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…"

I

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

my god!

"Kyyaaaa!"

"It's him!"

"I…."

in the hope of some help, however, all

this aren't

what her face seemed to say. Or at least what I assumed it said as her expression was quite

since she was currently wearing a

simply attracted way too much attention due to her

camera was pointed in our direction, no one took notice

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

hindsight, bad move because had it not been for the mask, she would've never

"Mr. Dover, Mr. Dover."

"Wow."

finding Sophia's face near mine, I finally snapped out of my thoughts

"Sorry."

Quickly apologizing, Sophia coughed.

single and

slightly, she glanced in Nola's

there said that she was your daughter, but doesn't she look a little

that Nola is our daughter is

she could finish her sentence. The

"However..."

cue up, I quickly followed up

is my girlfriend is not a

"Hiip!"

exact moment I said those words, I suddenly heard a

imagine what face Amanda was

pettiness, but because I didn't want Leopold's

I was using Amanda

"Oh."

short nod, Sophia turned

the side,

"Is that true?"

around, my eyes met

each other, Amanda simply took

"Waaah! So beautiful!"

"Oh my god."

her! She was also

of the girls from Kimbol apart from Sophia

this, they instantly gathered around her and tried to strike

the attention away from me, on a bad note, it seemed that Sophia had still not given up on me as

girlfriend?" She asked with her arms

"Well, sort of."

I nodded my head.

"Sort of?"

long ago. Our relationship

knew exactly what she was going to try

me, prove to me that you two are in a relationship.' And then we would be forced to do something

but no thank

because I disliked Amanda or

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

that was true, I still was unsure about my feelings

anything else a calming person to stay with, but I had been too busy preoccupied with everything that had happened with the other

was afraid that

I needed more time

"Hmmm…"

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

stood up from

Guess it's time for us to go back.

of here before

"Sure."

Leopold nodded his head.

the

"Ren, wait up."

it?" I

"Well…"

around the room, Leopold scratched the

cigarettes you

"Nope."

before he could finish

no way in hell I was going to give

about cigarettes, think about spending time

my face again, I grabbed Amanda's wrist and dragged

sure to

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

Clank—!

reply, I quickly closed

"Haaa…"

out a long and tired

up to Amanda, I

more tiring than

"…"

met with

"Amanda?"

I realized where

"Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay."

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