Kapitel 19: Solis Engages in Some Face-Slapping

Lars looked pitifully at Solis, as if beseeching him to seek justice on his behalf.

Solis didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, he put an arm around Noir's waist and pulled him close.

"That was some beautiful swordplay," he said. "But next time, pay more attention to yourself instead of me, all right? I don't want you getting hurt."

Noir laughed and shook his head. "How can I take my eyes off you when there are birds and bees hovering all around you?" he murmured, seemingly softly but everyone around heard it anyway.

Solis chuckled and kissed Noir on the brow. "All right, then, I won't leave your side tonight," he promised.

"Good," Noir said, grinning a cat that had just finished off a whole bowl of cream.

Teacher Artemis laughed heartily. "Good, good," she said. "Maybe I'll take up your offer and visit you, after all."

Solis and Noir smiled at her.

"We'll pick you up tomorrow," Solis told her.

"Stop with your nonsense!" Luna yelled. "Lars is hurt! Get a doctor!"

Solis frowned at her. "Noir simply tossed a coin at him; it's not like he broke his hand or anything. If he's actually that fragile, you may as well take him home and keep him there," he said.

"And the boys specifically said earlier that they didn't want anyone touching either of them," Teacher Artemis added with a dramatic roll of her eyes.

Noir decided he really liked this jolly old woman who didn't hesitate to call a spade a spade!

Luna was almost purple with rage by now. She grabbed Lars and marched out of the banquet hall, ignoring Auntie Ela's calls to wait.

Auntie Ela looked up at Solis with tears in her eyes. "Solis…" she cried. "Couldn't you be a bit gentle…?"

"I've been gentle enough, and it made me lose my legs," Solis said flatly. "Now that I have another chance, thanks to Noir, I'd rather not repeat my mistakes again."

With that, he took Noir's hand and walked resolutely to the stage set up at the front of the banquet hall. He took the mic offered by the hotel staff and tapped on it.

Everyone in the room fell silent and moved closer to the stage.

"Thank you all for joining us today," Solis said. "And welcome to my engagement banquet."

Polite applause broke out in the room, quite a contrast to the enthusiastic crowd outside.

"A lot of you would be surprised to see me walking again – I certainly never expected that I'd be able to get back on my feet. However, the heavens favoured me, and sent this wonderful, beautiful man to me at the moment of my darkest despair…" Solis raised Noir's hand to his lips again. "And he has single-handedly brought me out of the abyss that would have otherwise swallowed me."

He paused for a moment and Noir patted his arm comfortingly.

"But it isn't just because Noir is my saviour that we got together," he continued. "But because this man is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. And he has given me the honour and privilege of agreeing to be my fiancé." Solis's grey eyes burned passionately as he looked at Noir.

Noir's eyes turned misty. Before he realised what he was doing, he leaned forward and kissed Solis on the lips.

"The honour is mine," he said, caressing Solis's cheek with gentle fingers.

Solis's eyes darkened.

"Oi! Stop flirting in public!" Martis shouted from the crowd.

Solis turned back to the audience. "No need to be jealous, little brother," he said mildly. "I'm sure you'll find yourself a suitable partner when you are a bit…stable."

Several people sniggered, including Boss Gaia.

Martis glared furiously at Solis and Noir. Then he took off his shoe and flung it towards the stage.

Noir's eyes glowed angrily as he tossed out another coin, which hit the shoe flying towards them and the shoe dropped on the floor in front of the stage.

Noir scrunched up his nose in distaste.

Solis sighed. "Martis…I see that you haven't improved on your hygiene in these years," he said sadly, as if pitying his younger brother.

The shoe really was rather smelly. Several people near the stage backed away. Delta instructed a hotel staff to have it thrown away.

Martis couldn't stand it anymore. He stormed out of the hall.

Auntie Ela grabbed Jovis's sleeve and spoke up. "Solis, we are simply here to celebrate a happy occasion and congratulate you. Why must you humiliate your siblings so?" she asked tearfully.

"I was unaware of any family tradition that requires flinging a malodorous shoe at a newly engaged couple at their engagement banquet," Solis said. "It is certainly not from my father or my mother's side of the family – if it's from yours, please do enlighten me, so that I can prepare adequately putrid shoes in advance for the engagement ceremonies of Martis and Jovis. At a moment's notice, I'm afraid neither Noir's nor my shoes will suffice."

Many people burst out laughing at that.

Auntie Ela flushed with anger, but Jovis remained calm and impassive.

"Big Brother, won't you reveal Noir's identity now that you're engaged?" Jovis asked.

Solis smiled. "Noir is my fiancé," he said. "That's all anyone needs to know."

"But his background can't be simple!" Auntie Ela cried. "There is no information available on him at all! What if he's approached you with nefarious intentions? What if his love and care for you are all a farce?"

Solis raised an eyebrow. "Nefarious indeed," he said with a smirk. "Since his nefarious intentions made him cure my legs and his care saved me from certain death…I would be very grateful if Noir stayed by my side for the rest of my life as applied as many of his nefarious intentions as he wishes!"

Auntie Ela was effectively shut up with that.

"As for Noir's identity…" Solis paused for effect. "That's classified information no one in this room has the clearance for. That's all you need to know. Whoever wants to search – be my guest."