Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent

Kyle stood in the quiet hallway, his hand still on the doorknob, his eyes locked onto the strange scene before him.

The early morning light filtered faintly through the windows, but the air was heavy with tension—and mana.

He could feel it pulsing like a heartbeat, faint but present, lingering in the space like smoke after a fire.

Silvy was practically seething, her hands clenched at her sides, her entire frame stiff with restrained fury.

Her cheeks were bright red, and her voice trembled with a barely-contained shout as she glared at the girl standing in front of her.

The same girl Kyle had caught sneaking into his room the night before.

"I'm going to ask one more time. What were you doing in my fiancé's room?"

Silvy said, voice tight.

The girl, clearly disoriented and wide-eyed, looked from Silvy to Kyle and back again. mHer lips parted, then closed, as if the words were refusing to come out.

Eventually, she shook her head.

"I-I don't know. I woke up in there. I don't remember anything after last night. I swear!"

She said.

Silvy took a step forward, her hands twitching again, this time with the impulse to throttle rather than restrain.

"You just happened to sleepwalk into his room, huh? While wearing that look on your face?"

"I—what look?!"

Kyle stepped forward, raising a hand.

"Silvy."

She turned to him quickly, mouth opening, ready to lash out again, but he simply motioned toward his room.

"Let's talk later."

Silvy paused, blinking at the closed door.

"Wait… you weren't inside all night?"

"No. I locked her in from the outside and stayed in another room."

Kyle said calmly.

Now Silvy looked caught off guard. Her anger didn't vanish, but it stumbled, giving way to confusion.

"Then… why? Rather, what happened?"

Kyle's eyes narrowed slightly, just enough to show that he was already thinking several steps ahead.

"She was under someone's control. Mana manipulation. She wasn't acting on her own. I put her in there to keep her from hurting anyone—including herself."

The girl flinched at his words.

"Mana…? Control?"

She echoed softly, clearly not understanding.

Silvy's face shifted between expressions—annoyance, confusion, a trace of worry. She looked at the girl again, then at Kyle.

"So she was a puppet."

Kyle nodded.

"And the strings were cut before I could trace them. A clean break. Whoever did it knew what they were doing."

Silvy crossed her arms.

"And you weren't going to tell me this because…?"

"I was going to. Just not in the middle of a mana flare and hallway drama."

He said, brushing past her to open the door fully.

Queen chirped from inside the room and flapped out lazily, landing on Kyle's shoulder with a flutter.

It tilted its head, observing the scene as if mildly entertained.

"Breakfast. Let's talk downstairs. I'd rather not explain this on an empty stomach."

Kyle said with a sigh.

The girl nodded quickly and scurried off down the hall, as if desperate to escape Silvy's stare.

But Silvy didn't move.

"I'm coming with you. But this isn't over. I don't know if I can trust you yet or not."

She muttered, eyes still fixed on Kyle.

Kyle could have said anything more, but he decided not to. Whatever relationship Silvy wanted with him was not the one they currently had.

However, he did think to correct Silvy's misunderstanding before they reached the dining room.

After all, Kyle did not want her as his enemy.

"Her mana presence is back. She's not a mage. Not a fighter either. Definitely not the one who's been tracking me."

Silvy blinked.

"Then who is?"

Kyle shook his head.

"Not sure yet. But I doubt this girl even knows what she's been used for."

Silvy glanced at her again, her expression softening just a little.

"Do we… keep her?"

Kyle frowned, then looked at Silvy with an almost resigned look on his face.

'Don't make me babysit another one.'

He sighed.

"We'll question her first. Then decide."

"But she's not sharing a room with you,"

Silvy huffed and looked away, muttering something under her breath about "annoying charm and stupid timing."

Kyle just leaned back with a slight smile, already thinking about the pieces on the board—and who was really moving them.

'It is an opportunity, but it will only be worth taking if it yields some positive results for me. I am sure whoever chose the girl to attack us must have a reason for choosing her. I should look more into it before I make any decision.'

Kyle and Silvy entered the modest dining area of the inn, where the morning sunlight spilled lazily through the windows.

The room was quiet, the occasional clink of cutlery or low murmurs of conversation being the only sound.

At a corner table, the unknown girl from earlier was already seated, poking nervously at a piece of bread.

As soon as she saw them approach, she stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair in the process.

"I—I'm truly sorry for everything. I didn't mean to cause a misunderstanding or—"

She said, voice strained but formal. She hesitated, eyes flicking to Kyle for a brief second before lowering her gaze.

"—invade your privacy."

Kyle raised a brow but said nothing. Silvy, on the other hand, folded her arms, lips pressed in a tight line.

She didn't look particularly convinced, but she chose to remain silent for now.

The girl took a deep breath, straightening herself with practiced poise.

"My name is Ricca Barren. I am the Margrave of these lands."

There was a beat of silence.

Silvy's expression didn't change much. If anything, her eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing to challenge the statement.

Kyle noticed, of course.

He could tell Silvy was skeptical—rightfully so.

A Margrave sneaking into someone's room in the middle of the night under magical influence wasn't just odd—it was dangerous.

But Kyle's face remained composed.

"Margrave. That explains a few things. But not everything. Looks like someone wanted to cause trouble for both of us by creating a rumor…or have me end your life."

He greeted politely, taking a seat at the same table.

Ricca offered a faint smile, though it looked forced.

"Unfortunately… I don't remember anything from last night. Or much from the past few days, if I'm being honest. It's all a blur. I only know that I've been—missing, apparently. And now that I'm back, there's confusion."

Silvy didn't hide her suspicion this time.

"Convenient."

Ricca flinched, but nodded.

"Yes. I agree. That's why I intend to investigate what happened. And if I remember anything, I will come find the two of you to explain everything properly."

Kyle tapped his fingers against the table once, then looked directly at her.

"That might not be the best idea."

Ricca looked confused.

"Pardon?"

"It's dangerous. Whoever manipulated you might not be done with you yet. If you wander around alone or disappear again, it'll only make things worse."

Kyle said plainly.

Ricca hesitated.

"Then… what would you suggest?"

Kyle glanced at Silvy, then back at Ricca.

"Hire us. Just for now. We'll stay close, keep an eye out. If nothing else, it'll buy you time—and safety."

Ricca looked unsure for a moment, but then slowly nodded.

"Alright… that might not be a bad idea."