I Became the Omega in a Game - Chapter 12

He muttered with disinterest, losing his focus, but then abruptly fell silent.

Carefully, Riche tilted her head slightly, observing the way his eyes lingered near her without quite meeting hers. His gaunt face betrayed how much he had been brooding over whatever had happened last night.

“…Anyway,” Raymond said, dragging his hand down his face in frustration.

“The woman had long hair, and though she was wearing a mask, I think… I think she was beautiful.”

Riche subtly bowed her head lower, feigning modesty.

She was relieved she had dyed her hair the night before. The staff lounge had been dimly lit, with only a single light on, and hair color alone could dramatically alter someone’s impression.

Comparing her current, demure and polite demeanor to that of the mysterious woman from last night would be a stretch, even for someone as suspicious as Raymond.

With his brow furrowed, Raymond seemed to be straining to recall the events.

“And most of all… there was something strange about her pheromones. They were… unusual.”

As he trailed off, his expression grew enigmatic.

Watching him carefully, Riche made a show of looking contemplative, her face bearing the perfect expression of someone deeply engaged in thought.

“I’m a Beta, so I wouldn’t know,” Riche said, subtly emphasizing that she wasn’t the Omega he was looking for.

“But as far as I know, none of the Omegas working at this club match the description you gave. Could it be that you’ve mistaken her for someone else?”

Her suggestion, implying the woman might have been someone he’d arranged to meet beforehand, made Raymond pause in thought. Though uncertain, he eventually shook his head.

“No, that’s not it. I wouldn’t have invited anyone, since I didn’t want to deal with Idelli making a scene. No, I don’t think I called anyone. Wait—there was someone I used to know who looked somewhat like her. Does she still live nearby?”

Watching him lost in thought, Riche let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But just then, Raymond’s crimson eyes glinted darkly, and his strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist.

Riche was pulled into his embrace in an instant, her body stiffening as the heavy scent of Alpha pheromones hit her like a wave.

The key to her pheromone suppression skill was maintaining composure above all else. But the sudden situation threw her off balance, like a faucet handle clattering loosely, leaving her momentarily unsteady.

Taking a slow, steady breath, she managed to regain her calm, and the ripples of uneasy pheromones within her settled into stillness.

She let out the faintest of sighs.

What the hell is this guy doing all of a sudden?

Irritation bubbled up within her, but then she quickly remembered how a normal employee in her position ought to behave. Forcing herself to switch her expression, she stammered:

“S-sir?”

She injected her voice with a quiver of fear, but Raymond didn’t respond. Instead, he tightened his hold around her waist.

His sharp nose pressed against the pale curve of her neck, and he took a deep inhale. As his pheromone-laden breath brushed her skin, it sent a ticklish sensation over the area and tightened the muscles around her ribcage.

Riche bit her lip lightly.

‘He’s trying to sense my pheromones.’

Though the pheromone suppression feature was working well, Riche’s body was still bound by the rules of this dimension. There might be aspects the system overlooked.

Suppressing her rising anxiety, she felt a wave of relief as Raymond finally pulled away from her.

“…I guess not, after all.”

Disappointment was written all over his face as he failed to detect any trace of pheromones.

“You don’t seem like a Beta, though.”

Keeping her eyes lowered, Riche carefully observed his reaction and then bowed her head deeply.

Her chest fluttered with relief. His suspicions were finally laid to rest. While his sudden behavior had been unexpected, it was fortunate that it had resolved his lingering doubts.

“Uh, sir? If you wouldn’t mind… letting me go now…?”

Her hesitant, faltering tone snapped Raymond out of his thoughts. Realizing he was still holding her, he let go abruptly, startled.

He stared down at his own hand for a moment, his expression darkening, then stood up and turned away sharply. Without another word, he strode off at a brisk pace.

Watching him retreat, Riche placed a hand over her chest, silently exhaling a deep breath to steady herself.

Just before leaving Queen, Raymond suddenly stopped in his tracks and glanced back.

Trailing behind him, Riche froze under his gaze. She had just begun to relax, but the tension immediately crept back into her shoulders.

Narrowing his eyes, Raymond gestured with his chin toward the manager while staring at Riche. His expression carried a strange intensity, thick with suspicion, like sticky sugar hardening into brittle crystals in the air. The manager, sensing the odd atmosphere, immediately straightened his back.

Raymond ignored the manager’s reaction and asked in a voice heavy with distrust, “This one—are you sure she’s a Beta?”

“Pardon?”

Startled, the manager took in a sharp breath as he remembered all the rumors about Raymond’s notorious temper. Hurriedly, he nodded.

“Y-yes, sir. She’s a Beta. Is there a problem?”

Raymond frowned deeply but said nothing further. He turned and left, his cape snapping behind him like an extension of his irritation, leaving behind a lingering trace of his foul mood.

The remaining staff all turned their curious gazes toward Riche.

“Why did he designate you, a Beta?” they wondered aloud, their eyes brimming with curiosity.

Unfazed, Riche calmly replied, “I think he mistook me for someone else.”

At her answer, a few staff members, who had been quietly observing with gleaming eyes, smirked and nodded.

“That makes sense. Why would Sir Strigo bother with some insignificant Beta? I told you it couldn’t be anything serious.”

“Exactly. It was nothing after all. What a fuss over nothing.”

And with that, the matter seemed to settle as just a minor incident for the day.

But as dawn approached and the bustling Queen prepared to close, an unexpected final guest arrived.

* * *

“Boss, there’s a carriage pulling in,” said the manager, who had been sweeping the floor. He blinked as he looked out the window.

“At this hour? Who now?”

Sensing trouble, the boss rubbed his temples and shook his head in exasperation.

“Just politely let them know we’re closing and send them on their way.”

“Yes, sir.”

The manager was about to head out when another staff member, squinting out the window, suddenly widened their eyes.

“I don’t think we can do that.”

“What? Why not?”

“Isn’t that the crest of the Grace Ducal family on that carriage?”

At those words, everyone cleaning up on the first floor thought of the same person.

“Idelli Grace?”

Pheromones began to seep into the air. Riche turned around, sensing the unstable pheromones that flickered like a weak flame.

Standing nearby was Mikhail, dressed in casual clothes, likely about to leave for the night. But upon hearing Idelli’s name, he froze.

For a moment, his conflicted expression softened as a brief flicker of joy crossed his face.

The boss personally went to greet Idelli. Walking up to the carriage and extending his hand like a butler, he escorted her with the air of a gentleman. Unlike the frozen expressions of the other staff, he seemed composed. However, even he couldn’t hide his discomfort after hearing her request.

“My apologies, but the kitchen has already closed, so we’re unable to provide satisfactory service at this time.”

“That’s fine. I won’t be staying long anyway.”

As always, Idelli Grace was stunning.

Unlike yesterday, when she had worn a striking red dress, today she was clad in a dark black gown that seemed to blend seamlessly with the night sky. Who knew black could be this dazzling? It was the kind of dress that could rewrite the history of black evening wear—seductive, bold, and unforgettable. Even her lips were painted a deep crimson.

Even those who disliked her couldn’t tear their eyes away. Except for one person: Riche.

Riche had already taken a step back, her attention instead fixed on Mikhail’s face. His pheromones wavered with instability, spreading in ripples like vibrations on water.

Had Idelli Grace come here to see Mikhail?

The brief interactions Riche had observed made it clear that Idelli wasn’t the type to care about what others thought. Even if Mikhail was Janice Borsin’s Omega, it wouldn’t matter to her.

‘If anything, she’d probably find it even more amusing.’

Riche’s blue eyes gleamed with curiosity, as if she were watching a captivating scene unfold.

She wasn’t a fan of melodramatic soap operas on television, but when it came to the live drama created by these natives, she found it endlessly entertaining.

Click. Click.

Click. Click.

Holding the boss’s hand, Idelli entered the establishment. Despite the poor manners of arriving at closing time, she carried herself as if she were the star of the show. The sound of her high heels striking the marble floor felt like background music announcing her grand entrance.

Click.

Riche blinked as a pair of sharp-toed heels stopped in front of her.

‘Huh?’

Moments ago, she had been itching to record every detail of the scene unfolding before her, as if she were taking field notes. Now, however, she found herself flustered.

When she glanced up, she was greeted by the radiant smile of Idelli Grace. Her face, as striking as one would expect of an Omega at the pinnacle of their kind, was breathtaking.

“You’re available for a designation, aren’t you?” Idelli said smoothly.

Without thinking, Riche instinctively looked at the boss.

The boss, a self-made man of humble origins, had always carried himself with pride and conviction. He wasn’t one to bow down to Alphas or Omegas simply because of their rank. Riche, trusting his resolve, sent him a pleading look, silently willing him to handle the situation with his usual composure.

Although surprised, the boss responded calmly.

“Did one of our employees do something to offend you, ma’am?”

“Offend me? Not at all. I just suddenly felt like having a drink and decided to stop by. Don’t you think I need someone to talk to? A sweet cocktail will do just fine, thank you.”

She claimed she had come on a whim, craving a drink. Her words sounded plausible enough, but no one believed that was her true reason for being there.

If Idelli Grace wanted a drink, she would have gone to one of her many followers’ homes. She would never choose a public bar—and certainly not a Beta—as her drinking companion.

“Why? Is there still a problem?”

Even in the tense atmosphere, Idelli’s smile never wavered. Her smile was bright, yet carried the poise and arrogance of someone who naturally ruled over others.

Once again, Riche glanced at the boss.

Just one more push! You’ve got this!

But even his resolve had its limits. With a conflicted expression, all he could muster was a single hesitant remark.

“Yes, I’ll prepare a mild drink for you.”

“Thank you,” Idelli replied with a bright smile, then turned her gaze to Riche.

“Could you show me to a seat?”

A complication. This kind of unexpected turn of events, outside the realm of what she had anticipated, was never welcome. Feeling irritated, Riche began walking slowly, dragging her feet just enough to show her reluctance.

As she passed by, the staff murmured amongst themselves.

“Two designations in one day…”

Ignoring the curious and puzzled stares of her coworkers, Riche stole a glance at Mikhail. He stood near the entrance, his face pale and drained of color.

From the moment Idelli Grace had entered the establishment and up until now as she walked with Riche, she had not spared Mikhail a single glance. His dejected expression was almost pitiful to see.

It was obvious from his reaction just how much of his heart leaned toward Idelli. Even though Riche was caught up in her own predicament, she couldn’t help but feel a sudden surge of interest.

‘His instincts should draw him to Janice, the Alpha, yet here he is, lusting after Idelli Grace, whom he claimed to detest. No matter how I look at it, this is a rare case.’

Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a gaze on her. Following its source, she found herself locking eyes with Mikhail.

That look—she knew it well. It was the same kind of gaze her colleagues had given her when she was named Researcher of the Month by Dimensional Science Journal, an award that came with twice the usual incentive pay.

* * *