Imprinted with the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 50

I knew he was doing it because he was annoyed and couldn’t stand it, but unlike the irritation in his expression, his touch was so gentle that I ended up feeling embarrassed.

The way he handled me, as if I were glass… was he being careful in case even my neck might break? His personality was really awful, yet his actions were impossible to read. Still, he definitely wasn’t an easy man.

Trying not to be conscious of him, I rolled my eyes, and suddenly a cake came into view.

He said he picked up those incredible cakes? Does that even make sense? Even if he got them somewhere, if he brought them for me, he could have just said to enjoy them. Why go out of his way to say he picked them up?

It felt a little childish and funny, and without realizing it, I let out a small chuckle.

Then his hand suddenly stopped. Snapping back to my senses, I quickly stiffened my expression. As I slowly moved my eyes, Chase was looking down at me coldly.

“When someone shows you kindness, you’re not supposed to laugh.”

“I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you. I just… got distracted thinking about something else…”

“What were you thinking about?”

“No, it’s just…”

“What.”

I had nothing to say. As I lowered my head aimlessly, trying to come up with an excuse, Chase grabbed my chin. At that touch, my head was lifted again, and our eyes met.

“Sorry, but could you let go of this?”

“I don’t plan on letting go of someone who laughed at me right in front of me.”

“I’ll apologize.”

“Forget the apology. I asked what you were thinking about.”

“It wasn’t anything much. Just…”

“Just what.”

If I told him honestly, it felt like he’d scold me for being cheeky… What am I supposed to say in this situation? Squeezing my eyes shut, I mixed a little truth into a lie.

“I thought… your face is handsome, so it’s amusing…?”

After forcing out the excuse, I shifted my gaze back to Chase.

His expression stiffened as if he found it absurd. Then soon, he slowly closed and opened his eyes. There seemed to be a different light in his blue eyes than before.

I complimented him, so why does it feel like I did something wrong? Since Chase said nothing, the tension only tightened, and as I swallowed nervously, he slightly raised one corner of his lips.

“I know.”

A calm, composed voice.

You know…

“Ah. I see?”

I smiled awkwardly. That’s impressive. The fact that he knows he’s handsome and can acknowledge it so casually. And that he doesn’t even change his expression after saying it. That’s some confidence.

But why isn’t he letting go of my face? Just as I felt troubled, fortunately, a knock was heard.

“Come in.”

After lightly wiping my lips once more with his thumb, Chase finally pulled away from me. My heart pounded. I wasn’t sure what it was, but for a moment, it had felt dangerous.

“It’s Anthony.”

Behind Anthony, who had brought a few documents, Logan was there as well.

“Miss Mage. We look forward to working with you.”

“Please take care of us.”

Anthony and Logan bowed politely toward me. I also stood up and bowed back to them.

“I look forward to working with you as well.”

With a gentle smile, Anthony briefly explained the monthly payment I would receive, the rules of the Grand Duke’s castle, and the duties I would have as a mage. He also added details about the general weather of the North and things to be particularly cautious about. I hadn’t known I would be paid, but I quickly accepted it.

But Logan’s eyes hadn’t left the cakes since earlier. Quietly observing the situation, I looked for another fork. But there wasn’t one. This big box of cakes had only a single fork.

So after staring at the fork I had been using, I wiped it with a napkin, then cut the cake Logan was looking at in half and scooped a piece.

“Do you want some, Logan?”

“Huh? Is that really okay?”

“It’s too much for me to eat alone. Go ahead.”

I held the cake out toward Logan. As if it was something he had been hoping for, Logan smiled brightly and stepped closer.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept!”

Just as he opened his mouth toward the fork I was holding…

“Logan.”

Chase’s cold, sunken voice cut in. Logan and I froze and turned to look at him.

“Yes?”

As Logan answered in confusion, Chase crossed his legs and said,

“If you eat that, it’s ten thousand push-ups.”

A heavy silence suddenly fell. Slightly flustered, I slowly pulled back the fork with the cake.

“Why? Are knights not allowed to eat cake? Is there a law?”

Was there some law I didn’t know about? But Logan had clearly wanted to eat it… yet even he stood frozen, as if he didn’t understand either.

Anthony adjusted his glasses.

“There is no such law.”

“There is. As of now.”

No one could understand what was going on in Chase’s mind as he answered with a dry, composed face. After a brief pause, he lifted his chin and added,

“If you really want it, shove it in with your hands.”

***