The Almighty Dominance

Three years earlier, Alex was on his knees in the cold marble hall of the Rosenheim mansion, pressed down by a trio of chrome robots and a pale-faced servant.

The light from the chandelier carved hard lines across his face. The machines made no sound but their grips were insistently mechanical.

"Who are you, thief?" Otto Rosenheim barked, stepping forward. "Why are you trespassing on this property?"

Alex kept his chin up. "I'm Alexander Saint-Claire," he said. "Son of Logan Saint- Claire. I believe this property belongs to my family."

Otto let out a short, incredulous laugh. "You say you're the child of Logan Saint- Claire?"

"Yes." Alex's voice didn't waver. "The blood test proved it. The Prussian Government hospital ran it."

With deliberate calm, Alex tapped the three-dimensional bracelet on his wrist and the document bloomed in a pale hologram. He pushed it toward Otto.

Otto's eyes flicked over the projection as if it were a curious insect.

"So you claim the Marquis Saint-Claire's estate," he said slowly, savoring the words. "Interesting."

"Yes." Alex swallowed.

Otto's laugh was sharp and cruel, echoing through the hall like a crack of a whip.

"Maybe if Logan himself rode through that door, we'd hand it all back on a silver platter," he sneered. "But you-" he jabbed a finger at Alex, venom in his tone, “— you're half-blood, aren't you? Xia blood running through your veins."

He took a step closer, eyes burning with disgust.

"Do you even know what that means here? It makes you filth. A servant. A dog born to obey. In Prussia, your kind doesn't own land-you serve the ones who do."

His lip curled in mock pity.

"So tell me, boy, what gives you the right to stand in my house and claim anything as yours?"

Alex's jaw tightened in silence.

Otto circled him like a predator. "Listen, lad. I knew Logan once. We were close- children running over these grounds."

He paused, then smiled with the cruelty of a man offering poison. "I'll make you an offer. Marry my daughter, Katarina Rosenheim. She's the finest match in this house. Marry her, stay here, and we'll let you keep your head-and a roof."

servant. He read the motion in Otto's eyes:

mechanics would

me Katarina if I stay. Thank you—

and smug. He turned toward the adjoining room, his boots echoing across

the crack, voices leaked through a conversation never meant

would've

Alex's hearing was ten times sharper than ordinary, every whisper as clear as if the speakers stood

out like breaking glass. "I will

are not the legal owners of the Saint-Claire lands. We care for them. We were once servants to that family. This can't last. We

that-thing?"

estate he must marry a Prussian woman, live under Prussian law for three years, and receive approval from a noble

you

years, Katarina, you'll be legally tied to the Saint-Claire name and the estate becomes yours. After that, we remove him. You inherit everything. You run this

cruel and casual. "Treat him like a mutt - keep him in the servants' quarters, feed him kitchen scraps. He's just come

dropped between them like a heavy curtain. Katarina drew a slow, steady breath, her eyes narrowing as

property," she said, her voice

your face. Let that fool

you make sure he's insured and that I get the payout when he's gone." Her voice was cold business, the kind

trailed behind her,

still on his knees in

she said, the words a

no. You-" she laughed softly, cruel and warm at once, "-you're a lucky dog. Live like

next month was simple and savage: Alex

by the garden-a space so lowly even the servants refused to use

spoken to, and moved through the mansion with

him like spectators at a cruel play-half in cruelty, half

through the servant's gate. The moon cut the garden into

down an empty street that smelled of coal

out

practiced. The oldest spoke,

"We are the Kingswell-frontline men,

the absurdity. "We're on a mission. Don't call me king or 'majesty.' You'll draw