Chapter 10: Seeds of Discord.

The soft glow of the chandelier cast dancing shadows across the nursery walls as Kraner stood watch, his silver hair catching hints of light like threads of starlight. He could hear the twins breathing softly in their sleep, their little chests rising and falling in perfect harmony. But peace was the last thing on his mind. For days now, he'd been watching Jessica's every move, studying her like a predator studies its prey. Her pride would be her undoing – he'd make sure of that.

The sharp click of heels against marble announced Jessica's arrival before she appeared in the doorway. Her face twisted with annoyance when she spotted him. "What the hell are you doing here?" The words came out like venom.

"Just checking on the little ones." Kraner's voice was honey-sweet, dripping with fake innocence. "You know how much Lady Tanya worries about them."

Jessica let out a sound somewhere between a scoff and a laugh, planting her hands on her hips. "Right. Because a slave like you knows the first thing about childcare."

A smile played across Kraner's lips, but his eyes told a different story. Something cold and calculating lurked behind them. "Even slaves can learn, Jessica. And I've learned quite a bit about... influence."

She frowned, clearly wanting to ask what he meant but too proud to take the bait. Instead, she spun around to leave, but Kraner wasn't finished with her yet.

"Ms. Jessica," he called after her, his voice full of manufactured concern. "Have you noticed anything... off about Lady Tanya lately?"

That stopped her dead in her tracks. "What are you talking about?"

Kraner stepped closer, lowering his voice to barely above a whisper. "Well, it's probably nothing, but she's been spending an awful lot of time with that new maid – Clarissa, isn't it? I overheard them discussing some rather important matters. Strange, don't you think?"

The muscle in Jessica's jaw twitched. "That's none of your damn business," she snapped, but Kraner could see the seed of doubt taking root in her eyes.

"Oh, but it is," he pressed, gentle as a snake in the grass. "If Lady Tanya's looking to... shall we say, make some changes in management, wouldn't you want to know?"

Jessica whirled around so fast her hair whipped through the air. "Listen here, you little worm," she hissed, eyes blazing. "I am irreplaceable. Lady Tanya knows exactly what I'm worth."

Kraner bowed his head, the picture of humility. "Of course, Ms. Jessica. I'd never suggest otherwise. But even the most valuable pieces can be replaced if someone isn't paying attention. Maybe you should remind Lady Tanya just how essential you are – before someone else catches her eye."

With that parting shot, he melted back into the shadows of the nursery. As the door clicked shut behind him, he finally allowed himself a smile. A smile so cunning, nobody would dare say he was a simple caretaker, but nobody was there to witness it, except his two lovely future toys.

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The next morning dawned grey and cold, matching Kraner's mood perfectly. He'd timed his arrival at the mansion precisely, knowing Jessica would be walking through the grand foyer at exactly that moment. Sure enough, there she was, striding across the marble floor like she owned it, though her usual confidence seemed brittle around the edges.

"Good morning, Ms. Jessica," he called out cheerfully, laying the false respect on thick. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

She barely looked at him, her lips pressed so tight they'd nearly disappeared. "Whatever," she muttered, shouldering past him like he was nothing more than an annoying piece of furniture.

Kraner watched her storm off, satisfaction gleaming in his ice-blue eyes. He knew exactly where she was headed – straight to Lady Tanya's office to demand answers. Now he was sure, his words from last night were eating away at her like acid, and now she was about to do something, something a normal human would do, something perfectly.....stupid.

Later that afternoon, Kraner lounged against the kitchen counter, pretending to read while actually drinking in every whispered conversation around him. The kitchen was always the best place for gossip, and today's harvest was particularly rich.

"You won't believe what happened this morning," one of the maids whispered to her friend, eyes wide with scandal. "Jessica actually burst into Lady Tanya's office – without knocking! Started throwing around accusations about that new girl, Clarissa."

Her friend nearly dropped the plate she was drying. "No way! What did Lady Tanya do?"

"She didn't say much, but if looks could kill..." The first maid drew a finger across her throat. "Jessica practically ran out of there looking like she'd seen a ghost."

Kraner hid his smile behind his book. Everything was falling into place like dominoes. By planting that tiny seed of doubt, he'd pushed Jessica into committing the ultimate sin in their world – losing her composure in front of Lady Tanya. Their mistress might forgive many things, but emotional outbursts weren't one of them.

As the day wore on, Kraner kept adding fuel to the fire, dropping little hints here and there like breadcrumbs. During lunch, he made sure to mention how impressed Lady Tanya seemed with Clarissa's work ethic. Later, he lingered just a bit too long outside the elder's study, letting others draw their own conclusions. The message was clear: even a lowly slave like him had more of Lady Tanya's trust than Jessica did right now.

By nightfall, the whole mansion was buzzing with whispers about Jessica's meltdown. Servants scattered like mice when she walked by, afraid of getting caught in her furious wake. Even Perl, the normally unflappable head maid, raised an eyebrow when Jessica passed her in the hallway. Kraner noted each reaction with quiet satisfaction, like a composer watching his symphony come together.

That night, as he went through his usual routine with the twins, Kraner allowed himself a moment of reflection. The trap was nearly complete. Jessica's pride had driven her exactly where he wanted her – isolated, angry, and making mistakes. Meanwhile, Lady Tanya's legendary patience was wearing thinner by the hour. All that remained was to spring the final trap.

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Two days later, the summons Kraner had been waiting for finally arrived. Lady Tanya wanted to see him in her private chambers. He found her sitting behind her massive desk, looking like a storm about to break. Jessica stood before her, trying to look dignified despite her flushed face and trembling hands.

"You called for me, my lady?" Kraner kept his voice soft, respectful, the perfect servant.

Lady Tanya waved him in, her expression dark as thunder. "Yes, Kraner. I've been hearing some... troubling things about the state of my household. Particularly regarding my children's care."

Jessica's whole body went rigid, her fists clenching at her sides. "My lady, please, I can explain—"

"Silence!" Lady Tanya's voice cracked like a whip. "I'll hear no excuses until I know exactly what's going on." Her razor-sharp gaze turned to Kraner. "Tell me, boy. Have you noticed anything... concerning during your duties?"

Kraner hesitated, playing his part perfectly. "My lady, I... I don't wish to speak ill of my betters. But if you command it..."

"I do," she said flatly. "Speak."

He let out a carefully crafted sigh. "Very well. I've noticed... changes in the children when they're under Ms. Jessica's care. They seem... unsettled. They cry more often, act out in ways they normally wouldn't. At first, I thought perhaps they were just going through a phase, but then I started wondering if maybe... other factors were at play."

Jessica's face went from red to white in an instant. "That's a lie!" she practically screamed, taking a step forward. "He's twisting everything around to make me look bad!"

Lady Tanya's expression could have frozen hell itself. "Enough! You forget yourself, Jessica. If Kraner has concerns about my children's welfare, I must investigate them thoroughly."

"But my lady, please—" Jessica's voice cracked with desperation.

"No." Lady Tanya cut her off like a blade. "Until this matter is fully resolved, you are relieved of your duties with my children. Kraner will take over full responsibility for their care."

Jessica stumbled backward like she'd been slapped. For a moment, she just stared at Kraner, her eyes burning with pure hatred. Then she turned and fled the room, slamming the door hard enough to make the windows rattle.

Kraner bowed low, hiding his triumph beneath a mask of humble gratitude. "Thank you for trusting me, my lady. I swear I'll put the children's welfare above everything else."

Lady Tanya was already turning back to her work, clearly done with the whole situation. "See that you do, Kraner. Now get out."

As he left the room, Kraner finally allowed himself a real smile. The trap had worked even better than he'd hoped. Jessica was finished, and he'd secured an even stronger position within House Ruxnard. But he wasn't done yet. Only a plain old human would be done with it, but even though he was in human flesh, his inner heart and desires were all too close to being an actual psychotic demon.

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Back in the quiet of the nursery, Kraner stood over the sleeping twins, watching their peaceful faces. Such innocent little things, completely unaware of the games being played around them. He reached down to brush the boy's hair back, feeling the subtle pulse of Ember flowing through the child's veins. The experiments were progressing nicely, but they were just the beginning of something much, much bigger.

His thoughts drifted to Caesar, the ancient emperor whose shadow still stretched across history. Like that legendary figure, Kraner understood that real power wasn't about brute force – it was about knowing which strings to pull, which buttons to push. Pride, fear, ambition – these were his real weapons, and he wielded them like a master. These were the perfect tools wielded by his kind.

But unlike Caesar, Kraner was playing a far more dangerous game. The stakes were higher, the players deadlier, and one wrong move could bring everything crashing down. But that's what made it exciting, making him feel his blood boil all the same. The constant danger kept his mind sharp, his instincts keen, his hunger for more burning bright and hot, just like the old days. This feeling, this sensation was indeed what he missed from his old days.

For now, though, he'd savor this victory. Jessica's fall from grace proved just how far he'd come – how even the mighty could be brought low by their own weaknesses. But this was just the beginning. House Ruxnard was nothing more than a testing ground.

His eyes flickered to the security camera mounted in the corner, its red light blinking steadily in the darkness. Let them watch, he thought with a smile. Let them see what's coming. Let them witness the rise of something new – not built on ancient bloodlines or fancy titles, but on pure cunning intelligence and iron will.

Taking one last look at the sleeping twins, Kraner carefully took both of them in his hands. The final showdown was coming, and he needed some form of audience to witness it.

"You two will have a front-row ticket for the end of this drama."