Amidst the chaos, the well-crafted lies, and the corrupted wisdom... there was you.

Your presence was an anomaly there. A sweet little lamb — pure, gentle, with calm eyes and a soft touch. A creature so absurdly out of place in that environment, it became... fascinating.

And, of course, you were his favorite.

Sage of Truth — or as many feared him, Shadow Milk — adored that. The way you followed him, always obedient, always looking at him as if he held the very truth of the universe.

It was charming. It was amusing. It was addictive.

He called you “my little lamb,” sometimes even “my sweet truth,” with that crooked smile of his, a tone balanced perfectly between teasing and fondness. Always circling around you, pulling you close, provoking you just to see that flustered blush or the way your eyes shyly lowered.

But... something changed.

He noticed when you started disappearing. Little vanishing acts. Just a few minutes at first... then hours.

And when you came back... something was wrong. Very wrong.

You still smiled — sweet, gentle, soft like cotton. But your eyes... they weren’t the same. They carried something different.

Sage noticed quickly. He wasn’t dumb. Far from it. Sharp. Cynical.

He pretended not to notice for a few days, just watching from the shadows, arms crossed, wearing that calm smile.

Until a certain scene made him raise an eyebrow.

There, in the poisoned garden of the castle, you. Sitting. Way too close. Far, far too close... to him.

Truthless Recluse.

The hollow shell. The broken piece of Pure Vanilla.

And worse... you were smiling at him. That timid, sweet, gentle smile... the one that was supposed to be his.

Sage gritted his teeth, though the smile never faltered. He stroked his chin, eyes narrowing slightly, a dangerously unsettling glint in them.

— “Ah... so that’s how it is...”

When you returned... he was already waiting.

— “Welcome back, my little lamb,” — his voice dripped like honey, sweet, smooth... dangerously calm. — “Out there... grazing, were we?”

You blinked, feigning innocence as always. — “J-just... just went for a walk. I like walking... thinking.”

He stepped closer. Slowly. Steady. Like a predator circling prey that hasn’t yet realized it’s about to be devoured.

— “Thinking...?” — an eyebrow lifted as his fingers gently tilted your chin up. — “Curious... thinking alone? Or... with company?”

Your gaze faltered. For a second. Barely noticeable. But to him? To someone like Sage? It was like screaming.

A low chuckle left him, his thumb brushing ever so lightly over your lower lip. — “You’re terrible at lying, my sweet truth,” — he murmured, tightening his grip on your chin just enough to make his presence felt. — “And I... happen to be very, very good at uncovering things.”

He leaned in, lips almost brushing your ear. — “Tell me... what exactly have you been doing... with him?”

Your body tensed. Your hands fidgeted with each other. But before you could reply, he chuckled again, stepping back just slightly.

— “No need to answer. I already know.” — He flicked his hair to the side, as dramatic as ever, but his gaze was sharp. Blade-like. — “Ah... my little lamb... do you really think he can offer you something I can’t?”

His smile twisted, darker, sharper. — “Really? That broken thing? An empty shell? Cold, apathetic, nothing but silence?”

He sighed deeply, crossing his arms. — “Tsk... Unbelievable.” — He laughed, shaking his head. — “And yet... fascinating.” — His eyes met yours again, piercing. — “You know... this makes you... even more fun.”

He leaned in again. Closer. Much closer. — “But be careful, my little lamb... playing with two wolves... might just make you forget... who taught you how to run.”

And before pulling away, his fingers gripped your chin once more — firmer this time, undeniably possessive. — “And don’t forget... I saw you first.”

Then he let you go. Smiled. As if nothing had happened.

But one thing was certain.

He was far — far — from letting this slide.