**Chapter 1: The Morning Routine**

The small, cramped room that served as my bedroom seemed to shrink even further as I tossed off the thin blanket and swung my legs over the side of the narrow bed. The dim light of dawn crept through the small window, casting a pale glow over the sparse furnishings. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and quickly got dressed in the simple, but clean, clothes that hung on the hooks on the wall. My stomach growled, reminding me that it was time to start breakfast. As I moved efficiently through the small kitchen, the sounds of sizzling bacon and toast filled the air. I had done this routine countless times before, and I knew exactly how long it took to get everything ready. I set the table with a quiet precision, making sure each plate and glass was in its proper place. Just as I finished, the first of the family members began to trickle into the dining room. The twins, Alexander and Alexandria, tumbled in, their identical faces bleary-eyed and yawny. They were always a handful, but they were good kids at heart. They plopped down into their seats, and I poured them each a glass of juice. Next came Penelope, the youngest of the family, a tiny thing with a mop of curly brown hair and a perpetual smile. She climbed into her seat and looked up at me with big, shining eyes. "Good morning, brother," she said, using the term of endearment that she had learned from her parents. The door swung open again, and Don Caesar Julii strode in, his tailored suit immaculate, his dark hair slicked back. He was a tall, imposing figure, with a commanding presence that made everyone in the room take notice. He smiled, his eyes scanning the table, and nodded at me. "Good morning, servant," he said, using the term that he had deemed fitting for my role in the household. Finally, the last person entered the room. My mother, Alissia Julii, sauntered in, her brilliant red hair pulled back into a short ponytail. She wore a black babydoll nightgown and a lace thong, an outfit that was...unusual, to say the least. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as she made her way to her seat. I felt a pang of sadness as I looked at my mother. I remembered the woman she used to be, the one who had cared for me, who had loved me. But that was a long time ago, before Caesar had come into our lives and changed everything. As I poured my mother a cup of coffee, she smiled at me, a cold, distant smile. I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that she didn't even recognize me, her own son. The family began to talk and laugh, and I took my place at the end of the table, a silent servant, invisible and unnoticed. But as I looked around the table, I couldn't help but wonder what the day would bring. Would it be a day like any other, or would something stir, something that would change the course of our lives forever?