I Became the Omega in a Game - Chapter 56

Riche’s head throbbed as she recalled Elza, who had been showing a troubled and at the same time strange look. She could see what she was thinking.

‘This means that the time I can live so comfortably is running out.’

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice that the gaze looking at her was getting darker and darker.

“It’s been a while.”

Riche looked up. His parched voice was a little hoarse and subtly sullen. She was a little embarrassed because it was different from his previous confident appearance.

Raymond, whom she had seen after a long time, had become emaciated. Riche observed him as if she were looking at a statue erected in the middle of a square.

“I wanted to see you.”

“……”

“Unbearably.”

He covered his face with one hand. A tearful voice flowed out from between his fingers.

“I wanted to see you, Riche.”

Riche didn’t say anything. She didn’t really know what to say. However, she was wasting a little time. It was annoying. She wasn’t interested in Raymond, who had suddenly appeared and confessed that he wanted to see her. It wasn’t even as interesting as wondering whether Mikhail was still meeting Idelli or not.

Raymond lowered his hand. Riche, who met his exposed eyes and gaze, replied with a ‘hmm’.

“I see.”

At that short reply, one side of Raymond’s lips twisted like crumpled paper. He looked at Riche with dissatisfaction, and when she didn’t show any particular reaction, he sighed.

“I came to find you, and I was so surprised that the store was gone. I came after searching for a long time. They said you weren’t here, so where are you living?”

“Just, at an acquaintance’s house.”

Raymond, who muttered, “I see,” suddenly asked.

“Weren’t you curious about me while you weren’t coming?”

Riche was about to honestly reply that she wasn’t, but she stopped. There was something she was curious about.

“Idelli Grace and……”

Raymond’s fingers floating in the air twitched finely. She saw that reaction clearly, but Riche pretended not to notice and continued.

“I thought you were doing well, so what’s going on here? She wouldn’t like it.”

“Why is her name coming out here?”

Raymond was self-deprecating.

“Did you think I was with Idelli until now?”

Riche tilted her head.

“Aren’t you?”

Raymond bit his lip. The answer was out even though he didn’t say it. Riche was getting bored. The slight surprise she had felt when she met him had disappeared as if washed away. Raymond suddenly asked.

“Are you disappointed in me?”

Riche raised her eyebrows, puzzled. What was there to be disappointed about?

“No.”

Funnily enough, Raymond looked disappointed at that answer. The atmosphere grew heavy. Riche didn’t like this situation. She wasn’t curious about why Raymond had come to see her. She just felt frustrated, like she was wasting her time here.

“I don’t know what the problem is.”

She sighed as she spoke, and Raymond slightly lifted his head to look at her.

“I know about the rumors about Ray. You really like Idelli Grace, don’t you? Since you were young.”

Raymond opened his mouth as if to retort, but then weakly pressed his lips shut.

“So, when Ray didn’t show up, I assumed he was living happily with Idelli Grace.”

“And?”

Raymond chuckled dryly, tilting his head to look at her. His tall, slender frame seemed somehow deflated.

“Do I look happy?”

She answered honestly.

“You don’t seem to be.”

“Right.”

Raymond sighed. Riche, who was counting the number of sighs he let out inwardly, found it ridiculous and stopped.

“I actually thought you’d come looking for me. I cut off contact without a word for days.”

“I would…?”

“Yeah. I even proposed to you, didn’t I?”

Raymond gave a bitter smile at Riche’s ambiguous reaction. The once-unrestrained man was now subdued, as if something had broken his spirit. Raymond shot her a resentful look.

“Fucking hell, couldn’t you even send a message?”

“How could I have contacted you?”

Riche muttered, troubled. Inwardly, she repeatedly grumbled about how annoying this was, feeling like she’d been struck by lightning out of the blue.

“What does that mean?”

“How could I dare, in my position?”

In truth, she had been relieved that Idelli’s attention was elsewhere, but thinking it was best to send Raymond away gently, Riche spoke in a mild voice. He questioned her accusingly.

“Why couldn’t you contact me?”

“Are you seriously asking? Rumor has it you’re constantly with Lady Grace. How could I possibly contact you? I’d only be a nuisance. And my situation wouldn’t improve either.”

Raymond’s face paled as she shrugged. But Riche’s heart was cold. She had already given him hints several times. She had asked him to be careful because Idelli was scary. And now he was asking why she hadn’t contacted him? While he was at the Grace estate? Riche inwardly scoffed, wondering why he didn’t just strangle her.

Raymond stammered, trying to explain.

“A nuisance? Idelli and I aren’t like that.”

“But you like her, don’t you?”

“…Not anymore.”

He glanced at her before continuing quietly.

“I like you.”

Riche showed no reaction. Raymond frowned, looking disheartened.

“I used to like Idelli. She tormented me for years. I wanted her desperately. So…”

Tired of listening to his seemingly endless excuses, Riche didn’t even bother choosing her words carefully. In fact, she wasn’t even Queen’s employee anymore, so she didn’t need to be mindful of him. The thought made Riche feel a sense of liberation, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.

“Did you sleep with her?”

Raymond’s eyes widened. Riche remained calm as she looked at his face. She had expected an affirmative answer, but his reaction was unexpected.

“No!”

Did he come here because he failed to sleep with her? Raymond, unaware of Riche’s thoughts, was startled by his own voice. When Riche frowned, he frantically ran a hand over his face, looking visibly flustered.

“No, nothing like that happened. What do you take me for?”

Hmm. If he met Don Juan, Giacomo Girolamo Casanova, Julius Caesar, Pablo, George Gordon Byron, Raffaello Sanzio, Giacomo Puccini, or Sultan Moulay Ismail (famous playboys), he’d be the kind of talent who could excitedly compile 100 ways to bring a woman to climax? Grauji wouldn’t be left out in this kind of matter either.

The characteristic of these people is that they can utter all sorts of sweet words “sincerely” to seduce women.

“You said you wanted her desperately, and rumor has it you’ve been staying at Idelli Grace’s house.”

But you didn’t sleep with her? Liar. Raymond jumped at Riche’s knowing gaze.

“I swear, I didn’t sleep with her.”

“…”

“Do you want me to prove it?”

Seeing him brighten up at that, Riche openly frowned. At her contemptuous reaction, Raymond clicked his tongue in annoyance. She was dumbfounded. Faced with her polite but consistently cold expression, he confessed as if he had no choice.

“I didn’t… penetrate her.”

Finally, the honest truth comes out. Riche sent him a mocking look, as if to say, “See?”

“That kind of thing is just… something close friends can do, right?”

Raymond hastily tried to justify himself. Of course, his words fell on deaf ears.

“Idelli was holding me back, so I couldn’t come. I kept wanting to see you. If you’re doubting my sincerity, there’s no need. I’m certain this time.”

Riche raised an eyebrow. As if answering her question, Raymond avoided her gaze and said,

“You know it. I can’t be with anyone but you.”

Riche crossed her arms tightly, looking at his dejected figure.

“I understand now.”

“Huh?”

“Lady Grace seduced you, and you got tempted, but when you actually tried, you couldn’t get an erection.”

Raymond’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

“How did you know?”

Raymond, who had confessed with his own mouth, clamped his mouth shut. Riche let out a hollow laugh.

“I was wondering why you suddenly came to find me…”

“Fucking hell, yeah, I came to fuck. What’s the problem? Don’t look at me like I’m a shameless bastard. You’re partly responsible for this too.”

He raised his head with those meaningful words. Riche flinched at the sight of his face. His eyes were desperate yet burning, like someone who hadn’t eaten in a week seeing food for the first time in a long time. Raymond licked his chapped lips.

“I told you before.”

“…”

“I’ve become someone who can’t be with anyone but you.”

Riche gave him a look that said, “What are you even saying in this situation?”

“I’m not joking.”

Raymond preempted her.

“Shit, I was just saying it back then. I thought it was a temporary thing. But it was the same with Idelli… It’s true. I can’t get an erection.”

“…”

“Except with you, Riche.”

Riche, still with her arms crossed, sighed deeply.

“I think you’ve come to the wrong place.”

“What?”

“If that’s the problem, you should go to the healing center, Sir Raymond Strigo.”

Raymond flinched at the formal address that drew a line between them.

“Is it a mental issue?”

“…”

“Or have you caught some rare disease?”

She spoke calmly, but somehow her words felt like they were stabbing at his ears. Raymond, his heart shriveling, said nothing. Riche felt like she had become a wife catching her cheating husband, and she didn’t feel good about it. She deliberately sighed deeply and offered kind advice.

“If you’re not sure, you should go to the healing center. I know a healer who’s very good, so they can diagnose…”

“It’s not that kind of problem.”

Riche stopped speaking at his suppressed voice. He glared at her with dark eyes. His gaze was like a damp swamp. Riche suddenly felt uneasy, as if she would sink if she took even one step in.

Suddenly, the intensity drained from Raymond’s eyes. His unfocused gaze made him look like an immature boy. His red eyes, once full of spirit and lacking in arrogance, now felt different. He seemed at a loss, unsure of how to act.

Riche stared at Raymond anew, as if she were looking at a different person. What on earth had happened to him?

“Actually…”

He was cautious, as if revealing a secret.

“I’ve imprinted on you.”

Finally, he confessed. Riche slowly mulled it over.

Imprinted.

‘Imprinted?’

Her large eyes widened.