The queen looked slightly better; the pallor of imminent death had receded. Fred quickly responded, "Yes, my queen?"

"You haven't told me what would happen if the experiment fails," she asked.

"It will succeed, Your Majesty," he smiled, patting her hand. Despite this reassurance, the queen's gaze remained cold. After a moment, Fred continued, "If it fails, we'll have an alternative plan. Though, you won't be aware of its implementation."

"A backup plan?" The queen snorted. "So you have been hiding something."

"Everyone keeps secrets, Your Majesty. Rest assured, you've always been my priority," Fred said earnestly, smiling.

"What's your backup plan?" she asked, her agitation subsiding. Her weakness precluded any further outburst.

"Well..." Fred hesitated. "There's no need for you to know, Your Majesty. If the experiment works, the backup plan is unnecessary. If it fails… you won't be around to see it."

"Fred, you…" Infuriated, she struggled to sit up, but couldn't release her hand from his grasp.

"You shouldn't exert yourself, Your Majesty. It's detrimental to your health," Fred said quickly, supporting her. "Just rest. You'll have a new life tomorrow!"

"Fred, did you bring my people here?" Her eyes narrowed. "You've been planning this for two years, haven't you?"

Fred's pretense crumbled. He released her hand, rising and laughing. "Of course, Your Majesty. How else could I accomplish so much so quickly, let alone expedite the experiment? You should be grateful to have someone as capable as me. Whether it succeeds or fails, you'll be the first to undergo this monumental experiment. Shouldn't you be happy?"

Fred's demeanor was manic, almost fierce. The queen glared, her face contorting with rage.