Chapter 6
Four (Part 1)
"Is Gashu omniscient? I don't think so." The man pulled his robe down, revealing purple hair and a crimson gem earring. "Who knew the favoured one could tame the dragon."
"Four," Nameless said, her voice flat.
The being named Four inclined his head slightly. "An honor you know my name." His tone, though polite, lacked warmth.
Unlike Georgies, who groveled at her feet, Four was distant—indifferent, like her other half-siblings.
The children with numbered names were different.
Children of Gashu, they were chosen at birth for their potential, and Nameless had learned to recognize them. They bore three markers: they addressed the Demon King as "Gashu," carried his eye color or hair, and wore a crimson gem. Only those with numbered names dared call the Demon King "Gashu," for they were feared by most—and feared nothing in return.
Sometimes the act of calling the Demon King as Gashu turned into a test itself if the child had latent potential or have become monstrous.
And children who developed into beings who no longer fear their father became the most dangerous enemy to encounter.
Of the 17 numbered children, only three had clawed their way from the bottom ranks to earn a number.
Yet, despite their potential, Nameless alone stood out to Gashu, for she had inherited both his hair and his eyes.
Still, even with this advantage, Nameless took nothing for granted.
She kept her expression neutral, but Royce could sense the tension in her stance, seeing her trembling digits hidden behind. He tried to match her calm face, but panic prickled beneath his composed mask.
It was good that acting like a puppet became muscle memory at this point due to years and years of being in a trance. However even though he knew nothing before, it wasn't the case with the Demon King's hierarchy.
Four, of all people, was here—a true danger, and a child elevated above dozens of others to become the fourth ranked of Gashu's blood.
He was the second child who was promoted to his position.
Out of a hundred born children with the Demon King's blood, he managed to be the fourth child to be acknowledged. Surpassing those who were way older than him.
'We're in danger!' Royce panicked.
Though he couldn't see the other leaders' expressions, he knew that they understood the situation well compared to the others.
The hand holding the knapsack began to sweat.
However maybe it was a blessing in disguise?
Because of the pressure of having two honourable children of the Demon King, Georgies made the first move as a mediator of some sort.
"Kuhum!" He faked a cough to garner attention but Nameless and Four did not bother eyeing him, "Excuse me… Kuhum! To commemorate your meeting, how about we take the time to feast?"
They still weren't interested.
Georgies felt dizzy due to pressure. But at least he knew the weakness of one being.
"How about you play chess with your sister, young master?"
At the mention of his favourite pastime, Four looked away from Nameless and nodded with a brighter complexion, "Good thinking, Georgies."
Four walked closer and invited Nameless for a game of chess however his eyes strayed away from her.
Something caught his eye but his expression remained passive.
In his eyes was a weak elven child with brown hair and blue eyes. She was thin, her eyes were downcast and like the other children she was in a daze.
He couldn't help but feel a natural disgust.
Other than the elf, there was a familiar face but Four's train of thought derailed when the quiet Nameless finally spoke.
"What's chess?"
Hearing her ask about his favourite game, he naturally smiled. "It's a board game. You don't know what it is? Father plays it with the human prince sometimes."
Nameless frowned visibly.
Hearing someone call the Demon King as Father was unsettling.
'This child is the craziest of 'em all.' Nameless thought.
But she was momentarily satisfied when Four focused back to her.
Earlier she realized that he was staring at Ayu who was disguised as a normal slave. Her purple hair was turned to brown with magic.
"Kuhum! I will explain it! Ah, how about we eat first since my niece came a long way… Prepare a late dinner for the guests!" Georgies wanted to lessen the tension.
"For the children too. They won't have energy to work." Nameless added.
"Right, prepare rations for the puppets!" Georgies yelled.
The castle by the shore became lively in a gloomy way.
As the dinner was prepared, Georgies slowed his pace when they headed to the dining room. His eyes were on the knapsacks carried by the puppets.
Once he got close to Loyd, Georgies grabbed the knapsack and readied himself to slither on its amazing content. But before he could pull the tie Nameless appeared in front of him and held his hand back
"Uncle, let your greed go unchecked in my presence again, and you won't have a hand left to grasp anything."
"H-hiik! Yes! Yes, of course! I was just… I wanted to order them to put their things in the storage! Right! Hehe!" Georgies made an excuse.
"You thought well, uncle. Opening presents are done for last."
When the children went away including Nameless, Georgies frowned and stomped his feet in annoyance.
"Fucking bitch…!"
He composed himself after retaliating inside his head for a bit and went on his way to the dining room. It was just one dinner after all.
After today he wouldn't worry about her visiting since she never leaves the Demon King's side.
The silence of dinner was thick, the atmosphere tense.
Nameless and Four shared mannerisms, a coldness that contrasted Georgies' uneasy humanity. He inwardly thanked the Goddess he remained sane through the meal, filling the silence by explaining the rules of chess.
When 3 AM arrived, Georgies excused himself, playing the part of a lowly human who needed rest.
With playing chess as mediator, Four was proactive in interacting with Nameless that Georgies presence was indistinguishable. Even when he left on his own, he was not acknowledged.
"Has Father never asked you to play chess?"
Four arranged the pieces for the both of them. His hands show the fluidity of an experienced player.
Nameless tried to remember, "I was in a trance until last year but according to my faint memories there wasn't any. Did Gashu teach you?"
"No," Four said, tone slightly proud. "I noticed the pieces and he challenged me when I was three. I wasn't numbered back then, but I probably stayed by his side more than any other child."
Nameless was already bored.
It was rare for a child of Gashu to seem emotional especially for a numbered child.
"I understand the rules. Let's play."
At Nameless' initiation, the game started.
The dining hall was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the intricately carved chessboard set between them. Nameless sat stiffly, eyeing the pieces with narrowed focus.
Across from her, Four looked at her with a small, indulgent smile as he read Nameless' every patterned movement.
"This is a game of strategy, foresight even," he explained as if to a child. His fingers lingering briefly over his queen piece, "Though you heard that the queen is valuable, it isn't omnipotent. So you start off with pawns."
Four made his next move, sliding a pawn forward.
His face was impassive, yet there was a subtle glint of amusement in his eyes, watching Nameless' brow furrow as she contemplated her response.
She mimicked him and moved a pawn forward.
"You shouldn't simply copy my moves," he remarked while suppressing a smirk. "This is a game where every piece has a purpose. Each move should have an intent."
She hesitated, her eyes shifted from pieces to pieces, trying to understand his strategy.
The game continued for half an hour.
Sometimes Nameless knocked over pieces while she made her move. With every turn, Nameless found herself trailing further, her pieces disappearing from the board as Four dismantled her attempts to attack.
Though she didn't let her frustration show, the experienced player was aware of it. He could almost laugh.
"Since Father is interested in you I thought his retainers would also be. Seeing that you don't know chess at all, his important retainer, the human prince doesn't seem to think much of you. I thought you won him over, seeing as he let you take one of his aides."
Nameless calmed herself at the initiation of short talk, she knew what she was talking about bu didn't comment on it. "We're naturally not fond of each other."
"How can that be? You are his dear niece, no?"
Nameless rolled her eyes.
Blood relations can freeze to death for all she cares.
She knows he's just trying to get a reaction to make her feel worse and for him to feel superior. "You aren't close with One either. Don't put me on a pedestal for petty blood relations."
At the mention of One, the highest ranked child of Gashu aside Nameless, Four's expressionless expression broke.
One was his true brother. Same mother and father, and yet the two were treated distinctly.
Frowning a bit, Four made an unconscious winning move in retaliation.
"Checkmate…"
"You got emotional." Nameless smiled, pleased with her insight despite losing. "I should've known mentioning your brother would strike a nerve."
Four scowled. In contrast Nameless seemed calmer now that she knows which buttons to press.
The more she pressed him, the more unnerved he got. The longer the game, the more she acted like Gashu—a chilling realization.
In a game of chess against Pearce and Gashu, the human prince won most games.
However every time he won the more miserable Pearce seemed to be.
It was the same for Four right now.
For Four and Pearce, it was a game to devour the chess pieces.
But for Nameless and Gashu, it was to read and devour the opponent themselves.