Imprinted with the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 40

At that moment, as they listened in on the conversation together, Anthony’s jaw tightened sharply. From Chase’s lips, a faint, breathy laugh slipped out. Anthony quickly lifted his head and looked at him.

“Your Grace…”

If those deranged bastards were to see his master right now, what kind of expressions would they make? They might even lose strength in their legs and soil themselves.

With his head lightly resting against the wall, staring into empty space, Chase slowly closed and opened his eyes a few times.

He had heard everything with his own ears. It wasn’t something that could be dismissed as drunken nonsense, not with so many witnesses. Even if Felix Grace tried to feign ignorance, there were more than enough people to secure testimony from. Yet Chase didn’t move a single step, and only after a long while did he push himself off the wall.

“The upright and spotless Grace, huh…”

Muttering faintly to himself, Chase’s brow twisted deeply.

What b******t.

His blue eyes slowly closed and opened again, as if organizing his thoughts, and a chilling glint flickered within them.

“Anthony.”

“Yes. Grand Duke.”

There was a cold, sinking chill in his low voice.

“If I beat that bastard to a pulp right now, it would still count as self-defense, wouldn’t it?”

Anthony’s complexion turned pale. It would have been better if he had tried to suppress his emotions like earlier. Right now, Chase’s eyes were far too dry.

As if he had already reached a conclusion, as though whatever came after didn’t matter.

Taking a steady breath, Anthony spoke as calmly and rationally as he could.

“You must not.”

“Why not?”

“Because we won’t be able to bring Vivian Grace.”

It was true that the moment he heard what that man had done to Nita Grace, Anthony had felt his blood pressure spike with anger. But that and this were separate matters.

The purpose of coming here today was to demand Vivian Grace. Coming to Felix Grace was to deliver the message that Nita Grace would be sent back, and afterward, they had planned to speak with Lady Vivian.

And now he was talking about using violence? That would just be revenge for what had been done to Nita Grace.

“Then what am I supposed to do about this filthy mood?”

Running his hand through his hair, Chase turned his body and pushed the door open with the tip of his shoe. As the door swung wide, the laughter inside abruptly stopped. Bright light spilled out into the corridor.

“G-Grand Duke Heinrich?”

Felix, who had been staring blankly for a moment, unable to grasp the situation, sprang to his feet. Perhaps flustered, the glass he was holding tilted, spilling its contents onto the floor. Chase lowered his gaze to the alcohol and ice scattered carelessly across the ground and spoke coldly.

“I heard your whole story.”

That was all he said.

Ignoring Felix’s trembling gaze, Chase cleanly turned away.

“W-wait! What do you mean, whole story? How much did you…!”

His throat was dry. Swallowing with difficulty, Felix hurried out into the corridor. It felt like only a moment had passed since he had been frozen in place, but Chase was already far ahead, walking toward the central staircase leading down to the first-floor hall. The drunken heat that had flushed his face cooled in an instant.

‘W-what did I just say? What? How much did I say?’

He couldn’t bring himself to take a step forward. He had bragged loudly in front of his friends, but it had been his father, Duke Grace, who had ordered it all. If his father found out that he had let everything slip from his own mouth…

“Damn it! F**k!”

Felix hurled his glass onto the floor.

Ignoring Felix’s scream from behind, Chase kept walking.

“Anthony, we’re leaving.”

“…Pardon?”

Anthony asked back, as if he didn’t understand the situation, but Chase didn’t answer.

It was just as they were about to reach the stairs leading to the dazzling hall.

“Hello?”

Vivian Grace appeared before them with a bright smile. Lifting the hem of her dress slightly before letting it fall, Vivian greeted Chase cheerfully.

“You are Grand Duke Chase von Heinrich, correct?”

Using his full name, no less.

Chase gave a small nod.

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Didn’t our eyes meet earlier? It was so sudden then, I couldn’t greet you. I’m Vivian Grace.”

A gentle voice, bright blonde hair, strands that shimmered softly as if molten gold had been poured and set. With an air like a flower, she seemed like a plant raised in a greenhouse, never having experienced a single hardship.