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

The butler kept glancing over his shoulder as he made his way down the narrow, unlit alleys that wound away from the castle.

The moonlight barely touched these streets, and that suited him just fine.

His steps were quick, yet measured, the soft crunch of gravel beneath his polished boots sounding much louder in the quiet night than he liked.

He reached into his coat, feeling the cold metal key nestled there. It was the only thing that could open the reinforced door to his secret storage.

The place where months of quiet scheming had come to fruition.

Where enough food and supplies to outlast any famine lay neatly stacked, waiting for the day when desperation would make them worth their weight in gold.

His lips curled into a small, self-satisfied smirk. The fools in the castle—Lady Rose, her pompous guests, even the Grand Duchess—had no idea.

All it would take was a few more weeks of shortages, and then the price of a single loaf would triple. He'd be the one with the bargaining power, not them.

The alley narrowed, the shadows deepening. Just ahead, the worn wooden door to his "hideout" came into view, the iron lock gleaming faintly in the darkness. The butler reached for the key.

He didn't hear the footsteps until it was too late.

Something moved in the corner of his vision—too fast, too close. A powerful hand clamped onto his collar, wrenching him back before he could cry out.

Another strike—precise and merciless—landed at the base of his skull. His knees buckled, and his world tilted.

Through the haze of shock, he caught a brief glimpse of two faces illuminated by the moonlight—Bruce's stern glare and Melissa's cold, focused eyes. Then, darkness swallowed him.

"Check inside."

Bruce ordered, his voice a low growl.

Melissa signaled to two of the waiting guards, who rushed past her and began working on the lock. The butler lay slumped at their feet, breathing but utterly unconscious.

The lock clicked open, and the heavy door creaked wide. The torchlight from the guards spilled inside—and gasps echoed down the alley.

The room beyond was no simple hideout. It was a storage vault.

Shelves upon shelves of grain sacks, barrels of dried meat, crates of preserved fruits and vegetables, all stacked with meticulous care.

Bundles of fine cloth and sealed jars of honey sat alongside them, the air heavy with the mixed scents of stored goods.

Melissa stepped inside, her eyes narrowing.

"This… this is enough to feed the entire fort for weeks."

Bruce's jaw tightened.

"And yet they've been rationing everyone to scraps."

One of the guards knelt to inspect a barrel, breaking the seal. The fresh scent of salted fish wafted out—perfectly preserved, untouched.

"It's hoarding. He was waiting for the shortages to get worse… so he could sell it back at whatever price he wanted."

Melissa said grimly, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

Bruce's gaze drifted back to the unconscious butler.

"Get everything catalogued. I want this place locked and guarded until Kyle decides what to do."

The guards nodded, already moving to inventory the stash.

Bruce knelt beside the butler, his voice low enough for only Melissa to hear.

"This isn't just greed. This kind of stockpile takes time, planning… and cooperation from inside the castle. The question is—who else knew?"

Melissa's eyes hardened.

"Whoever it is, they're going to regret it."

Bruce stood, giving the order to carry the butler back to the castle. As they hauled him away, the door to the storage room swung shut, sealing away the evidence for now.

But Bruce knew one thing—this wasn't over. This was just the first crack in something much bigger.

Lady Rose sat rigidly in her chair, the candlelight flickering across her pale face as Bruce finished his report.

"…and that's where we found the crates. Enough grain and dried goods to feed the estate for months. All hidden in a false cellar under the butler's personal quarters."

He concluded grimly.

The room was heavy with silence. Kyle leaned back against the wall, his gaze steady on Lady Rose, but he said nothing yet.

The Grand Duchess Amana stood beside the table, arms folded, her expression a mixture of disapproval and concern.

"That's impossible. The man has served my family faithfully for over a decade. There must be some mistake."

Lady Rose finally said, her voice sharp but wavering.

Amana's lips pressed into a thin line.

"We all wish it were a mistake, Lady Rose, but the evidence is not kind."

Before Rose could snap back, the door opened. Silvy entered, a stack of papers in her hands. She set them down on the table without ceremony, her eyes fixed on the young noble.

"These were in the butler's personal study. Hidden under the false bottom of his desk drawer."

She said.

Kyle stepped forward and pulled the top page free. His eyes scanned the neat handwriting and the heavy, wax-sealed signatures. He passed one to Amana without a word.

Lady Rose reached out and snatched another page from the pile. Her breath caught.

"What is this?"

She demanded, though her voice had lost much of its authority.

"Written agreements. Your butler has been selling off food stores to private buyers in the surrounding lands. In some cases, promising even more—at triple the usual price—once the shortages become critical."

Silvy replied coldly.

Rose's fingers tightened on the paper until it crumpled.

"No…"

She whispered.

Kyle's voice was quiet, but it cut through the room.

"You've been bleeding resources for months, Lady Rose. This isn't just negligence. It's deliberate sabotage."

Her eyes darted between the faces in the room—Kyle's calm detachment, Amana's steady concern, Silvy's hard glare, and Bruce's grim certainty.

"I… I should have seen it. The shortages… the sudden expenses… but I thought—"

She admitted at last, her tone cracking.

She broke off, swallowing the rest.

Amana's voice softened.

"You trusted him. That trust was misplaced, but it doesn't make you weak. What matters now is how you act."

Rose lowered her head, the weight of betrayal settling over her like a leaden cloak.

"Then we find out how far this treachery runs… and we end it."

Kyle's gaze sharpened.

"Agreed."

Kyle's voice carried a quiet finality, and the room seemed to grow heavier. Lady Rose turned away from the table, pacing once before stopping at the window.

Outside, the courtyard bustled with guards and servants, all unaware that their household's loyalty had just been split open and examined under a harsh light.

Silvy stepped closer to Kyle, lowering her tone.

"I've already sent word to our watchers. If the butler's allies catch wind of his capture, they might try to flee… or destroy the rest of the evidence."

Amana's eyes narrowed.

"Then we close the net now. Bruce and Melissa can keep the butler under tight watch. No one gets in or out without my permission."

Lady Rose's jaw tightened.

"I want to be there when he talks."

Kyle regarded her evenly.

"You will be. But first, you need to prepare yourself—because once you hear the truth, there's no unhearing it."

A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face, but it didn't last.

"Then I'll be ready."

Kyle gave a small nod before turning toward the door.

"Good. We move now. Every moment we wait is another chance for them to cover their tracks."