As the guards stopped Rhea at the stairwell, she looked down at the empty hallway and calmed herself down. “I have something important to tell Her Majesty. Please pass her my message. Otherwise, you’ll all pay for messing things up, okay? It's about the experiment.”Rhea could not help but speak arrogantly, thinking she was now working for the queen.However, the guards remained still. One of them said, "Her Majesty says no one is to disturb her."Sensing something was off, Rhea tried to peer inside, but the guards held her back. She frowned and asked, "Is Her Majesty resting, or has she gone somewhere else?""We can't tell you that."Rhea felt helpless but knew she could not force her way in. Although Yasmin permitted her to use the laboratory, Rhea knew it did not mean the queen treated her differently. Besides, it was unusual for the queen to let Lily conduct her experiment under the circumstances. Although Rhea was upset, she could only stomach her frustration and head tow
Rhea had a sudden thought and hurried back to the laboratory. When she arrived, Lily was still lying on the recliner with her eyes closed. This time, Rhea marched in and asked, “You’re still here?”Lily opened her eyes and casually glanced at Rhea. “Where else should I be?”"So you don't know either," Rhea mumbled. After some thought, she caught herself and snorted. “Never mind. Just continue with your experiment.”Rhea felt better when she realized Yasmin had not told Lily anything either. It showed Lily did not matter as much to the queen as Rhea had thought. Still, Rhea wondered where else the queen could be if not the laboratory.Puzzled, Rhea turned and headed out. Lily half-sat up and gazed after her with a frown, feeling something was amiss. "What… do you mean?""Nothing. Just continue with your work," Rhea answered without looking back. "Or I should say go back to sleep."She mocked Lily because she did not seem serious about the experiment. Rhea thought she did not nee
‘Perhaps Queen Yasmin isn’t even around.’The guards had strange expressions as one of them waved and said, “We have no idea.”"Okay, I got it." Lily nodded. The guards were puzzled, wondering what she got. They remained at their posts as they watched her leave.When Lily reentered the elevator, she did not press the floor button.Based on Rhea’s words and the guards’ reaction, it was evident the two guards were referring to Rhea just now. In other words, Rhea had gone looking for the queen but got turned away, too.‘Rhea also assumed Her Majesty was with me, so she rushed back just now to see Yasmin? That must be why Rhea was surprised to see me all by myself. She must’ve thought I was with the queen instead.’Even Lily wondered where else Yasmin and herself would be if not the laboratory. Unable to come up with an answer, Lily wondered why Yasmin would avoid telling her and Rhea where she had gone.Lily thought of someone, and a chill ran down her spine. She then pressed a f
Lily’s heart and mind raced as she ran. Since she had come from the laboratory, she knew Yasmin was not there. The latter could not have brought Nick away so abruptly and secretively just to talk to him, either.Since Yasmin was eager for the experiment, she would not just need Nick. Fred would be there, too. As the queen kept this from Lily and Rhea, the older woman would also need the doctors who were present the other day.Therefore, it was evident that Yasmin intended to proceed with the experiment without telling Lily about it.‘Has she lost her mind?! Why would she do it knowing it’ll fail?!’Lily pressed the floor button multiple times, wishing the elevator would move faster. To her surprise, the button to the floor where Fred was did not light up. It stayed that way no matter how many times she pressed it.‘Is it locked?’Lily knew nothing was wrong with the elevator. After all, it should not have been able to reach other floors if there were. It was evident access to tha
Rhea chuckled and stood on her toes but only saw an empty hallway. “Did…someone come in just now?”“What’s it to you? Leave!” a guard exclaimed sternly.Rhea tried to be patient, asking, “Who else came here besides me? Have you guys…seen Lily?”“Are you deaf? Get the fuck out of here." The man began to chase her away.Rhea felt somewhat angry and helpless as the guard shoved her backward. More importantly, she was baffled.'Lily headed toward the stairwell just now, didn't she? Didn’t she have to come through here? They couldn’t have let her in. The queen kept her in the dark like I was. She would have told me about it if she wanted Lily to go. Where else could Lily go if she came to the stairwell?’Suddenly, the commotion she created attracted the attention of those inside. A deep voice came from the other end of the hallway, “What’s the matter?”Rick looked stern and upset as he seemingly appeared out of nowhere."Sir." One of the guards walked over and whispered something to
"Are you doubting us?" Rick sounded upset. After all, they would have caught Lily just now if she had snuck past them. Besides, she could not have entered at all since they had blocked the access through the elevator and the stairwell."No, I'm just saying what if," Rhea explained, "I—"Rick interjected, "There's no what if.""Okay, maybe I worry too much," she said awkwardly. There was no point arguing with Rick if he did not believe it would happen."I…" "It's time for you to leave," he said coldly and turned to leave.Still, Rhea refused to go. "Can I see Her Majesty? I promise I won't interfere or say a word." She raised her hand to swear, adding, “I’ll do anything you guys want me to.”"We want you to leave now!" Rick snapped.Rhea was at a loss and could only mutter, "Okay."Even so, she could not help but keep looking over her shoulder as she left. After taking just a few steps, she heard someone calling for Rick. She knew it was Yasmin’s voice. Surprised, Rhea slowed
“Of course, Your Majesty! You're making history here. Humankind has been researching immortality since ancient times. If the experiment succeeds, it’ll hold significant reference value to other experiments as well.“I'm honored to be part of it," Rhea said, eager for the experiment.Yasmin looked at her intensely. “Are you sure it’ll work?”She had begun to waver over the past few days. Yasmin saw her former self in Rhea’s excited expression. Yasmin was just as thrilled as Rhea when she first heard about the experiment.Yasmin thought she would change her destiny and become the greatest queen of Yudonia or even the whole world.However, she gradually doubted the experiment after all the setbacks, as they could not even create the drug. When Lily showed up, Fred told Yasmin that there was a highly suitable candidate whose body Yasmin could live in forever.Although swapping bodies sounded absurd and made Yasmin uneasy, she was willing to try it if she could live forever. However,
There were only a few rooms on this floor, but guards stood at its two ends due to the shape of the building. Although Lily could not leave her room most days, she would carefully observe her surroundings, including the walls, whenever she had the chance.The floor where Fred stayed was relatively secluded. In fact, it was where Fred had confined Yasmin before this. No one would have expected two of the most influential Yudionians to be held captive on the same floor, let alone in a room.Lily looked left and right before coming through the window. Since no one was around during the shift change, she jumped to the floor quietly. At that moment, she heard footsteps. Lily quickly hid in a blind spot in a corner and waited until a guard went past.Suddenly, she immobilized him by hitting his acupuncture point. The guard could only sweat in fear, unable to move or shout. Since he had never experienced such a thing before, he thought he was possessed or something.Even Lily began to swe