Lily spoke calmly, as if in complete control. "Don't worry. The poison won't take effect immediately. You have one week. If someone neutralizes it quickly enough, you needn't concern yourself with me."

Fred wasn't sure he believed her. She couldn't have created a poison undetected, nor could she have smuggled it past security. 'But what else could I have swallowed? If it is poison, where did she get it?' The thought unsettled him.

Lily smiled, as if reading his mind. "If you must know," she said casually, "I've interacted with many doctors and nurses. Do you honestly think I couldn't have acquired some drugs? Do you think I couldn't synthesize something from them?"

Fred remained silent, but his wavering eyes betrayed his belief. He had to admit the possibility. He'd witnessed her abilities; she was exceptionally skilled at creating pharmaceuticals. 'I guess I messed up,' he thought.

"Your Grace!" A junior officer rushed forward for orders. Fred shouted impatiently, "Get lost!"

He turned to Lily, a burning rage in his eyes. He wanted to destroy her, but could only glare, snarling, "Lock her up. Stop feeding her. And keep a close watch!"

"But Your Grace, if we withhold food, Her Majesty might—"

"I'll take full responsibility!" Fred interrupted, hurrying outside and tossing his pistol to a guard.

Once everyone had left, Lily sighed in relief. She dared not relax, however, with surveillance cameras everywhere.

What she'd told Fred was a partial truth. She had secretly created the "poison" from drugs she'd accumulated and hidden. It wasn't actually poison, though. Most of the nurses' medications were supplements. While creating a true poison from them was difficult, she'd managed to concoct something to weaken Fred or upset his stomach. She knew his Yudonian diet would exacerbate the effects, leading to multiple trips to the toilet, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, and fatigue.

Given Fred's paranoia, she believed he'd accept her half-truth. It wouldn't achieve much, but it would buy her children some time. She could only wait.

Suddenly, she recalled the junior officer mentioning disinfection and Fred's dismissal. She wondered about the visitors. 'Are they really here to disinfect, or is Alex behind this?'

Fred abruptly stopped his brisk departure, causing those following him to collide with him.