One wrong word… and he would be next. So, without a single complaint, he lowered his gaze and stared silently at the floor.
The woman knew exactly what Pope Lotario was feeling. She could see all of it as clearly as if his thoughts were laid bare before her. His conflicted emotions, his fear, his anger, his desire for revenge… and finally, his resignation. But none of it mattered to her. After all, who cared what ants thought? In her eyes, his emotions held no value. As long as he fulfilled his purpose, that was enough. What happened to him after that meant nothing to her. And the reason she had eradicated the other ant was no different. His purpose had been simple to keep the seeds safe. He had failed. And once something failed its purpose… it had outlived its utility.
'I was careless'
