To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 50

“If you get hurt, it feels like my whole world is breaking apart.”

Noah mumbled. Scarlett’s face flushed. She felt so hot she wanted to fan herself. Even with just a short kiss, she could feel his deep affection. And the passion in his eyes was even stronger.

“…Noah?”

Scarlett’s voice cooled Noah’s mind like cold water. His hazy thoughts snapped awake. Everything felt too vivid. He even smelled his familiar scent.

“Scarlett?”

“Yeah. It’s me.”

“……”

Noah’s eyes shook helplessly. He couldn’t breathe because of what he had just done. He had done something he should never do to his sister.

Scarlett gently pulled her hand out of Noah’s grip. When her hand slipped away, he felt an empty sadness for no reason.

“Are you okay? You don’t know how scared I was. You slept for days like you were dead.”

“I guess I took too much medicine.”

“Want some water?”

“Yeah.”

Noah filled a cup with water and handed it to her. Their fingers brushed for a second. Even though it was a short touch, it felt burning hot. His sharpened nerves focused only on that touch.

“Ah.”

Scarlett let out a small gasp. Noah quickly pulled back his hand. An awkward air settled between them.

“I was so worried because you wouldn’t wake up. Thankfully, it was just because you took too much medicine. Did you have another dream?”

“I did.”

“Was it a nightmare?”

“No. I heard your voice. You apologized to me.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You apologized to me while I was sleeping.”

“I didn’t.”

“You’re lying.”

“…Yeah. You’re right.”

When Noah admitted it, Scarlett sighed. Noah’s face darkened. Scarlett felt the emotions she had sensed in her dream come back again.

Feeling sorry for the way he hated himself, Scarlett pulled Noah into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently patted his back.

“Don’t think like that.”

Scarlett definitely hated Noah. But at the same time, she cared for him. She didn’t know if it was romantic feelings or just human sympathy.

One thing was clear: she didn’t want Noah trapped in a hell of his own making. She suddenly spoke.

“I hate you.”

“I know. That’s why I’m always sorry.”

“But I still hate it more when you hate yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“Even if you’re suffering, I want it to be in the hell I made, not for any other reason. I won’t forgive you being hurt because of something else.”

“I’ll obey your command.”

As long as you’re alive, even your hell would be something I’m thankful for.

Noah thought sadly about how he felt, but didn’t show it. Because she was comforting him, he felt like the happiest man alive.

Before getting off the carriage, Noah checked his eyes in the mirror. His usual blue eyes were gone, and instead, violet eyes stared back. He used illusion magic to hide the violet and bring back his usual blue.

The blue eyes he thought were his all his life were actually an illusion. When he closed his eyes, he remembered the fight he had with his mother, Julia Ashford, while Scarlett was sleeping.

‘Noah Ashford! Cover your eyes right now!’

‘Explain to me first! Was it you who made my eyes like this? If you don’t answer, I’ll walk around showing them to everyone!’

‘Wicked boy! Is that how you threaten your mother? Fine! It was magic I used on myself, but it affected you when you were still inside me! Now cover those damned eyes already!’

As soon as Julia realized Noah’s violet eyes had come back, she grabbed him and pushed him out of the room.

‘I still have more questions! Why did you leave Natalia for Wifland? Were you hiding the fact that you’re a magician? Were you planning to live your whole life in hiding—’

Noah’s words stopped when he saw the man standing in front of the door.

‘Not good timing.’

The man raising his hand to knock was Victor Lebedev.

‘I overheard your question by accident, so I’ll answer one thing. Julia sealed my magic abilities permanently. She’s now just a normal person who can’t use any magic. Those who were once part of the Mage Alliance were given restrictions like that.’

‘You… approached Noah? Are you crazy?’

‘Bad timing. Noah, if you want the truth, come find me.’

Victor handed him a note with an address. Julia snatched it and chewed it up immediately. But Noah had already memorized the address in that brief moment.

“What are you thinking about?”

Scarlett’s sharp voice snapped him back to reality.

“Nothing. We’re here. Let’s get out.”

Noah was more nervous than usual. Scarlett also felt strangely conscious about how she was walking, wondering if she looked weird. Her mouth felt dry.

While they were busy being aware of each other, they arrived at the classroom and immediately ran into Wilhelm.

“Wil, how have you been?”

“You were sick. Are you feeling better?”

“Of course. But you don’t look good. Did something happen?”

“No. Nothing.”

While Wilhelm and Scarlett were talking, another student jumped in.

“Hey, White. You should watch out for that guy. He’s a sneaky thief.”

“I said I didn’t steal anything!”

“What do you mean? Are you saying you’re a thief?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“Sure, it’s probably just a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? We found my book in your locker. You stole a book that I left safely in the locker room.”

“What book?”

“Economic Theory. It was found with Wilhelm.”

“Let me see it.”

At Scarlett’s words, the guy accusing Wilhelm showed the book. Scarlett narrowed her eyes when she saw the corners were badly bent.

“Sorry. This might be my fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“I meant to borrow a book from Wilhelm’s locker, but I must have taken it from your locker by mistake. I definitely returned it to Wilhelm’s locker. The bent corners — that’s my habit. I don’t really take care when using borrowed books. Look.”

Scarlett pulled out her own textbook from her bag. It had the same bent corners.

“You must’ve had a hard time because of me. Wil, I’m really sorry. And I’m also sorry for making you embarrassed. As an apology, I’ll invite you to Aaron’s riding club someday.”

“Uh… well, then it’s fine. Sorry for misunderstanding you, Wilhelm Hoffman.”

“…It’s okay.”

Just then, Professor Diego entered. If not for that, Wilhelm looked like he wanted to pull Scarlett aside and talk to her right away.

During class, Scarlett kept glaring at the back of Noah’s head.

It wasn’t like Noah usually borrowed books to come to class. The habit of bending the corners of the books — that was something Noah picked up from copying Scarlett.

‘You messed with Wilhelm.’

First the salt in the coffee, and now accusing Wilhelm of being a thief.

Why?

Because Wilhelm was close to her.

It was petty jealousy. But Scarlett wasn’t touched by that. Instead, she was furious. How dare he target her one and only friend!

As soon as class ended, Scarlett rushed out of Iodes. Noah, worried she might be sick, asked permission from the professor and chased after her.

“Scarlett. Scarlett! Wait!”

“Let go!”

Scarlett pushed Noah’s shoulder.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

“Wil was being treated like that, and you didn’t even help him?”

“How could I help when the evidence was so clear?”

‘You were the thief.’

The cold words reached her lips but she couldn’t say them without proof. And if she told him she knew the truth, their relationship might break.

It would become harder to ignore his feelings, and he would surely fail to hide them too.

Even if legally they were half-siblings, there was no point in reminding him. It would only make things more awkward.

“Forget it.”

“You helped Wilhelm. That’s enough. He’s your friend, not mine.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“He probably thinks the same.”

“Don’t you dare call Wil ‘that guy’ in front of me!”

“I’ll call him whatever I want. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Noah Ashford!”

“Yeah. I’m Noah Ashford. Your half-brother.”

Noah bit his lip after saying it, hurt by his own words. He didn’t want to be just her half-brother. But Scarlett, burning with anger, didn’t notice.

“Fine. Didn’t you even think about helping your half-sister’s friend?”

“…No. How long have we even known him? It’s not like we’re close enough to be sentimental.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“I don’t want to keep playing your little games. If you want to leave school, leave. If you want to punish me, go ahead. But don’t force me to be friends with Wilhelm. I won’t grovel like that for you.”

Noah turned and walked back to the classroom building.

It was rare for Noah to leave her behind, so Scarlett watched his back in shock. Then, feeling humiliated, she turned around sharply.

After leaving Iodes by carriage, she headed straight to John’s office.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“Am I not allowed to come? I missed you.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

John greeted her with a faint smile. He had papers spread all over his desk, as if he had been checking documents.

“Busy?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“You visited Andy recently, right? How’s he doing?”

“Except for not sleeping well, he’s fine.”

“Not sleeping? Is it because it’s his final year at seminary?”

“Probably. But he’s doing well overall. He said he’d visit home soon.”

“I see. I can’t wait to see him.”

Tap. Tap.

Scarlett’s fingertips tapped the arm of the sofa.

“Scarlett. If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Okay. I do have something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“You said Mother planned an affair. What do you mean? Was I a child she had outside her marriage?”

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