Chapter 15: Games Begin

"Serafall." The Lady Sitri's face was gentle, but her words were cold, "My dear daughter. What, in the name of all that is unholy, were you thinking?"

"Ehe!" Serafall thunked her fist on the top of her head, "Sera-tan has no idea what you mean!"

"Drop the act. I'm in no mood." The matriarch heaved a heavy sigh, "Honestly, I should have known something was going on, but Ash and I have been so busy lately we haven't had time to wonder."

She continued, "He would be here as well, but he needed to go speak with Zeo to assure him that this was not our plan."

Serafall winced at the stress put on the 'our'. Silence reigned in the room, her mother merely waiting, staring at the Satan with an unimpressed look on her face.

The guilt being wielded by her mother was almost visible, hanging over the room like an oppressive shadow. Still, Serafall did not become a Satan by having weak will! She would endure, she was one of the leaders of their race! She would stay strong and wiggle out of this somehow!

Her mother, seemingly reading her mind, narrowed her eyes and Serafall broke immediately.

"I didn't want him to marry So-tan!" She rushed out, "That has happened before in situations like this. So I thought if I could get him to agree to the status quo and then raise him up under the New Satans it would solve our issue with the Court as well..."

Her voice trailed off as her mother had dropped her head into her hands, seemingly in despair.

The matriarch's voice was muffled, but her words were still audible, "You've really done it this time, Serafall."

She sighed, bringing her hands back down and fixing her daughter with a stern look, "I'll accept some responsibility for this mess. I knew you were a Devil of Envy, but I didn't expect you to over-react this badly."

Serafall shrunk in on herself. The theory that Devils were heavily influenced by one of the major Sins and formed a lot of their personality in response was similar to Astrology and Horoscopes, though was heavily believed by a large portion of the older generation. The newer Devils, mostly Serafall's and younger, were not as convinced, but in the face of her actions she didn't really have any ground to argue against the accusation.

Her mother continued, "We had yet to inform you, but Sona asked us to allow her to set a challenge for any potential suitors. She will only marry someone who can beat her in chess."

Serafall was relieved to hear that, her genius sister was a prodigy when it came to that game, so Sona was safe from any marriage proposals in the near future. Her mother continued, regardless of her daughters lifted mood.

"You youngsters don't put much stock in our bloodlines, not agreeing with us when we say that there are personality traits that we have all inherited from our progenitors, more than just their powers. But let me explain why the Sagan were Princes of Hell. You have a rivalry with Gabriel, so you should know how important what I'm about to say is."

The Satan was about to interrupt her mother from going off about bloodlines and ancestors again, but stopped at the mention of her angelic rival.

"Remora Sagan died after fighting Gabriel in one on one combat, after the Great War. Gabriel did not come away unscathed from that fight, for decades after, she was not seen in public. Do you want to know why?"

Serafall smirked, "Was she given a nasty scar?"

Juliana Sitri was not amused, her voice deadly serious, "That would have been better for Heaven. She was secluded due to her wings turning grey."

Serafall's mouth fell open, shocked at hearing that. An angel's wings turning grey was a massive deal, indicating that they were on the precipice of falling. To hear that the Hope of Heaven, Gabriel herself, was so close to that was astounding. Why had she not heard about this before?

The older woman wasn't finished, "The Sagan are, to a member, ruthless, vicious and most of all, devious. I don't know how Remora achieved her feat, but it was not through raw power. You of all people should understand that. You are stronger than the Sagan heir, on an almost unreachable pedestal. If he were your enemy, where do you think he would turn that Sagan deviousness?"

Serrafall already knew, of course. She was painfully aware that anyone she antagonized would use her family against her, but what could a low class devil without resources like Damocles do to the Sitri? She was not around during the heyday of the Sagan, so she could not understand her and Sirzechs' parents respect for the almost eradicated clan.

"I know that look Serafall. Listen to me." Her mother's voice was deadly serious, "The Devils need the Sagan bloodline. Even if we have to kidnap him to confine him and risk the bad publicity, our race need as much of the old bloodlines as possible. The Princes of Hell were not named that as a joke, they inherited the greatest of Lucifer's gifts. We are worse off without them."

"You've said that before. What is it about them that's so great? We've asked and looked in the records, but we never get a clear answer." Serafall was not pouting.

"I've told you this many times, I don't know why you don't accept the answer. Lucifer was a Child of God, do you not think his first children inherited that birthright?" Both of them shifted in discomfort at the deities mention, but pressed on.

"Yes, I know that. But what does that mean?"

"It's different for every Prince. But for an actual example, one should easily come to mind. After all, did you think your friend became so terrifying because of his Gremory blood?" Serafall felt a chill go down her spine.

Her mother continued, "No Serafall. The Power of Destruction is a Bael trait, isn't it?"

"My Lords and Ladies," I looked out over the assembled nobility in the great hall of the Sagan Manor, "Since I was put in stasis, great change has come to Devilkind."

I had just been introduced by Serafall and now had to make a speech to the high society of the Underworld. The Reveal was in full swing, with catering handed out by staff provided by the Satans, supervised by my Head Maid, Naomi. Many Devils were holding glasses of liquor from my stores, others were sampling the food, but all of them were at least appearing to listen politely to my words.

Ordinarily, this would be a fairly routine thing, basically expounding on how I was grateful to be able to take part in the public life of devil kind, a short explanation on what my goals were, that sort of thing. However, as the Head of my Household, my words carried a lot more weight then they would have had I been merely the heir.

Of course, I was only a Baron for now, but my name still carried weight. History. Influence.

"Like all change. It has been both positive and negative. Like all change, it has brought with it a boundless era of opportunity." The hall was respectfully silent, my words being noted down and picked apart, everyone trying to see where I would fit in to their little schemes.

"I was informed that this speech should reflect my plans for the House of Sagan moving forwards, as it's head. The first priority, regaining my family's prestige and rightful place in the underworld, should go without saying." Muttering broke out at that.

It was left intentionally vague, allowing people to read into it what they will. At it's most extreme, I could be saying that I was aiming to re-establish the Sagan as one of the ruler's of the Underworld. More likely, however, it would be thought to be displaying a 'healthy' amount of ambition and drive for power. It would reassure other families that attempted to deal with me, as I was basically laying down that I was selfish. I had desires.

'I could be bought'.

Leaving the topic there for now, I continued, "To be honest with you, my Lords and Ladies, I can not say for certain what the future holds for House Sagan. We are in a time of great change, closing ourselves off to opportunities presented to us strikes me as most unwise."

"Instead, allow me to wax philosophically for a moment. We are Devils. Creatures of Sin. We are Greedy. Vindictive. Selfish. Hungry. Others would look down upon us for this, as they have throughout much of history. They could never understand, those vices, those traits that they chastise us for? Those are our strength."

I brought out the white piece from in my pocket, the very deliberately chosen pawn resting on the palm as my hand, displayed for all the gathered nobles to see as I raised it before me, "These are the cause of a great deal of contention among our race. I have investigated their use for myself, to ensure I understood them. I believe that by explaining my position on these 'Evil Pieces', I can show you more on my thinking than any possible plans I could present."

Now, I was the subject of intense focus. This was the hot button issue for the Devils currently, the source of the Underworlds biggest Idealogical schism. Even as a Baron, the vote that I held in court ensured that my opinion on reincarnated devils was vitally important to know.

"These are amazing inventions. They allow us to indulge freely in our greed, stealing the potential of other races and adding to our own. Such an ability, to take the best and brightest of the realm and turn them to our side new and improved as Devils themselves, is a potent weapon indeed."

There were some murmurs, the weaponization of the Evil pieces not a subject that was generally touched upon, but I continued, "Like all weapons, however, they come with some drawbacks if used recklessly. This is an item to use with discretion, on applicants who are carefully selected. The gifted power and potential is significant, but if given to those who would squander it, squandered it shall be."

"They should be used carefully, on those with extraordinary potential. I know many of you disapprove of my adoption of a Reincarnated Devil into the Sagan family. However, I have full confidence that in time, she will prove more than worthy of the honour."

Shiro shuffled beside me, wanting to shrink from everyone's gaze moving to her, but she resisted the impulse and kept her head high and proud. Many likely doubted my reasoning behind adopting her, though most probably thought it was a kink and I was just hiding it.

"Those of us from a noble lineage have earned our place. Either from our own actions, or those of our ancestors. The new blood we are bringing in have no such heritage, except for those that they gain from those of us that have raised them to our peerages. They must be given the opportunity to gain their own prestige, to take their place amongst our numbers, if they can. They choice of shape for the Evil pieces was very inspired."

I raised my arm out in-front of me, the White pawn placed in the centre, "Will these Pawns manage to reach the other side of the board and earn their promotion? I will watch with great interest. 'The Game of Kings' it was called in my time. I have studied how it has changed, and believe that I have a firm grasp of the game is played by now."

Kasane moved forward, placing down a table with a perfectly set up chess set atop it, with a lavish chair in front.

"If you want to know how I think, what I do to plan for the future, My lords and Ladies, why not test it for yourselves?" I smiled, teasingly, "I'll even make it easier."

With that, I indicated for CC to place my own chair down, facing away from the board. I then bowed to the audience, "Thank you all for indulging me."

There was a smattering of polite applause, many Devil's Pride feeling attacked that I was not even going to look at the board. That's good for me though, as it means that there will be no shortage of challengers. The older and more savvy amongst them had thoughtful looks in their eyes, obviously turning over my speech for hidden meanings.

Of course, many of them probably realised the trick I had pulled in not tying myself to any faction, while remaining non-hostile. I was basically advertising that my loyalty was still up for grabs, something that would probably rankle the New Satans. The rest of the fluff was normal Politician speech writing, a lot of words to ultimately say nothing.

I sat down at the board, smiling to myself as I pulled Shiro in to my lap, wrapping my arms around her and hugging her tightly. This would likely start a few rumours, but I didn't care all too much.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, a gentle look on my face. She stared up at me with a resolved look in her eyes and nodded her head. I rubbed Shiro's head, smiling as she closed her eyes and leaned into my hand, feeling the anticipation of the con we were about to pull.

I didn't have to wait long, as CC had finished explaining the rules and had already lined up the first challenger.

"State your name for the challenge."

"Hmph, Belephagor Shax. Let's see if your actions are from confidence or arrogance." After the rumbles of his voice died down, I heard the clack of a piece being moved.

"E4." Came CC's disinterested voice, from her place just behind my shoulder.

Not a glamorous job for my Queen, but if my suspicions are correct, her entertainment will soon be delivered.

Shiro, her eyes still closed and head rubbing against my hand, tapped a code out on my leg. Not that I needed it this early on in a game, but still.

"E5".

Let the games begin.

I could feel the smug radiating from the adorable creature sitting on me as I said, "Knight to B7, Checkmate."

"Hmph." The low-rank noble who I just defeated was obviously trying to not be angry at his loss, "So it is."

That attempt to keep his cool probably was not helped by my Queen, "Thank you. Please may the next contestant take a seat?"

How someone can have a completely level voice and yet still channel that amount of smug condescension I have no idea.

I shook my head, vaguely amused at my peerage members. For as much as they didn't get along, they were very similar when it came to things like this. I listened to the shuffling behind me and the murmurs of the rest of the hall, noticing that there was a sudden up-tick of hushed whispers. I felt some anticipation building, was this who the trap had been baited for?

"State your name for the challenge." CC's voice still had some residual amusement.

Amusement I suddenly stopped feeling as I heard the smile in the challenger's reply, "Zekram Bael."