To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 84

Who would have thought that someone born and raised in Wifland would become the Emperor of Natalia? Even he himself firmly believed he was a Wiflander.

So Wifland must have thought that by using the newly crowned young Emperor of Natalia, they could build a friendly relationship.

But they were wrong.

For the past six years, what Noah had held in his heart was not longing for his hometown, but hatred strong enough to destroy everything.

“Scott White…”

He was a cruel man, like a snake that still bites even after its head is cut off.

And not just him. Susan White, Aaron White — they were no different.

They all insulted and trampled on Noah without exception. Most of all, Scott White had murdered his mother.

“Scarlett, you must stay in the past.”

He loved her. But whenever her ghost ruled over his reality, he lost the strength to live and the will to move toward the future.

It wasn’t that he was relieved by her death. It only meant that her presence still lived vividly inside his heart.

Even so, the existence of Scarlett often broke out from the buried past and invaded his reality.

Noah steadied his heart and gestured. Then Peter opened the door to the dining room.

The Wifland senators were already gathered there. Among them was a familiar face: John White.

“Good evening.”

One of the senators reached out his hand to Noah. Noah went around, greeting each senator one by one.

The last was John White. Their handshake tightened. John greeted him with his usual indifferent face.

“So we meet like this.”

His dry voice carried no emotion, just as usual — purely formal.

“Yes. It’s come to this after all.”

Noah spoke more cynically than he intended, but he didn’t care.

The meal went more smoothly than he had expected.

Considering the relationship between Noah and the White family, John’s presence could have been uncomfortable, but Noah actually welcomed it.

He had always wanted a chance to speak to John. At the very least, John had tried to help Noah and his mother until the very end.

“As you know, Natalia has many minerals buried underground. Now that the country is becoming stable, we plan to use the Magic Union’s help to mine them.”

Noah, who had now perfected court manners, neatly cut his meat with flawless movements.

He continued speaking with the bright energy expected of a young emperor.

“If we settle matters with the Magic Union, Natalia will be able to supply anything produced here steadily. And now that I have ascended the throne, the Magic Union has lost its reason for existence.”

The Magic Union had long claimed the abolition of social status systems.

But the young royal who survived Wifland abolished the status system as soon as he took the throne, and permanently gave up his royal authority.

Even the lingering traditions of a status system were now challenged, making it a deeply rooted emotional issue across society.

Thus, there was no longer any cause for the Magic Union to rebel against the existing system.

“In the past six years, I have done my best to stabilize Natalia. As a result, the Investigation Department has found traces of the war criminal Martin and his followers. Within six months, we plan to capture them and bring them to justice.”

Noah’s speech, now carrying a slight Natalia accent, was smooth and fluent.

“The remnants of the Magic Union, who have lost their place, will serve a term in prison and then be pardoned to provide medical services. As you know, Natalia is famous for its strong medical magic.”

He felt his mouth dry up. For a moment, he saw Scarlett’s image flash before him.

Maybe it was because John White, who resembled her, was sitting right across from him. His red hair was very similar to Scarlett’s.

Noah swallowed his longing, feeling a painful knot in his chest from forcing down the emotions.

He spoke again, pretending to be fine.

“Natalia and Wifland have been allies for a long time. So Natalia is willing to spread medical magic to Wifland…”

The meal went on smoothly. Noah led the atmosphere with a relaxed attitude.

The one who stayed silent throughout the meal was John.

John calmly ate while occasionally agreeing with the other senators’ comments. It was the other senators who kept glancing between John and Noah.

Everyone knew how much the White family hated Noah, who had lived as an illegitimate child of the family.

As soon as the meal ended, the senators quickly made an excuse to leave, knowing the two had much to discuss.

“Then, John. I hope you have a good conversation.”

John gave a small nod to the departing senators. When they were gone, only Noah and John remained.

Noah rinsed his mouth with water and opened his mouth.

“I have always wanted to thank you.”

“It’s not something I should be thanked for.”

John used formal speech, showing none of the old contempt he once had toward Noah.

“Thanks to the secret ship you prepared, I had many conversations with my mother. She told me how much you helped us.”

“It was my choice. It was something I had to do.”

“Yes. That’s why I have no bad feelings toward you.”

“Why did you come to Wifland?”

Noah met John’s gloomy gaze. He looked extremely tired.

“What else? To settle an old grudge.”

At Noah’s answer, John closed his eyes weakly, as if he had expected it. A faint sigh escaped from between his thin lips.

“Scott has a cruel nature, but he’s not evil enough to kill.”

“You don’t have to be evil to commit evil acts. He killed my mother.”

“It wasn’t Scott.”

“You saw the evidence yourself.”

For the first time, an expression flickered across John’s face. His hand on the table clenched tightly.

He hid his hand under the table. Noah didn’t miss the movement.

“There must have been some misunderstanding.”

“Fine. Let’s say it was a misunderstanding. But it doesn’t change the fact that he sold me into slavery. Nor that your sister ruined my family.”

Noah ground his teeth, pausing for a moment, then continued, emphasizing each word.

“As much as we were broken, you will be broken too.”

John’s brows twitched. A strange light flickered in his eyes for a moment.

It was something rising from deep beneath a still sea, ready to create giant waves in time.

“If you touch my younger siblings… I’ll cause the very disaster my parents feared with my own hands.”

The White couple had wished for peace. Now John, who had once abandoned his siblings for that peace, was declaring he would destroy it himself.

“I don’t believe peace built on someone’s sacrifice can last. It’s just the calm before the storm, disguised as peace.”

So go ahead. Try to protect that precious peace.

The young king who chose to fall laughed cruelly.

At the same time that Noah was meeting John, the White family’s doctor was carefully examining Teddy.

Scott waited nervously beside them for the examination to finish.

When Teddy, unable to stay still, started to fidget and whine, Scott calmed him down with some snacks.

Andrew, Scott’s younger brother, kept poking Scott’s side and giving him knowing looks.

“I told you, he’s healthy.”

“Just be quiet. You’re not the expert here.”

“Why am I not— well, whatever.”

Andrew sighed and patted Teddy’s curly hair.

Teddy’s hair was a mix of red and blonde, typical of the White family.

His cheeks were round and rosy like apples, and even though he was still a young child, his features were beautifully shaped.

He also clearly showed the signs of being well-loved by the adults of the family.

Teddy whined, trying to push Andrew’s hand away.

“Andy.”

“Hey, Teddy. Stay still.”

“I want to play. I want to go to the garden.”

“You played outside all day today.”

“But I didn’t play in the pond.”

“Play there tomorrow.”

“Andy! Ugh! I’m so bored!”

“You’ll play tomorrow. It’s almost sunset.”

“I don’t want to!”

Just then, the doctor, who had been listening to Teddy’s heartbeat, took off the stethoscope. Scott, thinking Teddy was interrupting the examination, called his name sternly.

“Theodore.”

At Scott’s call, Teddy pouted and closed his mouth. The doctor ruffled Teddy’s hair and said,

“The check-up is done.”

“How is he?”

Scott looked more like he needed a check-up himself from how nervous he was.

Andrew sighed in frustration but also leaned in, listening closely — after all, the doctor was the top heart expert in Wifland.

“There are no signs of heart disease.”

“Oh my God. Really?”

“I understand your concern because the child’s aunt was ill. But you don’t need to worry. Teddy is very healthy. He’s even growing quickly and seems highly intelligent.”

“Thank you, thank you, doctor.”

Scott finally looked relieved as he thanked him. Andrew, looking proud, lifted Teddy up and carried him over to one wall of Teddy’s room.

“Teddy, let’s measure your height.”

“Okay! I’m going to grow tall like you, Andy!”

“You little guy. That’s going to take ten more years.”

Andrew marked Teddy’s height on the wall. He had grown a little since last month.

Meanwhile, Scott, who had heard the detailed report on Teddy’s physical and mental health, felt so happy that he lowered Teddy down into the garden through the window.

“Just for a little while before dinner, Teddy.”

Teddy didn’t even reply. He ran off looking for the neighborhood cat that roamed the garden. Andrew laughed as he watched.

“I don’t know who he takes after to be so sweet. No one in our family is gentle.”

For a fleeting moment, Scott’s mouth tightened into a hard line.

Andrew, seeing where Scott’s gaze was fixed, could guess his thoughts but pretended not to notice.

“He really is like an angel.”

“Yeah. He’s my son, after all.”

“That’s exactly why it’s surprising.”

“Stop saying nonsense.”

“When are you going to sort out the papers? You can’t keep him listed as your son forever.”

“Not now. I have work to do. Bring Teddy inside when it’s dinner time.”

Scott, realizing where the conversation was headed, casually escaped before Andrew could push further.

But Andrew wasn’t planning to let it go. He called after Scott’s back:

“Scott. Who’s Theodore’s real father?”

“…I don’t know.”

“You do know.”

“Andrew. Stop.”

“Do you know how shocked I was when I heard dying Scarlett was pregnant? The kid is this big now — at least tell me who the father is.”

Scott let out a deep sigh, then turned around. He stared straight at his younger brother and asked:

“Then why did you suddenly quit seminary?”

Andrew’s lips stayed tightly closed.

“……”

“It’s the same thing.”

Just like Andrew would not say why he left school with only one semester left before becoming a priest, Scarlett could not say who the real father of her son, Theodore White, was. It was a secret.

And so, the two brothers left Teddy’s room, each carrying their own secret.

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