To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 108

“Where is Isaac?”

“Seems like he’s been moving from inn to inn.”

After hearing Peter’s report, Noah finished his coffee. The day after Scarlett had visited, Noah confessed to Isaac about the feud between the White family and himself.

Isaac accepted the things his grandparents had done before he was born, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment over what his mother and uncles had done.

“My mother… my uncles… oh, my god…”

After that, Isaac decided he couldn’t keep relying on Noah and chose to leave the hotel where Noah was staying.

Noah pretended to be concerned and tried to stop him, but Isaac couldn’t bring himself to accept his kindness.

Since using force would only push Isaac further away, Noah quietly assigned someone to follow and watch over him.

“He probably can’t go home, right?”

As soon as he went back to the White mansion, it was clear his mother Susan’s people would trap him there.

“Probably not.”

“Anyway, it’s today. John White’s hearing.”

“Are you looking forward to it?”

“Nothing to look forward to. I’ve got work to do.”

“Of course. And here, take this.”

Peter handed over a letter covered in stamps. Noah’s face twisted at the sight of the sender’s name.

“Victor is fine, but he treats me like a child.”

“Well, he’s old enough to be your father.”

“Even when I go to war myself, it’s the same.”

In the end, Noah didn’t dislike Victor. Victor was surprisingly uninterested in personal gain.

He was ready to give up his own rights to help rebuild Natalia and faithfully supported Noah.

Knowing that the people of Natalia might feel uneasy about an emperor who grew up in Wifland, Victor took steps to ease that concern.

Thanks to him, Noah was able to adjust quickly to life in Natalia.

“What does he say?”

At Peter’s curious question, Noah let out a deep sigh.

“Just useless talk.”

Unable to bring himself to rip the letter, Noah tossed it into the corner and got ready to leave. Today, he was going to visit the White mansion disguised as a materials merchant.

I wish I had just died.

Even though he said it, Noah didn’t feel at ease.

Despite how things ended between them, the thought of seeing Scarlett again made his chest ache. His heart beat fast with anticipation, yet his mouth felt dry from nervousness and anxiety.

The ticking of the clock made his mind go blank.

“See you later.”

Noah changed into a new outfit, grabbed a bag of material samples, and left the hotel.

After Noah left, Peter checked the letter Noah had thrown aside.

“Ah.”

It was a suggestion: a noble heiress from one of Natalia’s oldest families was currently in Wifland—perhaps Noah should meet her.

“Yeah, I’d be annoyed too.”

As far as Peter knew, Scarlett White was engaged to another man. But to Noah, that didn’t matter at all.

It might anger or upset him, but it couldn’t stop his love for Scarlett.

The young emperor Peter served was completely obsessed with Scarlett White. She was his faith, his dream, and his hope.

Even during the countless times Noah faced death in Natalia, he remained calm—but just knowing Scarlett was alive made him lose control.

Anger, betrayal, despair… All of these came from a deep love, and Peter understood this. Noah was bound to Scarlett.

At the entrance to the White mansion, a beautifully designed garden came into view.

There was an artificial pond, a bridge, a swing, and even a doghouse. And then—

That kid…

There was Teddy, bouncing a ball on the grass. He had played so hard that his pants were stained green, and his face was flushed red.

Is that man Teddy’s dad?

The boy was looking for his father, as if Scott White wasn’t his real dad.

That thought made Noah shake his head. Teddy White was just five years old.

Noah tried to look away, but strangely, the reddish-blond hair of the child kept catching his attention. He couldn’t take his eyes off Teddy.

Teddy didn’t look just like Scarlett or like Scott White either, yet something deep in Noah’s chest stirred, as if calm water was suddenly rippling.

It must be because I sensed he’s a mage.

The child’s mother must be a mage or of mage blood.

“Kid…”

Hey, kid. Do you remember me?

If you do, is that why you asked me last time if I was a mage?

Noah wanted to gently test him, like a snake sneaking over a wall.

But before he could satisfy his curiosity, his desire to see Scarlett took over. He forced himself to look away from Teddy and went inside.

“Whew…”

Noah was led to the parlor and waited nervously for Scarlett.

She wouldn’t recognize him through his magical disguise, but still, remembering their last meeting made his mouth dry.

He couldn’t figure out exactly what emotion this tension came from.

Maybe it was lingering love that had survived the years, or maybe it was the bitterness and pettiness of being abandoned.

Nothing felt clear, and his eyes wandered uncertainly to the window.

He thought the warm afternoon sun might calm him down, but instead, his gaze fell on Teddy sitting by the pond.

That looks dangerous.

Teddy was kneeling and reaching for the ball. Just when it looked like he might touch it, the floating ball drifted farther away.

Noah squinted. The child looked unsteady, and his heart tightened from the uneasy sight.

He didn’t know why he was so anxious. Why did he care so much about this child?

And then, Teddy fell into the pond with a splash. Noah jumped out the window and ran straight toward the water.

He didn’t think. It was pure instinct.

It didn’t matter if the pond was deep or shallow, if people were around, or even if the child was the son of his enemy Scott White. None of it mattered. He just had to save him. Something told him that if he didn’t, he would regret it forever.

Noah dove into the pond without hesitation. It was deeper and larger than it looked from the outside, but he quickly found Teddy. The boy was struggling at the bottom.

Puh-ha! Haa…

Noah lifted Teddy above the surface.

“Teddy—!”

Scarlett’s scream echoed from afar.

Noah laid the boy on the ground and checked his breathing and pulse. Luckily, he was still alive.

He began pressing on Teddy’s chest. It was his first time giving first aid to a child. Just as he pressed again, Teddy coughed up water and came to.

Their eyes met. Teddy’s eyes looked more like Scarlett’s than Scott White’s cold gray ones.

And then, the boy burst into tears.

“Waahhh! Waaahh! Mommmyyy! Waaahhh!”

Noah couldn’t bring himself to comfort the crying child. From a distance, Scarlett ran toward them with a pale face.

She looked so frantic Noah feared she might fall or hurt her heart. Scarlett reached them in one breath and hugged the sobbing Teddy tightly.

“Mommmyyy! Waaahhh!”

Teddy cried like he was screaming. Scarlett trembled as she held him close.

“Teddy… Teddy, I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry… I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off you…”

She looked like she was about to die. But even through her sobs, she tried to calm Teddy with all her strength.

“It’s okay… shhh… it’s okay.”

To Noah, seeing Teddy calling for his mother while clinging to Scarlett made it seem like she truly was his mother.

But the idea that Scarlett had become a mother was too absurd for him to accept.

So he convinced himself that Scarlett wasn’t Teddy’s mother—she was just holding him because he was crying for her.

The noise brought the mansion staff running. Scarlett picked Teddy up and carried him inside.

Noah was brought back in, given towels and fresh clothes. By the time his wet hair had dried, Scarlett returned after changing Teddy and putting him to sleep.

“Ah…”

Noah let out a breath of surprise without realizing it.

Scarlett, just like six years ago, looked like someone on the edge of death. But today, she also had a mysterious strength.

It was a new will to live—a desire to survive.

“Mr. Carter.”

Scarlett gestured for Noah, who had jumped up, to sit down.

Up close, Noah saw that she hadn’t even noticed her clothes were wet from holding the child.

Teddy had clung to her neck so hard her hair was messy, and her bloodshot eyes showed how shaken she was.

“I don’t know how to repay this…”

She thought she had calmed down while putting Teddy to sleep, but now, facing the merchant who saved him, the fear returned. Her voice trembled with emotion.

“Thank you so much. Mr. Finn Carter, thank you so much. If something had happened to Teddy, I…”

Scarlett clutched her chest and struggled to breathe. Noah was startled, thinking she might be having a seizure.

When her knees buckled, Noah quickly caught her in his arms. She sobbed deeply.

“If I had lost him, I would have died too. Thank you… thank you so much.”

Noah realized something was wrong, though he didn’t know exactly what.

Scarlett crying and thanking him didn’t seem like the reaction of an aunt worried about her nephew.

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