I Became the Omega in a Game - Chapter 13

A tense silence hung in the air. Riche couldn’t help but feel that this situation was oddly similar to what had happened earlier in the day. Back then, Raymond Strigo had sat arrogantly, much like Idelli Grace now, while she stood in front of him as if she were a child being punished.

‘These natives are truly arrogant.’

The thought crossed Riche’s mind idly. Oddly, she didn’t feel particularly angry about it—she found it almost amusing. While Raymond’s pheromones had radiated unease, Idelli’s had a sharp, peppery sting to them.

As for her own feelings right now? Something like… bafflement? Perhaps mixed with a slight sense of irritation?

Riche quietly observed Idelli, who was sipping her cocktail. Leaning back in the same seat Raymond had occupied earlier, Idelli drank slowly, her movements unhurried, like a languid cat. Despite her earlier claim of wanting to leave soon, her demeanor suggested no such urgency. It was as though she had completely forgotten about Riche’s presence.

Riche, deciding to play along, pushed the plate of snacks the boss had thoughtfully sent over toward Idelli.

“Drinking on an empty stomach will upset you.”

Idelli glanced at the plate before lifting her gaze to Riche, studying her intently. A moment later, a faint smile bloomed on her previously expressionless face.

“Oh, right. I did call you over to keep me company, didn’t I?”

Her voice, soft and full of air, carried a sultry allure, but it made Riche’s skin crawl. Idelli’s pheromones poked at her skin like tiny needles.

“You saw me that night, didn’t you? You were the one who came to serve our room.”

“Yes,” Riche replied calmly.

“Well, since that night, I’ve lost one of my earrings.”

Idelli lightly tapped her left ear, where a silver earring hung, delicately crafted to resemble a butterfly scattering petals below. It looked undeniably expensive.

“It’s a precious gift from Her Majesty the Empress, but now one of them is gone. I think I might have lost it here. Could you look for it?”

Riche nodded. The thought crossed her mind that Idelli’s claim about losing the earring might be a lie, but whether it was or not, she had no choice but to at least make a show of looking for it.

As Riche searched the Diamond Room, checking under tables and sofas, she could feel a sharp sensation on her back and the nape of her neck, like someone’s gaze was pricking her skin.

She scoured every corner of the room but found no trace of Idelli’s missing earring. The room had already been cleaned by three staff members after last night. If it had been there, it would have been found long ago.

‘Wait, could it be… that room?’

If there was one place where more “intense” movement had occurred, it would be that room—the one where Mikhail and Idelli had been together.

Either way, there was nothing here.

As Riche rose from under the sofa, Idelli, who had her lips pressed against the rim of her cocktail glass, smirked slightly, her sharp gaze cutting into Riche. The way she seemed to be constantly scrutinizing her made Riche feel a renewed sense of caution.

“It doesn’t seem to be here. Should I check the restroom?”

“Alright. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

After leaving the Diamond Room, Riche stared at the closed door, her eyes thoughtful.

‘Did she really lose it?’

Was that the only reason Idelli had called for her?

Harboring doubts, Riche hurried off—not toward the restroom, but in the opposite direction.

She stopped in front of a particular room, hesitated briefly, and then opened the door without delay. The stale air inside, thick from poor ventilation, hit her face. Waving her hand to disperse the stuffiness, Riche began searching the room thoroughly.

If the earring wasn’t here, then she’d have no other options. Either Idelli had lied, or the earring had ended up somewhere entirely unexpected.

After about ten minutes of searching, Riche found a long, pointed earring lodged deep between the sofa cushions.

It was the very butterfly-shaped earring she had seen hanging from Idelli’s left earlobe. The spot where it had fallen was hard to reach and easily overlooked.

With the earring in hand, Riche returned to the Diamond Room.

When Idelli saw it, her face lit up with a genuine smile.

“Thank you so much.”

“…….”

“I wouldn’t be able to face Her Majesty the Empress without this. I haven’t been able to visit her much recently, but still, failing to take care of such a personally bestowed gift would be an act of disrespect.”

‘She really did care about finding the earring.’

Riche felt herself relax slightly, releasing some of the tension she had been holding.

Idelli attempted to put the earring back on her empty right earlobe but struggled, fumbling awkwardly.

“Ah, let me help you,” Riche offered.

Smiling faintly, Idelli handed her the earring and gathered her hair, pulling it neatly back to make it easier for Riche to attach.

Stepping closer, Riche carefully positioned the earring and began fastening it to Idelli’s ear, mindful not to let the sharp tip poke her.

That’s when Idelli suddenly asked, her voice striking without warning:

“Raymond came here today, didn’t he?”

Click. The earrings fit snugly into place.

The dangling butterfly swayed gently as if fluttering its wings. Riche’s gaze lingered on the earring for a moment before shifting to Idelli.

Idelli’s blue eyes, so similar yet so different from Riche’s, stared back at her. If Riche’s eyes resembled the depths of the ocean, Idelli’s were like a clear glass pane, reflecting everything with unnerving clarity.

With those gleaming, all-seeing eyes, Idelli pressed Riche for an answer.

Riche gave up trying to calculate her response.

“Yes.”

Unlike earlier with Raymond, this was not a situation she could brush off with a simple lie. Idelli had come here intentionally, and attempting to deceive her with half-truths would likely backfire.

“Why, I wonder?”

Idelli tilted her head, her beautiful face full of feigned curiosity.

Her gaze seemed to say, “She’s pretty enough, I suppose, but she’s just a Beta.”

Riche wasn’t flustered by the scrutiny; she was well aware that Idelli was observing her closely. Instead, she decided to add another note to her ongoing research on Idelli Grace, Native Type No. 7.

‘Possesses a very strong sense of ownership.’

One only had to look into her eyes to understand.

Idelli Grace’s men.

That title didn’t merely signify men who admired or mocked her. It pointed to the intense interest Idelli had in anyone she deemed “hers.”

Riche realized that this situation could quickly become problematic.

‘If I let her become wary of me, it’ll make things much harder going forward.’

Club Queen was the perfect environment for encountering fascinating research subjects, but Idelli, as much of a troublemaker as she was, had a way of dragging attention to herself like a storm. If she started focusing on Riche, it would make continuing her research far more difficult.

Hoping to gather as many sample cases as possible during her time here, Riche found the current situation deeply unfortunate.

Idelli reached out, grabbing Riche’s collar and pulling her closer. When Idelli’s sharp nose grazed her skin, Riche flinched, instinctively drawing her shoulders together.

How can someone’s nose be so pointy?

Suppressing an inner groan, she suddenly became aware of a tangy lemonade-like scent that seemed to take over her thoughts.

‘The pheromones of an extreme Omega.’

It was irresistible, like someone who had gone three days without food being presented with a glass of lemonade. Saliva pooled under her tongue.

Still hanging off her, Idelli leaned in closer, her golden hair falling over her shoulder like threads of spun gold unraveling from a spool. Riche, her eyelids half-closed, couldn’t help but notice how the strands seemed to flow smoothly, like silk escaping from a tower-bound princess.

Sniff.

Idelli inhaled deeply as if even that wasn’t enough. Her nose shifted slightly to the side, grazing along the curve of Riche’s slender neck. As the bridge of Idelli’s nose brushed against her skin with what felt like an almost caressing motion, Riche bit her lip, trying to suppress a ticklish sensation.

Ding!

[You are receiving dangerous attention from an extreme Omega.]

Riche didn’t need the system’s notification to tell her this—it was obvious.

Frozen in place, staring blankly into the air, she barely reacted as Idelli pulled back and tilted her head slightly, studying her with narrowed eyes as though trying to gauge something. Riche swallowed hard.

“No other scent is coming through,” Idelli muttered, her clear blue gaze piercing Riche’s face.

Her eyes were languid and elegant, with a hint of sensuality, but something in them sparked sharply for a moment.

“Did you sleep with him?”

“…….”

The veiled cruelty lurking beneath Idelli’s soft question made Riche swallow again.

Idelli reminded her of King Midas—grasping treasures tightly in both hands, glaring ferociously at anyone who dared to come close. There was a feral possessiveness about her. Riche felt sweat bead on her back but was grateful that her emotions didn’t show on her face.

The unnervingly calm tone in Idelli’s voice was entirely unexpected. The spot on Riche’s neck where Idelli’s nose had brushed tingled belatedly, as though charged with electricity. She was certain goosebumps had risen.

‘I didn’t think it would escalate to this.’

Idelli’s piercing gaze demanded an answer. Riche, keeping her lips sealed, shook her head slowly. Whether Idelli believed her or not, her expressionless eyes betrayed nothing.

Riche vowed to avoid getting involved with Raymond Strigo any further. It might have been a little late for that, but she still hoped to salvage the situation.

Gaining the distrust of such a valuable research subject was already unfortunate enough. If she took one more wrong step, it could lead to an irreparable relationship.

‘It’s not too late yet.’

Though Raymond, as Kairos’s sibling, was a valuable subject for studying the hereditary traits of Alphas and Omegas, keeping clear of Idelli Grace’s disfavor took priority for now.

“Hmmm.”

A low hum escaped Idelli’s throat as she released Riche’s collar. Freed from her grip, Riche straightened her posture, smoothing out her clothing.

Idelli, having seemingly lost some of her interest, muttered to herself, “Maybe he wanted to try something new.”

She doesn’t fully believe me, Riche thought, sensing Idelli had concluded that Raymond might have shown some interest but hadn’t taken things too far.

Feeling her heart still racing, Riche reaffirmed her decision to steer clear of Raymond. From the very first moment she’d met him, she’d felt he was trouble—and she hadn’t been wrong.

“I have been neglecting Ray lately.”

Idelli, nodding to herself as though reaching a conclusion, touched her glossy lips thoughtfully before breaking into a sly smile. Her once-transparent, neutral expression disappeared, replaced by something far more chilling. Riche shivered at the sight.

A lunatic native.

“Not that it’s likely, but if he ever comes here again, let me know immediately.”

“……”

“It’d be better for you to follow my instructions than to rely on that insignificant second son of a noble family. That is, unless you have some ulterior motive,” she added with a pointed smile.

Idelli was implying that being under her command—and enjoying the crumbs of her favor—would be far more advantageous than becoming Raymond’s mistress.

Though Riche had no interest in “crumbs” or anything else Idelli was offering, she nodded obediently to reassure her.

For Riche, Raymond and Idelli were nothing more than research subjects.

The idea of earning their favor, much less coveting it, went against her pride as a dimensional researcher, anthropologist, and lead investigator of Laboratory 28—someone once praised as a star researcher by her senior mentor.

“Oh, I’m not in the mood to drink after all,” Idelli said, shaking the cocktail glass she had barely touched before setting it down on the table.

“It wasn’t very good, anyway.”

She rose gracefully, her movements as smooth as silk.

Riche, ever the diligent employee, moved swiftly to assist her, preparing to escort her out before she was even fully on her feet. Stepping to the side, Riche bowed slightly as Idelli walked past her.

The sweet and tangy scent of lemonade drifted by as Idelli brushed past, lingering in the air. Only after the scent faded did Riche glance up discreetly.

The black, form-fitting dress hugged Idelli’s figure, accentuating her graceful, seductive silhouette as she walked away.

Just before reaching the door, Idelli turned her head slightly to glance back at Riche.

“Oh, by the way,” she said, her voice casual yet sharp, “that other employee…”

“……”

“The big guy with the tidy hair.”

Riche’s mind lit up instantly.

She knew exactly who Idelli was referring to, but she refrained from responding too quickly.

Idelli’s elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“His name… was it Mikhail?”

The feigned uncertainty in her tone made Riche relax, swallowing a smile. Idelli was pretending not to know Mikhail’s name on purpose.

“Yes, Mikhail,” Riche replied calmly.

Idelli nodded graciously.

“Bring him to me.”

“……”

“I’ll have my carriage parked across the street. The moonlight is faint tonight—perfect for riding the clouds.”

As Idelli’s lips curled into a slow smile, Riche nodded. The cryptic phrasing was a commonly understood euphemism, often used to arrange clandestine meetings meant to go unnoticed.

“And if anyone asks,” Idelli added, narrowing her eyes slightly as if searching for an excuse and pouting her full lips just enough to seem distracted. The expression was irresistible, the kind of look that would drive men mad. Watching her, Riche couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

She truly is a woman born to seduce.

It wasn’t just a performance—it was in her very nature, a confidence and allure that Riche couldn’t even imagine trying to replicate.

“Tell them I’m disciplining an insolent employee,” Idelli said nonchalantly.

Riche nodded again, this time adding a subtle expression of confusion, as though she had no idea why Mikhail was being summoned.

Idelli pushed the door open slightly, pausing as though she had just remembered something.

“Oh, and one more thing,” she said, turning back to Riche. “Don’t tell anyone about what you saw that night.”

‘That night?’

The words echoed in Riche’s mind, making her flinch slightly.

Idelli smiled—a mischievous, knowing smile that sent a chill down Riche’s spine. Her previously calm nerves prickled with goosebumps again.

After Idelli left, Riche immediately set out to find Mikhail.

Mikhail, who had been sitting on a chair on the first floor with no intention of leaving, looked as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. When he glared at Riche with sharp, accusing eyes, she suddenly felt a little pathetic for even bothering to deliver this message.

With no choice but to endure, she gestured for him to lean in closer. Mikhail, still suspicious, reluctantly brought his ear near her.

When Riche whispered to him, his expression instantly betrayed his shock. He couldn’t hide his bewilderment, and soon, his face twisted into something peculiar. His eyes drooped, and he nervously licked his lips repeatedly.

Riche could tell that his trembling mouth wasn’t just from awkwardness—it was something more.

As Mikhail adjusted his uniform collar, trying to seem nonchalant, he started heading toward the back door.

“Where’s he going?”

It was Elsa and the boss, both appearing at the worst possible moment.

Riche hesitated for a brief moment before assessing the situation. Glancing back at Mikhail, who froze and looked over his shoulder awkwardly, she decided it was better to mix in half-truths.

“A customer said they’d like to give him a little… education,” Riche explained.

Elsa immediately frowned. Mikhail’s behavior lately had been less than trustworthy, so she didn’t question Riche’s words.

“Hey, Mikhail! What kind of trouble have you caused this time? Are you trying to keep stressing out the boss?”

Elsa raised her hand as if ready to yank at his hair, growling like an irate wildcat with bristling fur. Her glare all but screamed, “You’re going to get yourself killed at this rate.”

“A customer? Wait, you don’t mean her, do you? Oh, for crying out loud, is that really who it is?”

The boss’s face grew serious. After all, if Idelli Grace herself had requested to “educate” one of their employees, how could he not be concerned?

Looking like he hadn’t expected to be exposed, Mikhail froze in place for a moment, then quickly adjusted his expression. His face twisted into an exaggerated mask of defiance, as if he were silently shouting, I’m angry about this. I’m so angry about this. I’m incredibly angry about this.

Riche bit the inside of her cheek, struggling to suppress a laugh.

Oddly enough, his over-the-top display of rage had its intended effect. Elsa, who had been ready to tear into him moments earlier, hesitated, shrinking back as if worried Mikhail might snap.

“What are you talking about?” Mikhail spat. “I haven’t done anything wrong. It’s that woman’s twisted personality acting up again. Fine. Let’s see what she wants to say. I’ll go and have a look for myself.”

“Ah, Mikhail, please…”

The boss sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Lately, some of Idelli’s eccentric behavior had been seriously grating on his already frayed nerves.

“You glaring at Idelli Grace is enough to make me shiver, and I’m not even involved. Do you really think a woman who dominates high society doesn’t notice?”

As if she hadn’t just been silent, Elsa snapped back.

“I’ll go myself,” the boss said, pressing his temples like he had a headache. “No matter what Mikhail might have done, calling one of my employees out separately for ‘education’ is absurd.”

His pride clearly wounded, the boss wore an irritated expression as he began walking toward the door. That was when Mikhail, looking panicked, grabbed his arm.

The boss glanced down at Mikhail’s hand, gripping the sleeve of his shirt hard enough to wrinkle the fabric, and then looked back at him with a puzzled expression. Mikhail forced an awkward smile.

“No, no, it’s fine. I’ll go. What kind of employee would I be if I caused trouble and made you deal with the fallout? I’ll apologize, and that’ll be that. Then I’ll clock out right after. See you tomorrow, alright? Tomorrow.”

Without waiting for a reply, he dashed outside, as if terrified someone might follow him.

The atmosphere in the room cooled abruptly, leaving the air heavy and silent. Elsa muttered suspiciously under her breath, “What’s gotten into him? He used to spill drinks on customers and then run crying to the boss to fix things. Is he finally growing up now that he’s older?”

“Should I really have let him go like that? I can’t help but worry,” the boss sighed.

“Oh, come on, boss. If Mikhail, of all people, says he’ll handle it, just let him. Why stress yourself out over it?”

“That’s because you don’t know Idelli Grace,” the boss said, his voice grave. “Strip away the glitz and glamour, and underneath all that polish is something dark and dripping with blood. Ask any well-connected manager in this industry. She’s poison, pure and simple.”

Elsa tilted her head quizzically, muttering, “Is that so?” But Riche felt a shiver run down her spine.

The boss’s words felt like they were directed at her, and her unease deepened.

Mikhail, however, wasn’t a concern at all.

Sure, he might eventually be soaked in Idelli’s metaphorical poison, but at this moment, he was likely reveling in a happiness so complete that he wouldn’t care if he died for it. If there was any real worry, it would be whether or not he’d die in the throes of passion.

‘Honestly, those two are both masters of their craft when it comes to their… performances.’

It had felt like watching an obscene work of art unfold.

In any case, summing up her thoughts:

[Raymond Strigo: Pervert.
Idelli Grace: Pervert.
Mikhail: Pervert.]

Damn. They were so one-dimensional that their value as research cases was utterly disappointing.

After some thought, she added a few more detailed notes:

[Raymond Strigo: Pervert. Likes butts.
Idelli Grace: Pervert. Highly lustful.
Mikhail: Pervert. Lacks loyalty.]