"You're too arrogant," the queen said indifferently. Holding the armrests of her wheelchair, she slowly sat upright, looking remarkably fit.

Fred's jaw dropped. "You've been pretending to be dying! You planned all this!"

"That's right," the queen smiled gently. "Otherwise, would you have proceeded with the experiment so soon?"

Terror gripped Fred. "This can't be happening!" After years of careful planning and scheming, he couldn't believe she'd uncovered his plot and prepared so thoroughly.

"As I said, you're too arrogant," the queen continued. "As someone who has worked for me for so many years, you should know me better. Am I so gullible and easily manipulated? Do you think I've become senile?"

Overwhelmed by his defeat, Fred struggled to accept it.

Anticipating this reaction, the queen said, "Do you think you could so easily buy my men? You underestimate them, and me. I would have been killed a thousand times over if their loyalty was so easily swayed."

Confidence shone in her gaze. Lily, though she'd anticipated this, was still amazed to witness it. Sitting in the wheelchair, the queen looked like an ordinary old lady, yet her regal bearing remained impressive. Lily couldn't help but admire her.

"They didn't betray you; they merely played along with me?" Fred asked shakily, finding his voice at last.

"It's too late for you to realize this now," the queen nodded.

"So you allowed me to imprison you, just to see what I would do?" Fred looked around, feeling as though everything were a dream.