To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 80

Six years later.

The leaves that bloomed with the summer heat were fresh and green. The sky was high and clear without a single cloud.

The sunlight was harsh and the air heavy, but the White mansion was an exception to the summer heat.

Using the latest magic technology, not yet available to the public, the mansion always kept a pleasant temperature.

Scarlett, wearing a light summer dress with a cardigan, was checking new fabric that had recently arrived from Mamook.

“You have to make it as comfortable as possible because there’s going to be a lot of movement. He likes loose tops… but that doesn’t mean you should just make it big. Making the width bigger is something different.”

She explained carefully to the tailor what she wanted. Sketches of designs were spread out on one side of the table.

While the tailor was explaining how the fabric would fall, the door opened and a maid named Marie came in.

She quietly waited in a corner, and once the tailor left, she handed something to Scarlett.

“Miss, it’s an invitation.”

Scarlett checked the invitation and sighed.

“Why does Susan keep giving me her invitations? She knows I won’t go.”

“You’re not going to go?”

“No.”

“But you’ve been staying at home for six years now. Maybe it’s time to meet people outside.”

“It’s not six years. It’s twenty-five. I’ve never been outside my whole life. Tell Susan I’m not going.”

“Your health has gotten much better now.”

Just as Marie said, Scarlett looked much healthier than before.

Her once pale cheeks now had a pink glow, and her lips, once bluish, had returned to a natural rosy color.

Most of all, there was a new energy in her.

Her brightened eyes and relaxed face were proof that Scarlett had changed a lot compared to the sharp, tense past.

“Tell Susan if she sends me one more of these, I’ll move out.”

“Come on, don’t say that. Why don’t you just go this time?”

Susan had entered silently and stood with her arms crossed, glaring at her. Scarlett sighed again, knowing another lecture was about to start.

“I’m tired.”

“Of course you’re tired. You stay home all day. If you go out and move around and meet people, you’ll get stronger.”

“Don’t say weird things.”

“Carly, you didn’t even check the invitation properly, did you? It’s for a masquerade ball. Think of it as going out to have fun, not to meet people.”

“I don’t get what a masquerade ball has to do with having fun. Anyway, my answer is no. Oh, and judging by all the noise, I guess Isaac is here.”

At the mention of Isaac, Susan’s face turned red. She didn’t hide her anger.

Earlier that morning, she had found out Isaac had been skipping school for three days straight without permission.

Susan immediately stormed off downstairs to scold Isaac. Scarlett clicked her tongue and began tidying up the fabric.

Her beloved nephew, Isaac Brown, had grown into a rebellious boy who fought with his mother almost every day.

Scarlett shook her head and mumbled, “Teddy must not grow up like that.”

Six years was enough to turn a young man into a grown man.

The boyish freshness was gone from Noah’s face, and the hardships he faced in Natalia were now clearly visible.

Just like his changed eye color, his heart had also turned into something completely different.

The biggest change was that the young man who once felt guilty had now become a cold emperor who felt no remorse.

His cold eyes and tightly shut lips showed exactly what kind of person he had become.

In the past few years, many things had happened in Natalia.

The constitution had been changed, and the outdated systems of slavery and class status were abolished forever.

Although the nobles who supported the royal restoration fiercely resisted, the introduction of a constitutional monarchy allowed them to keep their titles in name only, reducing social conflict.

The citizens preferred a compromise over endless revolutions between nobles and wizards. And so, Noah became the emperor of Natalia.

Sometimes, nobles or wizards would try to stir rebellion. Whenever that happened, Noah fought personally, risking his life to defend his place. Even so, he never fully stepped into the political spotlight.

“The royal family does not exercise royal authority.”

Because Noah protected this principle himself, no more rebellions occurred. Natalia quickly stabilized and slowly regained its former glory.

Today, Noah returned to Wifland as the Emperor of Natalia, “Noah Joseph Prekov.”

It was different from when he had been treated like an illegitimate child. Today, he was a state guest. He received a grand welcome, and the Prime Minister of Wifland personally greeted him. He was staying at the best hotel.

He was no longer a bastard. No longer a lowly commoner crawling at the bottom of Wifland’s society. He was the rightful Emperor of Natalia, Noah Joseph Prekov.

“Sigh.”

Noah pressed his eyes and slumped into the sofa.

He should have been excited to return to his hometown, but instead, he felt heavy inside. His heart sank like it had been soaked in water and now even felt sick.

“Sir, are you sure you don’t want to take medicine? You haven’t slept properly for three days,” said his secretary, Peter.

“I’m fine. Where are the documents?”

“Here.”

Peter handed him the papers, which contained investigations into the businesses run by the White family. Noah looked through each page carefully.

Aaron White’s steel and casino businesses, Susan White’s bank, and Scott White’s Cravitz.

“John White is still a senator, I see.”

“Yes. And Andrew White quit seminary school and now runs a welfare foundation.”

He quit seminary school? That was unexpected.

But Noah quickly lost interest. Andrew was not his target for revenge.

If Andrew ever tried to help his siblings, Noah wouldn’t let him be, but for now, his focus was on Aaron, Susan, and Scott.

He wondered if they were living well. If their nights had been peaceful all these years, if their dreams had been happy.

As if reading his thoughts, Peter handed him something.

“It’s a masquerade ball invitation. Susan White is expected to attend. Because of the masks, it might be hard to recognize people, but there are very few red-haired women among the Wifland nobility. You’ll find her easily.”

The date written on the invitation was today. Peter pulled out a black mask from his pocket.

Peter had been with Noah ever since he returned to Natalia. He knew exactly how Noah felt about the White family.

Noah’s purple eyes darkened. He still clearly remembered what the White siblings had done to him — the merciless violence and cruel words.

But he could endure that. The one thing he could never forget was the pain of losing someone he loved.

“I’ll go.”

Noah was ready to face the White family. The time had come.

“Carly! Carly!”

Teddy’s bright voice echoed through the hallway as he ran, playing with his cousin Isaac. Teddy, with the White family’s signature red hair, was covered in sweat as he ran up to Scarlett.

“Carly!”

Scarlett lowered herself and opened her arms to catch Teddy, and he hugged her tightly, rubbing his face against her.

“Carly! I love you more than anyone in the world.”

“Oh, really? I love you the most too.”

“More than Isaac?”

“Of course!”

She wiped the sweat off Teddy’s forehead with her sleeve. His chubby cheeks were flushed, and his red hair was dusty with dirt.

Hand in hand, they walked to the living room, chatting happily.

“What were you doing with Isaac?”

“We were getting a present ready for you!”

“A present?”

“Yeah! Isaac finished it and left it in the living room.”

From Teddy’s scattered explanation, Scarlett figured that Isaac and Teddy had made something for her while messing up a room. Teddy then got distracted and went outside to play on the swing, and Isaac finished the gift.

“What kind of present?”

“Um, wait a minute!”

Teddy let go of her hand and ran toward the living room.

“Teddy, don’t run.”

“Okay!”

He answered, but of course, energetic Teddy couldn’t just walk. When he got to the living room, he hid something behind his back, grinning.

“Carly, guess what it is!”

“Is it food? Did you make me a cake?”

“No. But I want to make a cake.”

“Let’s make one next time.”

“Carly, guess quickly!”

“Hmm, what could it be?”

Scarlett could clearly see the item poorly hidden behind his back, but she tilted her head and pretended not to know. Teddy giggled happily.

“Can’t you just tell me?”

Scarlett asked, and Teddy’s eyes sparkled. Scarlett’s eyes were filled with deep affection as she watched him. It was even stronger than the love she once poured on Isaac.

After waiting a bit, Teddy finally shouted and showed the gift. It was a masquerade mask that he had decorated himself.

“Wow!”

Scarlett exaggerated her reaction. Honestly, the mask was messy and badly glued. It looked silly. But she hugged Teddy tightly with a bright smile.

“Thank you, Teddy.”

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“Yes, it’s so pretty!”

“You’re going to wear it to the ball, right?”

Susan must have put him up to this. Scarlett sighed at her sister’s scheme but kissed Teddy’s cheeks back and forth.

“Of course. Come here. Let me bite your finger.”

“Hey, that hurts! Hahaha!”

Teddy laughed so hard he could barely breathe as he ran away. Scarlett chased after him down the hallway.

At the end of the stairs, she caught him, lifted him upside down, and kissed him.

They played and laughed until Teddy got tired and fell asleep.

Scarlett tucked Teddy into bed and returned to her room — where Scott was waiting.

Six years ago, after Noah had broken his nose, Scott’s nose now had a bump. But it suited his sharp features.

At Scott’s feet were dozens of dresses from a boutique. He pointed at a half-open box and asked,

“Which dress do you want to wear?”

“I told you, I’m not going. Susan is so stubborn.”

“You’re still young and beautiful. It’s a waste to stay home. Even Teddy made you a mask.”

“Don’t joke. I’m sure Susan tricked him into making it.”

“Whatever the reason, you should make Teddy happy. He truly believes you’ll wear his mask to the ball.”

When Scott didn’t let it go, Scarlett sighed deeply. Knowing he had swayed her heart, Scott grinned.

“Go find yourself a nice guy. I think someone with wheat-colored hair would suit you.”

“As long as he’s not blond.”

At her cold reply, Scott’s face froze for a second.

For six years, “Noah” had been a forbidden word in the White household. So were the words “blond” and “magic.” Still, Scarlett sometimes spoke of Noah as if he didn’t matter at all.

“I’ll bring back a wheat-haired man. A kind and handsome one.”

She said that while picking a light green dress from the box and holding it up to herself. Scott stared at her for a moment, then shook his head.

Their relationship with Noah was truly over now. There was no need to worry anymore. Even if Noah Ashford was in Wifland.

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