Crazy A Married Life

#19

“Send me a text message with a list of items you need to bring.”

“Okay…”

Idam replied with a gloomy face. He felt even more uncomfortable at the thought of Taemin seeing his humble dwelling directly. But Taemin, seemingly unconcerned with Idam’s reaction, began to change the subject.

“We’ve drawn up the contract now, but our actual contract started last night. So we have 6 days and 10 hours left until the contract ends.”

“I see.”

When he put it that way, the time didn’t seem particularly long. Though it felt dirty and petty, Idam thought he just needed to be careful about controlling his pheromones and endure for a few days. The same went for sex. He had heard from Hayun that the first time was very painful, but he figured he could somehow endure it.

Taemin soon stood up from the sofa. He approached and sat down next to Idam. As the distance between them shortened, Idam tensed up and his shoulders flinched.

“I feel quite awkward with you too.”

How could someone who gave such a passionate kiss yesterday say they feel awkward? It seemed like sophistry.

“In this state, we won’t look natural in front of our fathers. We’ll only raise suspicions. So…”

Taemin gently reached out and interlocked his fingers with Idam’s.

“Ah.”

Surprised by the sudden touch, Idam let out a gasp.

“We need to get used to skinship, so let’s hold hands whenever we’re together from now on.”

Taemin proposed with a charming eye smile.

“Ah… ah…”

Unlike the handshake earlier, his hand felt somehow persistent, hot, and sticky. Moreover, Idam’s hand was smaller than Taemin’s, making it feel even more engulfed.

Although he had prepared himself for the moment of intimacy with Taemin, just holding hands felt different. The thought of actually being entangled with him became terrifying.

“As I’ve already said, I like alphas.”

As if reading Idam’s worried mind, Taemin continued speaking.

“Don’t worry, there won’t be any of those acts you’re concerned about.”

Idam’s eyes widened at his considerate statement. As he turned his head, wondering if he had misheard, Taemin’s lips came into view. Startled, Idam pulled his head back. Their lips had almost brushed. His heart raced for no reason.

By the way, did this mean they would kiss but not have sex? Something felt strange and inconsistent.

“Since it’s our first day, think of it as a day to get to know me. Let’s start by touring the mansion.”

“Then where is your father now?”

Idam dreaded the thought of encountering him alone.

“He’s not here.”

“What?”

“This isn’t the family home. I’ve been living independently for a long time.”

Ah… So this is where he stays alone.

Earlier, when Idam had looked around after leaving the bedroom for breakfast, the place seemed vast with many rooms. The view outside the window was the same. The main building and annex with their beautifully arranged navy blue roof tiles looked like a painting. It seemed spacious enough for a large family, yet Taemin was living here alone. He thought how different wealthy people were.

While Idam was marveling, Taemin unclasped their hands and stood up from the sofa.

“I have some business at the company, so I’ll be going now.”

“Ah, okay. Take care.”

Idam quickly stood up, feeling like he should leave too. Taemin retrieved the tablet with the contract and looked at Idam.

“Come and look around my bedroom too.”

“What? But that seems a bit…”

It was an awkward proposal given how private a space it was. Besides, Idam didn’t like others looking around his room either.

“What’s the problem?”

Taemin seemed unconcerned.

How peculiar. Is he not sensitive about these things? That must be why he had no qualms about suggesting to enter Idam’s rooftop room without the owner present to retrieve valuables.

“Besides, you’re currently my wife. It’ll be helpful in many ways for you to know what I like and what I’m interested in.”

Thinking about eventually meeting Taemin’s father, his suggestion did make sense.

“And text me your home address. I plan to stop by on my way to work.”

“Alright. But the key to my house was in my pants pocket.”

Idam had been changed into new clothes while sleeping, so he didn’t know where his original clothes were. Naturally, the key that was in them was also missing.

“It was on a keyring with a bell, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“I have it, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, I see…”

Come to think of it, Taemin had Idam’s phone too, so it made sense he’d have the key as well.

“I’ll return everything to you after the week-long contract period.”

“Huh?”

This meant he would keep the key too. Idam felt displeased by his continued unilateral behavior. But being in no position to resist, he had to keep his lips tightly sealed.

Soon after, Taemin left the reception room. Idam quickly sent Secretary Kang a detailed text with his rooftop room address and the location of his valuables.

Idam followed Taemin out to the living room. In the time it took to send the text, Taemin was already at the entrance, putting on his jacket. The employees bowed politely to Taemin. Idam hurried to join them.

After Taemin left for work, Idam observed the employees who were there. Though he wouldn’t be staying long, he wanted to know and greet the people he’d be sharing space with. There were two women and one middle-aged man. They all seemed to be betas. Although they seemed unfamiliar with Idam, they introduced themselves with smiles, showing their social skills. They were all older than Idam.

“Madam, is there anything you need?”

Madam?

Idam was taken aback by the sudden title. He felt sweat on the back of his neck. It felt awkward and excessive for a mere 7-day fake bride.

“You can just call me by my name.”

“No, we can’t. The CEO told us to treat you with utmost care.”

Idam didn’t understand why Taemin would say to treat him with such care when he wasn’t even a real spouse. He felt his throat tighten with the immense pressure.

“Please treat me comfortably.”

“Yes. Please let us know if you need anything.”

Having only worked under others until now, Idam felt awkward. He was about to say he didn’t need anything, but changed his mind.

“Where is the CEO’s bedroom?”

Although touring the mansion was Idam’s task for the day, examining Taemin’s bedroom felt like an absolute mission, and he wanted to get it over with quickly.

“This way, please.”

The female employee started guiding him as if she had anticipated the question. Idam followed her closely. Taemin’s bedroom was located in the inner part of the mansion and could be entered through a decorative wooden door.

“Take your time looking around, and if you have any more questions, please call me. I’ll be working in the living room.”

“Okay, I understand.”

As soon as Idam replied, the female employee went on her way. Only then did Idam feel free from the suffocating pressure. He decided not to call the employees unless it was absolutely necessary.

He began to examine Taemin’s bedroom in earnest. It was at least three times larger and more luxurious than Idam’s room. One entire wall was made of glass, offering a clear view of the outside garden. The artificial waterfall and beautifully manicured flower beds were stunning. The view from here was much more beautiful than from the reception room earlier. But why did Taemin say it was pretty when looking outside from the reception room? Idam found it puzzling. Or did Taemin have different aesthetic standards? He was clearly not normal. Going a bit further inside, a framed picture on the wall caught his eye.

It was about the size of two A4 papers joined together, showing Taemin rock climbing. Despite the high and treacherous cliff, he wore no safety harness.

Idam recalled Taemin introducing free solo climbing as his hobby when they first met at the restaurant. Though he had been pretending to be Han Jiwoo, it seemed this wasn’t a made-up hobby. Then again, if he were lying, claiming regular hiking as a hobby would have been more natural. Taemin in the photo looked very comfortable. However, there was an inexplicable madness in his eyes.

“He really is strange somehow.”

While his exterior seemed like a masterpiece crafted with all of God’s care, his inner self seemed to have a distortion different from ordinary people. Feeling confused, Idam looked away from the photo.

Nothing else particularly stood out. There was a sofa, table, cabinet, and a canopy bed with fluttering curtains. It looked big enough for three or four adult men to lie down comfortably. But… there were chains attached to the bed’s headboard, ending in handcuffs.

“Why are these on the bed?”

Idam wondered as he picked up the handcuffs to examine them. They weren’t just metal, but rose gold with fluffy pink fur lining the inside where it would touch the wrists. They felt too sensual to be the kind of handcuffs police carry around.

“What are these used for?”

Does the CEO perhaps sleepwalk? Maybe he keeps these to control himself? Idam made far-fetched guesses as he moved away from the bed. Although Taemin had given permission, he started to feel uneasy about scrutinizing someone else’s private space so intensely. So he decided to leave after seeing this much.

Just as Idam was about to turn towards the door, something glinted from further inside.

“What’s that?”

Idam wondered as he went further in. Several real swords were displayed in layers on a wooden stand. They looked like the kind of weapons swordsmen would wield, with very ominous blades.

“Are these real?”

Curious, Idam moved closer. Having never seen such swords in person before, he couldn’t tell if the blades were real or fake.

“So he has a hobby of collecting these…”

Once, Youngchun, the detective agency owner, had mentioned his hobby of collecting model guns. It seemed Taemin was similar. The swords weren’t of simple design either. The spider-shaped ornaments on the hilts and the intricate patterns engraved on the blades were captivating.

“They are beautiful.”

As Idam was marveling at what felt like a hobby from a different world, he noticed something.

“Huh?”

One of the swords looked strange. There was a dark red stain on the blade. The stain had a color reminiscent of blood. Idam felt a chill down his spine and shook his head.

“No way… It can’t be real blood.”