Lily wrapped her finger around the trigger but couldn't pull it. She had never killed anyone before, let alone a queen.

Just then, someone shouted, "Don't shoot!" The person stumbled, banging against the door. As everyone turned, Rick tried to snatch the gun, but Lily dodged and backed away, releasing Yasmin in the process. Guards immediately formed a protective circle around the queen, guns trained on Lily.

"Put down the gun!" Rick shouted.

Seeing the futility of the standoff, Lily tossed the weapon aside. Yasmin was right; she would never shoot anyone. Knowing Lily's thoughts, Yasmin had ensured the plan's failure from the outset.

"Seize her!" Rick commanded, and the guards advanced.

"Wait!" Ross, the newcomer, dashed forward, placing himself protectively before Lily. "Nobody moves!"

Rick stepped closer. "Your Highness, you saw what happened. We must arrest this woman to protect Her Majesty."

Ross replied solemnly, "I know what's happening. Besides, you have no authority to give orders in my and Her Majesty's presence."

"But..." Rick protested.

"Rick," Yasmin intervened, "stand down."

Rick retreated, standing behind the queen. She wheeled herself forward and asked Ross, "Why are you here?"

"Mother, I know your resolve, but I must stop you. If you must proceed, experiment on me!" Ross declared, straightening.

Yasmin frowned, shaking her head. "We need time to find a suitable vessel for you. Besides, you're in your prime; you should wait."

"No, I don't think the experiment will work, regardless of a compatible vessel or my condition. He's a child," Ross pointed at Nick. "Much younger than me, yet you'd experiment on him? I'm your son, I understand the pain of losing a child. You're not just my mother, but the mother of Yudonia. Will you experiment on them too? Transfer the brains of all Yudonians into Hylander heads?"

Yasmin and the other doctors were speechless. "That's absurd!" she finally stammered.

"It's a fact, and you know it!" Ross insisted.