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

of the other people present, as I was quickly surrounded by all

my god!

"Kyyaaaa!"

"It's him!"

"I…."

didn't know how to react as I looked in Amanda's direction in the

enjoying this

what I assumed it said as her expression

was currently

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

the time the camera was pointed in our direction, no one

her mask, I could've guaranteed that all attention would've been drawn to

been for the mask, she would've

"Mr. Dover, Mr. Dover."

"Wow."

finally snapped out of my thoughts as I moved

"Sorry."

Quickly apologizing, Sophia coughed.

that you were single and that you were only twenty

slightly, she glanced in Nola's and Amanda's

over there said that she was your daughter, but doesn't she look a little bit too old to be your

fact that Nola is our daughter is

she could finish her sentence. The moment I said those words,

"However..."

quickly followed up by pointing in Amanda's

my girlfriend is

"Hiip!"

I suddenly heard a weird

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

because I didn't want Leopold's

I was using Amanda as my

"Oh."

nod, Sophia turned to look in Amanda's

to the side, she smiled

"Is that true?"

my eyes met

brief moment and seemingly understanding each other, Amanda simply

"Waaah! So beautiful!"

"Oh my god."

She was also

Kimbol apart from Sophia looked

her and tried

it seemed that

your girlfriend?" She asked with her arms

"Well, sort of."

I nodded my head.

"Sort of?"

we started dating not too long

exactly what she was going

of 'Prove it to me, prove to me that you two are in

no

disliked Amanda or

today, the idea that Amanda liked

still was

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

that my emotions were

more time

"Hmmm…"

me with a skeptical look

I stood up from my seat and

Nola is getting sleepy. Guess it's time for us to go back. You stay and

of here

"Sure."

Leopold nodded his head.

the others,

"Ren, wait up."

it?"

"Well…"

Leopold scratched the side

the cigarettes

"Nope."

off before he

in hell I was going to give him his cigarettes

about cigarettes, think about spending time with your

I grabbed Amanda's

made sure to say goodbye to

good day, really enjoyed your performance…oh, and keep our appearance

Clank—!

reply, I quickly closed the door

"Haaa…"

out a long and tired

Amanda, I

more tiring than

"…"

was met

"Amanda?"

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

"Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay."

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