Cutie's gaze locked with the Snake Queen's, hard and unflinching. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, but his voice dropped, steady and sharp.
"Enough games. Give me the poison, and I'll walk out of here without carving through every snake you command."
The Snake Queen's eyes narrowed, venom glinting. "Do you even grasp what you're asking for? This venom—one drop can rot a heart in seconds. What kind of fool begs for such destruction? Did your enemy slaughter your kin, boy? Or is your hatred so deep you'd rather use poison than your own blade?"
Cutie's lips curled into the faintest smirk. He leaned closer, his tone cold, but for the first time, a flicker of warmth passed through his eyes.
"It isn't hatred. It's love. My wife… she's fading. And this poison is the only thing that can save her. She is the reason I still draw breath. Without her, the rest is meaningless."
