Around 3000 years ago...
They're talking about him. Again.
Zeldris's gaze catches on a pair of servants hunched facing each other. It isn't like he can actually hear what they're saying, but from their hushed murmuring, it's pretty obvious.
Maybe he should meet up with Gelda less, especially since the rumors seem to be spreading so quickly. But annoyingly enough, he doesn't even know how the rumors started. He always thought he made sure that nobody was following him while he went to meet her.
The second son of the Demon King having a love affair with someone from the vampire clan definitely won't sit right for a lot of demons, especially his father. He can practically feel the disbelief and disapproval of his peers.
But of course, nobody actually dared to directly ask Zeldris anything about it. Meliodas either doesn't know about the rumors or doesn't care. His brother is always too busy with the war to care about anything else, really. And as for the Demon King, nobody knows what he's doing these days. Whether who knows or not, Zeldris is just glad that nobody's bothered him about the rumors so far.
He watches the servants as they cast furtive glances at him, and one of them stiffens when she makes eye contact with Zeldris. He hardens his glare and the servants scurry away. He'll stay unbothered if he can help it.
Zeldris makes his way to the courtyard. He finally found some free time, so he was planning to go to the dragon hunting grounds to distract himself from the annoyance of the rumors.
"Young Master Zeldris?"
The silky voice of Cusack makes him pause.
Zeldris turns around. "What is it, Cusack?" He frowns. "I thought I finished my training for today."
"Yes, of course, Young Master." Cusack nods a bit restlessly. "It's not that. It's simply... I have recently heard certain... rumors concerning you."
Zeldris holds back an irritated groan. Of course. "What rumors?" He tries his best to keep his tone level and detached, despite his turmoil.
"About... a lover." Cusack's voice lowers to a whisper, as if the last two words were incantations to a forbidden spell. "That you were meeting someone in secret, without the knowledge of your father."
Zeldris tilts his head, keeping his face disinterested. "Is that all?"
Cusack hesitates. "Some rumors even claim that your significant other is a member of the vampire clan." He takes a deep breath. "Are these rumors true, Young Master?"
"Of course not. I never thought you'd actually fall for such pathetic gossip." The words come to Zeldris's mind quickly—words from a collection of responses that he anxiously prepared if he ever got questioned. But something makes his mind freeze, makes him really feel the weight that he's carried for so long.
"What if they are true?" Zeldris doesn't know why he says this. Maybe some part of him is exhausted from constantly being under the pressure of keeping his relationship a secret. Maybe he wants to lessen the burden a bit.
And besides, of all demons, Cusack is probably be the best one to spill a secret to. It's clear that his faithfulness to Zeldris far surpasses anything else—even loyalty to the Demon King.
But as Cusack's mouth drops wide open and he only stares at Zeldris with wide eyes, blinking blankly, Zeldris can feel regret beginning to fester inside of him. Maybe that wasn't a good idea after all. After several excruciating seconds, Cusack finally recovers from the shock, shaking his head and his gaze refocusing. Zeldris braces himself for his mentor's reaction—disappointment, disbelief, or outrage. Possibly all three of them combined.
But then a wide grin spreads across Cusack's face. "I can't believe this!" His usual cool rasp of a voice is now high and ringing with what sounds like joy. "This is incredible!"
Cusack looks like he's about to pick him up and spin him around. Zeldris shudders. Time to erase that image from his mind."...What is incredible?" he manages to mutter.
"That you gained a lover before even Meliodas!" Cusack cries. "As expect of Young Master Zeldris!"
"She... She's from the Vampire Clan, you know." Zeldris is no stranger to how the Demon Clan discriminates against weaker races like the vampires. But right now, he's desperate to tone down Cusack's delight by any means possible. His mentor's pitch-black demonic eyes are literally gleaming with excitement, and his happiness somehow breaking the laws of demon biology is scary.
But Cusack doesn't seem the least bit fazed by what Zeldris says. "That is no concern! Young Master, your own unrivalled power is more than enough to make up for any strength lacking on your partner's behalf."
"I-I suppose so." Zeldris can't help but stagger at Cusack's optimism. Within the ranks of the Demon Clan, battle prowess is the highest-valued quality—and especially now, since they're currently on the verge of war with the Goddesses. Cusack not caring whatsoever about the battle capabilities of Zeldris's lover came as a bit more than a surprise.
But honestly, he doesn't know what the hell's going through Cusack's mind at the moment.
"And that's not all!" Cusack's eyes are still shining as passion animates his expressions. "I have to admit that the maidens of the vampire clan are not known for their stunning beauty for nothing." Cusack nods with a satisfied smile. "Young Master, I have no doubt that your lover has the beauty to match your own natural charm and handsomeness."
Zeldris thought the rumors would be troublesome, but not like this. No matter how much disapproval or disappointment he would've faced if the truth got out, he's absolutely certain that nothing could be more agonizing than listening to Cusack right now. Maybe Zeldris should just leave the Demon World and never return.
"So, Young Master, how did you meet her?" Cusack says. "How did you two fall in love?"
"I—" Zeldris wants to hide in a hole. He really does not like the way this conversation is going. "While we were establishing an alliance with the vampires—"
"So it was then! We've only ever had direct contact with them a few times, and that was purely on professional terms." Cusack's grin widens. "The fact that you've captured a maiden's heart after such a short time is only further proof that your dashing looks and exquisite sense of style are truly unsurpassed."
Okay. Forget simply leaving the Demon Realm. The moment this conversation ends, Zeldris is going to fly up to the Celestial Realm to get executed by the Supreme Deity herself.