Working From Home

For the next three months, Solis and Noir stayed at home. Noir marvelled at the technology that allowed Solis to make video calls to his subordinates all over the world, and perfectly manage all his work remotely.

During this period, they met no one expect the people at the estate, and although various others – including the members of Solis's family – came to visit them many times. However, the security chief took his work very seriously and sent everyone away, and anyone who threatened or tried to cause a ruckus would be tied up, bundled into a cab and sent off.

Even the farm products sent by Solis's stepmother was returned from the main gate. Noir had kept his word and sent her a nice set of jewellery months ago, but after that, both Solis and Noir had refused all contact.

"Your stepmother is probably panicking now," Noir remarked, watching the CCTV footage from the main gate, where the security guards were sending away the fifth farm delivery from Auntie Ela this week. She had sent one right after receiving the jewellery, but that had been refused. She remained silent for a few weeks after that, and then sent another. Faced with constant refusals, the baskets started appearing more frequently as they got closer to the two-month deadline for the neurotoxin, and after the deadline had passed, the woman had clearly become desperate. Farm baskets, Solis's favourite mushroom dishes…an endless litany of these started turning up every morning – sometimes even twice a day. She was clearly desperate to get the neurotoxin to Solis in any way possible!

However, every single package was refused. Every single phone call or email was ignored. Solis had cut off all personal contact from his family. Except the very generous allowance that went into his stepmother and each of his half-siblings' bank account on the first of every month, he pretended they didn't exist.

"I should have done this much earlier," Solis said, smiling at Noir. "My life hasn't been so peaceful in years."

Noir couldn't help but smile back, He held out his hand and Solis took it, Then he stood up gingerly and walked around slowly, holding on to Noir's hand. It had been almost a month since Solis was first able to stand, and now, at the end of three months, he was able to walk, too.

Solis and his subordinates were wild with joy at this development, but Noir was not. He was still missing two of the ingredients he needed to fully heal Solis, but no matter how he searched, those two things didn't appear to exist in this world! So Noir had now turned his attention to finding acceptable substitutes for those two, but hadn't had any luck yet.

And in the absence of those, Noir could only take the slow healing method…which meant that it would be years before Solis returned to his former peak of health.

Although Noir was disappointed with himself, he was quite impressed with Solis's resilience. With the neurotoxin completely gone from his system, Solis's nerves recovered rapidly, even without the panacea Noir wanted to make for him, which made Noir suspect that Solis had demi-god blood after all.

On the other hand, Solis was immensely satisfied with the results. Even if he couldn't run like the wind again, the fact that he could stand up on his own two feet and walk…it was like a dream. His eyes softened as he looked at Noir fussing by his side. Finding this precious man…was it a dream, or was it blessing from the heavens to compensate for his sufferings all these years…?

The more Solis got to know Noir, the more he yearned for his affection. Although inexperienced in matters of the heart, Solis wasn't an idiot. He had figured out weeks ago that the was attracted to Noir…but while he was sure that Noir cared for him, he also knew that the one Noir truly loved was his long-lost master.

Solis was determined not to give up, though. Noir was in his world now, and this Master was out of the picture. Solis would win over Noir's heart slowly and steadily…he was a very patient man.

Noir turned to ask Solis something and found the other man in a daze. With a mischievous smile, Noir pinched Solis's cheeks playfully.

"What are you dreaming about with such an expression on your face?" he teased.

Solis's grey eyes were suffused with warmth. "What expression?" he asked curiously.

"I'm not sure," Noir murmured. "Soft? Fond? Pleased? As if you were thinking of something very dear to you and it made you happy."

Solis smiled. "Someone, not something," he corrected mildly.

Noir blinked. "Are you in love?" he asked.

"It seems likely," Solis replied honestly.

Noir frowned. "Are you sure?" he asked. Thanks to Butler Hans's interference, Noir's knowledge of love and relationships had been adequately corrected by now, and he had been appalled at the strange things Solis had filled his head with. Initially, he'd been angry, thinking Solis was deliberately messing with him, but then, to his consternation, he realised that Solis himself had absolutely no idea what a healthy relationship was supposed to be like! All of Noir's anger had melted into pity, and he'd undertaken a hidden mission of enlightening Solis about the matters of the heart.

Butler Hans thought it was incredibly funny, but he was too courteous to say anything. He simply stood aside and watched the two of them blunder along, knowing that sooner or later, they would find their own path to happiness.

Four months later, Solis was able to walk normally, and even run a little. He wanted to do more, but Noir strictly prohibited him from straining his legs unnecessarily.

Solis decided it was time for him to make a public appearance. A lot of people were getting desperate to see him, after all, and he could hardly wait to see their disappointed faces when he walked into the room on his own two feet.