PARADOX 23

The wedding proceeded swiftly. It was the result of Gu Jeyi agreeing to Pyo Myeongho’s suggestion to strike first before the Center could intervene. Since he loathed wasting time, he had entrusted the task to Pyo Myeongho. He didn’t want to spend unnecessary time on something that wasn’t a real marriage anyway.

One month later, at the wedding hall.

Gu Jeyi stared at the man who was about to become his ‘husband,’ as he walked toward him with staggering steps. This was the first time since the day they signed the contract that he was seeing the man properly like this. Since the wedding preparations had been left entirely to others, there had been no reason for them to meet in person.

Though he lacked abilities like mind-reading, he felt he knew exactly what the man was thinking; the man’s thoughts usually showed plainly on his face, and it was no different now.

‘I think he looks like he’s about to throw up.’

The man’s face looked even whiter than the white suit he was wearing. That tension likely wasn’t just because of the wedding.

“So, what did they say he used to do?”

“I heard he was a cleaner.”

“Pardon? A cleaner?”

“An orphan with no educational background to speak of, apparently.”

“Goodness, what is this.”

“Well, at least he looks decent enough.”

“Anyone can look like that if you spend enough money to dress them up.”

The guests were whispering. Perhaps because they were all big shots from the political and business sectors, they didn’t even make an effort to lower their voices. At that volume, even a man who wasn’t an Esper would have heard them clearly.

He already had a fragile impression, but since he was scared as well, his pitiableness was doubled. At this rate, didn’t it look like he was being dragged to an execution site rather than a wedding hall?

Still, perhaps the rehearsals had been worth it, as the man managed to walk forward without falling, despite staggering. Gu Jeyi pulled back his right foot, which had been slightly forward, and straightened his posture. He felt the man’s sigh of relief stick particularly close to his ear.

The officiating ceremony passed quickly. Gu Jeyi’s gaze lingered briefly on the parents’ seating. People he hadn’t seen in a long time were sitting there. They were those he had invited just a few days before the wedding due to Pyo Myeongho’s argument that this wedding must at least look plausible in the eyes of others.

They were trying to act composed, but he could sense their bewilderment at this sudden marriage—especially the fact that the partner was a man. When they had visited the groom’s waiting room, their complexions had been even worse than they were now. At least now, in front of others, they were managing their expressions.

“…Now, there will be the exchange of marriage vows between Gu Jeyi and Yeo Hanseo.”

Gu Jeyi took his eyes off the parents’ seating and stood facing the man. As he lowered his gaze, he saw the man who was now to be his husband.

Was it because of the large pupils, or perhaps the slightly downturned eyes? Just as when he first saw him, the man was reminiscent of a small, gentle herbivore.

That was the extent of the impressions Gu Jeyi could feel toward a member of the same sex.

Even in an era where same-sex marriage was legalized, Gu Jeyi had never considered a man as an object of sexual desire, and he had naturally assumed his partner would be a woman if he ever married. As if to prove this, even as he looked at the man standing before him, not even a small tremor of emotion arose in Gu Jeyi’s heart.

“…Do you, Gu Jeyi, take Yeo Hanseo as your husband, and swear to always love and respect him under any circumstances and form a happy family?”

However, he knew it would be different for the other.

Despite having been terrified the whole time, he saw the man’s eyes begin to sparkle the moment they met his.

Right, it was because of these eyes. The reason he couldn’t possibly treat those absurd words about falling in love at first sight as a lie…

In the first place, wasn’t this wedding also essentially built by utilizing those feelings?

The moment he realized that fact anew, a slight discomfort arose in Gu Jeyi’s heart.

On the day he handed the contract to the man, Gu Jeyi had clearly warned him to give up his feelings. He had given the excuse that it would be uncomfortable, but half of it was for the man’s sake as well.

Gu Jeyi could not reciprocate the man’s feelings. He could clearly see the man’s future, where he would only end up disappointed no matter what he expected. Disappointing as much as one expected, repeating that disappointment, and finally reaching resignation. He knew because he had experienced firsthand that the longer that process was, the more painful it became.

It would be better for his own sake to just give up those feelings quickly and like another man before it got to that point. However, looking at these eyes today, it seemed certain that this foolish man had not followed his warning.

‘This marriage will end anyway once a medicine that can replace Guiding comes out.’

What could be done? He had warned him. Since he didn’t follow it, everything that followed was entirely this man’s responsibility.

“Yes, I swear.”

Gu Jeyi spat out the false oath while swallowing a sneer.

Regardless of his cooling heart, the ceremony moved toward the end. And finally, the moment Gu Jeyi judged to be the most useless arrived.

“Now, the two will share a kiss as a vow of love. Guests, please give a round of applause in celebration.”

It was a procedure Gu Jeyi had asked to exclude several times. However, Pyo Myeongho’s stance had been firm.

This wedding was not just a wedding. it was a show for the Center officials who were eager to put a leash on Gu Jeyi, and for the hyena-like people waiting for the national hero to be tarnished. Therefore, it had to be conducted more perfectly than any other wedding, to the point where there was nothing to doubt.

Gu Jeyi looked down at the man, trying his best not to frown. As if noticing his sensitively sharp mood, the man’s gaze wavered anxiously. But Gu Jeyi was not in a position to be considerate of the man’s circumstances.

He hated even the brushing of skin with others, yet he had to bring himself to do it. He’d rather fight a horde of monsters until he bled. Just imagining it made him feel nauseous.

But it was something he had already decided to do. It was also something he wouldn’t have to experience again after getting through this one time. Gu Jeyi lowered his head as if swallowing poison.

The moment their lips brushed, Gu Jeyi swallowed a small, sharp gag. It was a sound so small that no one else would have noticed, but it would have been heard by the person right in front of him.

However, when Gu Jeyi quickly pulled his head back and looked at the man, the man was smiling brightly as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

Fortunately, the reception could be omitted. There would be some talk about not treating the guests properly, but since everyone knew Gu Jeyi naturally disliked such empty formalities, it wouldn’t be a big problem. The ceremony alone had sufficiently fulfilled the purpose of this marriage.

As soon as Gu Jeyi got into the prepared car, he felt a sudden rush of fatigue. When he habitually pressed his eyes, a reaction came immediately from the side.

“Are you okay? If you need Guiding…”

Slap!

Gu Jeyi swatted away Yeo Hanseo’s approaching hand.

For a moment, he thought he might have swatted it too hard, but he changed his mind.

Giving an opening to this man who liked him was not a good thing, even for the future.

Gu Jeyi spoke coldly.

“I believe we agreed not to touch each other carelessly.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just…”

“Yeo Hanseo-ssi.”

Gu Jeyi looked at Yeo Hanseo.

Twenty years old this year. Even though there was only a one-year difference between them, Gu Jeyi felt that Yeo Hanseo was absurdly young. Was it because he had gone missing at a young age and hadn’t undergone proper socialization? Or was it because he himself lived with the feeling of having aged more than others?

He couldn’t tell which it was, but anyway, it would be best to point this out once more here.

“You seem to be under the illusion that we’ve become a real couple just because we got married, but I’ll only say this once.”

Gu Jeyi lightly pushed Yeo Hanseo’s forehead with a long finger, as if disciplining an ill-mannered dog. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have touched another person first, but since he was still wearing his ceremonial gloves, he had no great hesitation. The back of Yeo Hanseo’s head, pushed back weakly, thudded against the car window.

He had no taste for bullying creatures weaker than himself. However, only by keeping his distance now would this foolish man not harbor vain hopes. And there wouldn’t be incidents of him touching him carelessly like just now.

“I have no intention of playing house with a man.”

“…”

“So don’t do anything useless and just do your Guiding well when I want it. That’s the only thing I want from you.”

“…”

“Do you understand?”

“…Yes, I’m sorry.”

The man with slumped shoulders murmured dejectedly.

Gu Jeyi looked away from that face that looked as if it would burst into tears at any moment, feeling a slight pang of conscience—the feeling of having bullied a weak animal.

If Gu Jeyi had possessed mind-reading and could have read Yeo Hanseo’s heart right now, however, it would have been a thought he would have thrown into the trash immediately.