"Ren, wait up."

it?"

"Well…"

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

cigarettes

"Nope."

cut him off before he

was going to give him his cigarettes back. He

cigarettes, think about spending time with

to change my face again, I grabbed Amanda's wrist and dragged her out of

to say goodbye

a good day, really enjoyed your performance…oh, and keep

Clank—!

even reply, I quickly closed the door

"Haaa…"

let out a long and tired sigh and

to Amanda,

even more tiring than

"…"

was met with no

"Amanda?"

at her line of sight, I realized where the problem lay and

"Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay."

at Nola who had her arms wrapped around her neck.