For everyone who's curious why Sage is acting this way — she was prisoned inside their palace all her life. She never had the chance to meet other people aside from the people inside the palace. She studied privately and was never taught about anything that normal people know (sex, relationship, kiss, and other things related to affection).
She undergo a lot of trainings also to the point that it became her lifeline. Since she was a kid, Sage never had the chance to play like what every child deserves. Kaya isip bata pa rin siya hanggang paglaki niya because she never enjoyed her childhood life.
Sage is so innocent and naive about many things, please take considerations about her situation. Lovelots!
SAGE POUTED her lips upon listening to her family, and two unfamiliar men talk about things she doesn't know.
Bahagya rin siyang sumusulyap sa nakakatakot na lalaki, at tuwing ginagawa niya 'yon ay tumitingin din ito sa kaniya. At bago pa siya tumakbo sa takot ay pinigilan niya nang lumingon sa gawi nito.
She slowly took her dad's champagne glass because of her curiousity with what's inside. It's a purple drink and she haven't tasted it before. Bahagya pa siyang umangat sa kinauupuan para lang maabot 'yon.
Lihim siyang napatawa nang hindi mapansin ng daddy niya ang ginawa, abala kasi ito sa pakikipag-usap. Nakangising nilapit niya ang champagne glass sa bibig at ininom ang laman no'n.
"Sage!"
Her face reddened upon tasting the bitter drink, nakadagdag pa sa taranta niya ang tarantang sigaw ng pamilya niya.
"Mommy!" Naiiyak niyang nilabas ang dila at pinaypayan ito para maalis ang mapaklang lasa sa bibig.
Her sister quickly wiped her tongue with a tissue. Naramdaman naman niyang niyakap siya ng daddy niya. "Sage, why did you drink that? It's not for you!"
She pouted her lips. "Sorry, daddy. I was just curious, para kasi siyang grape juice."
"It's a wine, princess. We never gave this kind of drink to you before, right?" tanong ng ate niya na agad naman niyang tinanguan.
Nahihiyang yumuko na lang siya at tinuloy ang pagkain. What she did was embarrassing for the villain and his kanang-kamay! Hindi na dapat niya ininom ang wine na 'yon.
Mas niyuko niya pa ang ulo nang maramdaman ang pangingilid ng luha sa magkabila niyang mata. She's embarrassed and upset.
"Sage, baby."
Tuluyan na siyang napaiyak nang yakapin siya ng daddy niya. "Daddy, I was upset because you scolded me," sumbong niya habang nakasandig sa dibdib nito.
"I know, I'm sorry. Maris!" He called a maid before gently letting go of her. "Take Sage to the playroom, please."
"Yes, King—"
"Daddy, are you mad at me?" tanong niya habang pinupunasan ang mga luha sa pisngi.
"Daddy will never get mad at her princess for petty reasons, okay?"
After making sure that no one from her family is upset with what she did, sumama na lang siya sa maid papuntang playroom.
She can't recall the last time she went here, that's why she's excited also.
"Ate Maris, I want many toys here." Masaya siyang nag-indian sit sa ibabaw ng floor mat.
"Ma'am, you can only play with five toys according to your father," malungkot nitong saad.
Napanguso naman siya dahil doon. Her father always do that whenever she's free to play, laging limitadong laruan lang ang binibigay nito.
She raised her six fingers before smiling sweetly. "Six, please? Promise, six lang po."
The maid awkwardly scratched her nape before nodding. "Let's keep this as a secret, ma'am."
Napapalakpak siya sa tuwa nang marinig 'yon. "I want six pokemon cards, ate. Nakakapagod kayang gawing referee 'yung isa kasi lagi na lang lima pwede kong laruin."
Natatawa naman nitong inabot ang anim na pokemon cards sa kaniya at hinaplos siya sa ulo. "Please come out after 30 minutes, Princess. I'll leave you here alone."
Matamis siyang ngumiti rito at buong siglang tumango. Kumaway pa siya para magpaalam. "Ba-bye po."
She flashed an excited expression when the maid left. Tinuon niya na lang ang atensyon sa mga cards na hawak at pinaggrupo ito sa tatlo.
"Bwuahaha. Raikou, attack!" She raised one card before attacking the other one.
Pinaliit niya ang boses nang bahagya. "Ha! Celebi won't let you defeat me that easily! Dodge!"
"Ahhh!" tili niya habang pinagbabangga ang dalawang cards. "Raikou, defeated!"
Masaya niyang tinaas ang dalawang bagong cards at napatili kung sino ang nasa isa. "Pikachuuuu! Wala na, panalo na si Pikachu ko." Hinagis niya ang isang card at binelatan pa ito.
"Jirachi on attack—"
"Can I bother you for a moment?"
Her body frozen for a while upon hearing that cold and deep voice from behind. Ilang segundo pa bago siya nakalingon sa lalaking kinakatakutan niya.
"Villain? Anong ginagawa mo sa playroom ko?" taka niyang tanong bago tumayo nang dahan-dahan.
She saw how the corner of his lips raised. "Villain? As far as I know, Avenight is my name."
Lumapit siya rito. "Hindi ka ba villain? Avenight ang pangalan mo? Eh bakit nakakatakot ka?" walang pakundangan niyang tanong.
He stepped towards her, leaning forward. "It wasn't my intention to scare you, little kid."
Kinakabahang umatras siya papalayo rito at ngumuso. Nakakatakot talaga ang boses at presensya nito.
"Hindi ko nga intensyon na pagsalitaan ng masama si Dora pero nagawa ko pa rin. At 'saka..." Kinalikot niya ang tela ng dress na suot sa bandang baywang at tumingin sa mga mata ng kaharap. "I watched too many cartoons before, lahat ng villains laging sinasabi na hindi sila masama. Pero masama sila."
He smirked a little. "I have a lot of toys in my castle, you can even watch cartoons while playing. You want that don't you?"
Sage's eyes twinkled upon hearing that. "Talagaaa? Sama ako sa castle mo!"
"Hmm, I can take you there in one condition," he answered.
"Kahit ano po, gagawin ko. Gusto mo ba ng maraming pagkain? Ipapahanda ko kila daddy! Or gusto mo rin ng pokemon cards? Oki, ibibigay ko lahat sa 'yo basta sama ako sa castle mo. Konti lang toys ko rito, look." Tinuro niya ang isang direksyon na umano'y nagsusumbong.
Avenight nodded his head before stepping closer to her. "You wanted to have freedom, and playing with hundreds of toys while watching your favorite show sounds good, right?"
She smiled sweetly before answering. "Sobraaa."
He chuckled a little before staring straight at her eyes. "Then marry me."