Meeting the Family

As expected, Solis's stepmother was waiting for him at the farm. Even more surprisingly, both his half-brothers – Martis and Jovis – had turned up, too, and even his half-sister Luna and her husband Lars were present. The couple looked like they had come straight from the airport…they certainly smelled like it, Solis thought, wrinkling his nose as everyone crowded around his car, trying to maintain the optimal distance, not too close and yet not too far.

The family members all stepped back when the car stopped…perhaps because Solis was glaring at them. Everyone knew Solis didn't like being near people, not even family members.

Noir helped Solis out of the car and into his wheelchair with great care, and wheeled him towards the reception party waiting for them. They were all shocked to note that Solis didn't have the usual look of disgust when Noir touched him…he hadn't even made Noir wear gloves unlike the servants who used to serve him earlier.

Solis felt annoyed by the openly curious eyes of his family members. "Why is everyone here?" he demanded harshly, even though he had expected it. Just because he had expected to see them didn't mean that he actually wanted to see them…quite the contrary.

"Still as rude as ever, I see," one of the men scoffed. He was rough-looking – tall, muscular and sporting an unkempt beard. He bore little similarity to Solis except the sharp grey eyes. "Can't you greet your family like a proper human for once in your life? Even if you're a miserable cripple now, you still expect to get away with whatever you want?"

Before Solis could open his mouth, Noir spoke up. "I shall thank you to keep a civil tongue in your mouth when addressing my boyfriend, sir," he said courteously. "Also, I do not believe you have any locus standi to criticise Solis, since you yourself have failed to maintain the basic courtesy required on your part as a younger sibling."

At the end of the day, Noir was a royal prince, and his chiding was full of grace, elegance and dignity, which left everyone else speechless. Alpha and Delta, who stood silently behind Solis and Noir, cheered and applauded Noir in their minds.

Martis, who had been scolded, gaped at Noir in shock for a long moment. Then, inexplicably, he burst out laughing.

"Heavens! You're such a little darling!" he exclaimed when he finally stopped laughing. "Where the hell did this grumpy monster pick you up from?" He leaned forward with a lascivious grin. "Why don't you come with me, you adorable creature? I promise you that I'm much more agreeable and adept at romance than Mr. Cold Fish Solis!"

A middle-aged woman stepped forward and grabbed the leering man. "Martis! Behave yourself!" she scolded.

While Noir was quite shocked and appalled with the awful behaviour of this half-brother of Solis, he wasn't one to back down. Now he knew exactly why Solis had told him earlier not to bother being polite to these people.

"Martis, is it?" Noir said coldly. "You must be the *real* gangster half-brother. I cannot imagine anyone else being so uncouth." He raked his gaze all over the rough man, his gaze speculative as well as disdainful, as if examining an expired product at the supermarket – and even someone as shameless as Martis fumbled under that scrutinising gaze. "I have to confess, the idea of you finding me attractive is rather repulsive," he told Martis. Noir turned his eyes to Solis, who had a small smirk on his face, and his eyes softened into pools of molten chocolate. "Not to mention I am fortunate enough to love and be loved by a man none could rival."

Solis didn't know if Noir was seeing him or seeing that Master of his through him. Everyone else, however, caught the blatant affection on Noir's face. Alpha and Delta gave Young Master Noir a mental thumbs up, and Solis's family members looked as if they had just seen a pink elephant flying by, accompanied by a flying blue pig.

Noir looked up at the group of people who were hurriedly trying to pick up their jaws from the floor.

"Hello, ma'am, I am called Noir, and I have the privilege of dating Solis," he greeted Solis's stepmother politely with a princely gesture. "It is an honour to meet the lady who raised my Solis into such a great man. Please also let me take this chance to extend our appreciation for your excellent farm products, and our gratitude for your generosity in sharing them with us."

Solis's stepmother flushed and looked at Noir shyly. "You can call me Auntie Ela, Noir," she said breathlessly. "I hope our Solis is treating you well."

Noir laced his fingers with Solis's. "Solis…is my raison d'etre in this world," he said softly. He looked up and smiled at the stepmother. Bowing his head slightly, he said, "I apologise that I haven't had a chance to prepare a gift for our first meeting. We just wished to see the farm and weren't expecting to meet any of you today." He affected a look of mild embarrassment as he said. "If you do not mind, I shall have a little something sent over later."

"No need to trouble yourself," Auntie Ela said hurriedly.

"No need to refuse a gift, Mom," Solis's half-sister spoke up in a condescending manner. "Heaven knows that this man owes you a lifetime of gifts!" She glared at Solis.

"My apologies, it seems that we are rather unwelcome here," Noir said mildly. "My etiquette does not permit me to be discourteous to a woman, so it is best that we take our leave." He bowed slightly. "I'm afraid I cannot truly say that it has been a pleasure meeting you."

Then, without looking back, he turned Solis's wheelchair around and headed to the car.

Noir could be very fast when he wanted to be and make the action seem perfectly normal. So, before the stunned family members of Solis had the time to react, Noir had already bundled Solis into the car. Alpha and Delta, who had the lightning fast reflexes of trained fighters, immediately understood what was required, and the four of them had already driven away by the time Solis's stepmother called for them to stop!