To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 105

The reason Isaac wanted to leave for Natalia was because he was fed up with his family.

Aaron had lost all sense of morality from hanging around the mafia, and Scott was so beastly that there was no point in explaining anything about him.

Above all, his mother, Susan, was cold and distant to anyone outside her immediate circle, even though she doted on her child.

Even without digging deeper, it was clear that this naïve young man was tired of his family.

Isaac hoped to escape to Natalia, where the White family’s influence didn’t reach. He longed for people who were the opposite of the Whites. Noah decided to use that.

Thanks to Isaac’s innocence hiding Noah’s true intentions, Isaac followed Noah out to the countryside near the capital without suspicion.

“Is this what you’re doing?”

The warm breeze wrapped around Isaac.

While looking around the outskirts, Noah suddenly announced that he wanted to play a traditional Natalia-style wrestling game. It was unclear whether it was the nice weather or a need to relieve stress that prompted him.

Peter and Noah began grappling inside a circle drawn on the dirt, while Isaac watched from behind.

“Huh, I can’t go on anymore.”

Peter declared his defeat and flopped onto the ground.

“Peter, you can keep going.”

“I can’t. I really can’t.”

As Peter groaned, Noah clicked his tongue and put his hands on his waist. His sweat-soaked white shirt fluttered lightly in the breeze.

Looking around at the guards who had come with them, Noah noticed Isaac watching with interest.

“Isaac Brown, want to give it a try?”

“Sure.”

Unlike Noah, who was a full-grown adult, Isaac was still just a fifteen-year-old boy who hadn’t finished growing. But the difference in size didn’t dampen his competitive spirit.

Isaac took off his shoes and socks like Noah and stepped into the circle.

“You’re not going to tell me you’ve never learned self-defense, are you?”

“Of course I have.”

Though he used the name Brown, Isaac was raised in the White family. There was no way he wouldn’t know how to fight or exercise.

“You saw the rules when I fought Peter, so you know them. Since you’re still young…”

Isaac interrupted Noah.

“Instead of giving me a penalty, offer a reward.”

Noah raised one eyebrow in amusement and nodded with a smile.

“Alright. That sounds fun. What kind of reward do you want?”

“I know you’re an important person in Natalia, but I still don’t know exactly what you do. So, tell me who you really are. Peter, Mr. Grisham, and your guards… none of them ever talk.”

“My identity, huh…”

After a pause, Noah answered.

“Alright. If I end up on the ground like Peter even once, I’ll tell you without hesitation.”

“Deal.”

The match between Noah and Isaac began.

Though Isaac’s body was still slim and not fully developed, he charged at Noah aggressively. Noah dodged Isaac’s hands and defended himself, but Isaac cleverly tried to trip him.

Noah skillfully avoided the attack. Isaac quickly moved in again, grabbing Noah’s arm and back in an attempt to throw him.

However, the difference in their builds worked against Isaac. He ended up the one being thrown and rolled on the ground. He quickly got up and readied himself again.

Isaac’s flushed face burned with the passionate spirit unique to the White family. Noah smiled slightly, impressed.

“I’ve learned all sorts of sports, you know.”

This time, Noah charged. He grabbed Isaac’s arm and threw him to the ground. Isaac coughed from the dust and jumped up again, unable to suppress his desire to win.

“If you’re going to win anyway, then take it seriously.”

Gritting his teeth, Isaac dove at Noah again. Noah twisted his body to dodge, but Isaac was faster.

As if he had predicted Noah’s move, Isaac grabbed his collar. In response, Noah lifted Isaac and slammed him down with great force.

But Isaac quickly curled up and used the momentum to flip Noah over.

Noah rolled lightly on the ground and got up, then let out a small laugh. He loosened his stance and stood up, showing he had no intention of continuing the fight.

“I didn’t lie down like Peter, but I did get covered in dust.”

Isaac looked disappointed that the match ended just as he was getting into it, but Noah ignored him and offered his hand.

“You’ve got better athletic skills than I expected.”

Isaac hesitated a bit, then took Noah’s hand and stood up. Noah wiped the sweat off his neck and face with a towel Peter brought and made a suggestion.

“It’s lunchtime. Let’s go eat.”

Noah found a cheap nearby restaurant and took Isaac there.

“Wow…”

Isaac couldn’t hide his surprise seeing someone as refined as Noah enter such a dusty, shabby place.

To be honest, the rundown restaurant was a shock even to Isaac himself. He had lived his whole life in the best conditions, receiving top-tier service without ever worrying about money.

As if reading Isaac’s mind, Noah offered him a piece of advice.

“You should get used to places like this. That is, if you really want to leave your family and be independent.”

“I see.”

Noah ordered a few dishes like he was used to the place. Isaac took a sip of lukewarm water.

Though Isaac clearly wasn’t used to the environment, he didn’t seem to dislike it. In fact, his eyes sparkled with curiosity and admiration for ordinary life.

“You seem to know a lot about Wifland food.”

“I was born and raised in Wifland. That’s why I know Scarlett well too.”

“Did my aunt… ever ask about me?”

“Hmm. I never told Scarlett you were here. But as you know, there’s Scott White. Cravitz knows everything, doesn’t he?”

“True… My mom probably knows by now. But she still hasn’t come to get me…”

Isaac trailed off and glanced at Noah before finishing his sentence.

“It’s probably thanks to you.”

Just what kind of person was he, that even his mother wouldn’t act rashly?

“Are you a Natalia citizen?”

“Well, something like that.”

Noah shrugged and looked out the window. There, past the shop, a beggar was sitting by the road. Noah frowned and called over a staff member.

“I’ll pay for the food. Please bring some to that person over there.”

He paid more than the food’s cost and asked them to bring more if the beggar still seemed hungry.

Isaac was visibly shaken by Noah’s actions. Such considerate behavior was rarely seen in the White family.

“Mr. Grisham… you’re different from what I imagined.”

That was Isaac’s impression of Noah. Though he had a noble air and seemed cold, his actions were surprisingly down-to-earth. Isaac found him a very attractive adult.

The White family did donate regularly to many groups, but they never really understood people’s hardships like Noah did. For Isaac, it was almost the first time meeting an adult so different from his family.

“Mr. Grisham, you’re like a real adult.”

Noticing Isaac’s intentions, Noah answered kindly.

“You’ll understand if you’ve lived the hard life in Wifland.”

“A hard life? You?”

“Until just a few years ago, before I found out I was a royal of Natalia, I was sold as a slave and worked on a whaling ship, pulling ropes and throwing harpoons.”

Isaac’s mouth fell open in shock. Natalia had only one royal member.

Seeing the boy’s stunned reaction, Noah chuckled and took a sip of water.

“There’s no class by blood in Wifland, but there is class by money. I barely survived at the very bottom of that pyramid.”

“Mr. Grisham—no, Y-Your Majesty… Oh, since you’re Natalia’s emperor, maybe not ‘Your Majesty’…”

As Isaac rambled in confusion, Noah interrupted.

“Just call me Mr. Grisham.”

“Mr. Grisham… you were Natalia’s emperor… and a slave?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

Isaac was so shocked he dropped his spoon. Noah handed him a new one and continued casually.

“I had a lot of enemies, so I became a slave without meaning to. But I think it was a valuable experience. Every life has hardship.”

“Wow…”

Isaac let out a soft gasp. His eyes were full of yearning for a life he had never known and admiration for an adult unlike anyone he had ever met.

Seeing the glow in Isaac’s innocent eyes, Noah covered his mouth as if to stifle a cough and hid his smile.

For teenage boys, friends or adults around them often have more influence than family.

“Let’s eat.”

Receiving Isaac’s deep gaze, Noah pushed the food toward him just as it was served.

The plan to bring Susan White down into the mud was going smoothly. For her, the worst despair wasn’t losing wealth or status—but losing her son.

Noah hid his true intentions as he finished the meal. The two of them walked by a riverside nearby and returned to the hotel in the evening.

As Isaac stepped off the carriage, tired, he saw a familiar head of red hair. He paused, thinking about hiding, but couldn’t ignore the person and decided to give himself up.

“Aunt!”

Scarlett turned around, and her curly red hair fluttered. Her gaze passed over Isaac and stopped on Noah. She gave Isaac a stern look and ordered stiffly.

“Let’s go home, Isaac. You have no idea how furious Susan was when she found out you were here.”

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