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

Kyle placed his hand on the shrine, allowing his mana to flow outward in an attempt to sense what lay beneath its surface.

At first, he felt nothing.

The structure seemed like an ordinary, half-burned ruin, but as he concentrated, he realized that something was interfering with his senses.

A barrier.

It was incredibly well-crafted—so much so that it had even concealed itself from Kyle's initial detection. His eyes narrowed.

Whoever had placed it here had to be a master of mana control, far beyond what he had encountered so far.

Kyle pushed his mana further, testing the intricate web of energy that formed the barrier.

The moment he did, a notification from his system rang in his mind.

[Your understanding of mana techniques has greatly improved.

Mana Control has evolved to Level 4.

New skill unlocked: Barrier Arts (Level 1).]

Kyle smirked.

This was an interesting gain, but he set it aside for now. He needed to focus on what was inside the shrine.

The moment his mana seeped into the layers of the barrier, he felt it—a presence buried deep beneath.

Something powerful, something old.

Without hesitation, Kyle dropped to one knee and began digging at the ground inside the shrine, his mana-infused fingers moving with precision.

The dirt resisted at first, almost as if it was rejecting his intrusion, but Kyle's control over his mana was far beyond anything ordinary.

Slowly but surely, he carved a path through the unnatural resistance, reaching for the buried object.

Bruce, watching from behind, frowned.

"Young Master, you should have let me handle the digging."

Kyle didn't even look up as he responded.

"You wouldn't have been able to. The earth here is laced with mana, requiring delicate control. If you had tried, you would have destroyed whatever was hidden here."

Bruce grumbled but didn't argue further. Instead, he stood guard, scanning their surroundings.

Finally, after what felt like minutes, Kyle's fingers wrapped around something solid. With a final tug, he pulled it free from the dirt.

It was an amulet.

The moment he laid eyes on it, a wave of pure rage surged through him. His grip tightened around the relic, his mana flaring violently as an overwhelming urge to destroy it consumed him.

The amulet was old—far older than anything in the village. It radiated a divine presence.

'So those cursed beings who call themselves as gods have touched this place as well?'

Kyle took a slow breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Destroying the amulet now would be a waste. He didn't know what it was or why it had been buried here.

All he knew was that it carried immense power—power that could be useful.

Clenching his jaw, he tucked the amulet into his coat. He would study it later.

With the shrine investigated and nothing else of value remaining, Kyle and his party continued their journey home.

______

After a few more days of travel, they finally neared the Armstrong territory.

As they approached the main town outside the castle, Kyle immediately noticed the change in how people looked at him.

The townspeople he had helped before now gazed at him with admiration, whispering excitedly among themselves. Some even bowed their heads slightly as he passed.

But the guards stationed along the walls of the Armstrong estate were another matter entirely. Their expressions were filled with suspicion, even hostility.

Kyle caught snippets of their whispers.

"Is that really the 'useless' third son?"

"How did he manage to seduce the Grand Duchess?"

"He must have tricked her somehow."

Kyle smirked to himself. News of his engagement had already spread.

Of course, to most nobles, the idea of him—Kyle Armstrong, the crippled and 'useless' third son—somehow becoming the fiancé of the powerful Grand Duchess Amanda was incomprehensible.

They thought it was a fluke. A mistake.

Kyle couldn't wait to prove them all wrong.

More than that, he was looking forward to seeing the expressions on his siblings' faces when they realized just how far ahead he had already gotten.

As Kyle and his group walked through the village, he noticed a guard subtly slipping away from his post and breaking into a sprint toward the castle.

Kyle's sharp gaze followed him for a moment before he smirked.

"Looks like someone went to inform my dear siblings that I've returned," Kyle said, amusement lacing his voice.

Bruce, ever the cautious one, frowned.

"Young Master, if they know you're back, they might try something underhanded."

His voice was low, his hand twitching near his sword.

Melissa, still nursing a headache from her drinking the night before, scoffed.

"They wouldn't dare do anything stupid, would they?"

Kyle glanced at her and chuckled.

"Oh, they would. They definitely would."

Bruce gave Kyle a concerned look.

"Then, should we prepare for their tricks?"

Kyle waved a hand dismissively.

"No need. Let them try whatever they want. I already have a way to deal with whatever nonsense they come up with."

Bruce sighed, but Kyle's confidence was reassuring enough that he decided not to press the issue.

Melissa, on the other hand, gave Kyle a suspicious look but said nothing, rubbing her temple as they made their way toward the estate.

_____

Meanwhile, within the Armstrong estate, Christan sat in his personal study, deep in thought.

A knock on the door drew his attention, and a breathless guard entered, bowing respectfully.

"Young Master, Kyle has returned."

Christan's fingers tightened around the armrest of his chair.

So, the rumors were true. Kyle was back. It made Christan wonder what other rumors were true.

For days now, he had been hearing whispers—people talking about how Kyle, the so-called 'useless' third son, had somehow gotten engaged to Grand Duchess Amanda.

The idea itself was absurd. Christan refused to believe it.

Unless…

"Did he bring anything with him?"

Christan asked, his tone cold and measured.

The guard hesitated before shaking his head.

"Not that I saw, Young Master."

Christan clenched his jaw. That meant the official engagement document, if it existed, was still in Kyle's possession.

Good.

He knew his father wouldn't take Kyle's engagement seriously unless he saw official proof. And since their father wouldn't be back for another day, Christan had time to act.

A wicked smile spread across his face as an idea formed.

If he could get his hands on the engagement letter and destroy it, then there would be no evidence of Kyle's claim.

The rumors would eventually die down, and Kyle's engagement would be dismissed as nothing more than a misunderstanding or a lie.

Better yet, it would make Kyle look irresponsible—someone who wasn't even capable of keeping track of an important document.

'I am sure the Grand Duchess would change her mind about Kyle once she sees how useless and irresponsible he is. When that eventually happens, I will send a letter and offer my hand to her instead. Surely she won't be able to say no to me then.'

It would be Christan's victory once more.

Christian was born to lead the Dukedom and he would lead it. Kyle was not a threat to him now or ever.

He dismissed the guard and leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the wooden surface as he formulated his plan.

Kyle had a particular type when it came to women—and Christan planned to use that weakness of his younger brother against him.

A smirk tugged at Christan's lips as he reached for the silver bell on his desk and rang it once. Moments later, a beautiful red-haired maid entered the room and curtsied.

Ruby.

She was not just any maid—she was one of the most skilled seductresses in the Armstrong estate, having successfully manipulated and extracted secrets from many before.

"Young Master."

Ruby greeted, her voice smooth and confident.

Christan studied her for a moment before speaking.

"I have a task for you."

"I'm listening."