The queen awoke in a hospital bed, the crisp sounds of monitoring devices filling the air. Although she felt physically well, an unease settled over her. She had lost control.

"Fred! Fred!" she called out.

She half-expected no response, but Fred soon appeared. "Your Majesty? How may I help you?"

"Let me out!" she snapped.

He offered a faint smile. "I can't, Your Majesty. The experiment continues the day after tomorrow. You can't leave now."

The queen frowned. "What? You intend to kill and dethrone me, is that it?"

"Your Majesty! How could you think such a thing? Would I undertake all this trouble simply to kill you? This is for your own good! You've stopped believing me because of that woman! It's a shame."

Fred sighed and shook his head, as if she were entirely in the wrong. Suppressing her anger, the queen asked, "Then what are you doing? If the experiment is in two days, how can we return to Yudonia in time?"

A mysterious smile played on Fred's lips. "We're not returning to Yudonia."

"You plan to do it here? Are you out of your mind?" The queen was incredulous.

"No, Your Majesty. Quite the contrary. I've chosen this location precisely because I'm clear-headed. The experiment carries inherent risks, and you're receiving a new body originating from Hyderland. It should acclimate better to this environment. Bringing that woman to Yudonia could lead to unpredictable reactions. I'm doing this to ensure your safety and the experiment's success," he stated flatly.

The queen scoffed. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Of course, Your Majesty." Fred remained unfazed, humming a tune as he checked the monitoring equipment. He glanced at his phone. "They're examining Lily now. You must appreciate this opportunity. Finding a compatible donor is exceedingly difficult. We might not have found anyone without Lily."

"So the experiment might still fail?" the queen asked flatly.

Fred turned, his answer direct. "Yes, it might. I feared you wouldn't accept it, so I didn't tell you before. But every experiment is risky. That's why I've prepared thoroughly. Please sign this."

He produced a pen and a document from a drawer and presented them to the queen.