Imprinted with the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 9

But I was still in a position where I needed to stay on this man’s good side. So instead of picking a fight, I quietly stared at him. Chase shamelessly asked back,

“Why?”

“…”

“What.”

“Well… aren’t you going to apologize?”

Despite it being an entirely reasonable request, he looked at me as if to say, You expect me to do something like that?

Then you shouldn’t have broken my wrist in the first place. In what world does it make sense to shatter someone else’s bones with your bare hands?

“What meaning would that have?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s not like I did something wrong. It was an accident. Why would I apologize?”

Wow… what kind of logic is that.

“I took sufficient measures for you. Medicine, treatment, a place to lie down. Isn’t that enough?”

But a normal person would usually apologize!

I was so taken aback my head went blank. Fine. Whatever. I might have imagined his image one-sidedly based on the original work, but there should be limits. Chase was nothing like what I had thought.

The Chase who had followed Vivian around as she purified the North was quiet, docile, always nodding no matter what she said.

Though he had a strong, persistent obsession, he was a man who meticulously and kindly took care of everything she needed. An incredibly handsome face combined with strength. A large, devoted dog, as well as a kind, obsessive male lead.

That was Chase the chase I knew.

But this was a completely different person. And there was yet another question standing in front of me.

“By the way. My wrist is what broke, so why is the bandage wrapped this far up?”

I asked in confusion. A splint and bandages were wound tightly up past my elbow, covering more than half my arm.

“Why, you ask? That’s what I should be asking. What have you even been living on until now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Three attending physicians came by. They said you might die soon.”

“Ah…”

“They said your condition is so weak that a broken wrist affected your entire arm.”

Annoyance spread across his handsome face.

“I asked them to send a sturdy, healthy mage. What exactly did they send me instead?”

Roughly raking his hair back, Chase muttered, then continued without waiting for my answer.

“Go back.”

What?

“N-no. You said it yesterday. I came from the Grace family! If you don’t trust me then…!”

“I confirmed that you’re from the Grace family. That doesn’t change much.”

Thud.

It felt like my heart dropped.

“…Why?”

“You really don’t know? That’s why you’re asking? You’re not the person I wanted. I’ll say it again. Go back.”

Rejected just like that? It felt like the blood in my entire body turned cold. With a pale face, I urgently asked,

“What kind of person does Your Highness want?”

“Don’t you know?”

“You need purification abilities.”

“You’re well aware.”

Unlike my growing desperation, Chase was indifferent.

“Then why do I have to go back? You saw it yesterday. Mana doesn’t just disappear on its own. And I’m the one who got rid of it. If you don’t believe me, I can show you again right now.”

“No need.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You do need it!”

Caught in a conversation going in circles, I flared up without realizing it and raised my voice.

At my glare, Chase let out a low sigh and crossed the distance to me in a single step. He bent down, bracing one hand against the bed. Then, with a vicious expression and one eyebrow furrowed, he firmly grabbed both my cheeks with his other hand.

“You’ve been getting awfully casual with your speech.”

“Ugh…”

“…”

“I lost control of my strength yesterday, but not today. If you don’t act too cheeky, I can torment you without breaking your bones.”

No, you idiot. You failed today too. My jaw feels like it’s about to shatter right now.

“This is my castle. Who I need here is my choice and my decision. Don’t argue.”

Whatever degree of restraint he thought he used, Chase, who clearly had no idea how strong he actually was, released me after finishing his words. He clicked his tongue, seemingly irritated as my eyes reddened and tears pooled.

But this is a natural bodily reaction. It hurts! Anyone would tear up if they were grabbed by your grip.

I rubbed my eyes with the back of my uninjured right hand.

“But you wanted purification abilities.”

“Even so, not you.”

I’m not allowed? Yesterday, maybe he had doubts because my identity wasn’t clear, but not today. He confirmed that I am from the Grace family, and he definitely saw my purification abilities yesterday, so why…