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

Melissa was sure she had gathered enough information.

Her master needed to hear about this as soon as possible.

With careful steps, she backed away from the shadows, ensuring she didn't make a sound.

The innkeeper was still occupied, too focused on his blackmail letter to notice her retreat.

"Good. This will be an easy escape."

She thought.

She turned a corner, her heart steady, her movements precise—but just as she was about to slip away unseen, she walked straight into someone.

A soft, feminine "Oh?" filled the dimly lit corridor.

Melissa tensed.

She looked up to see a woman in an apron, with kind, gentle eyes and a pleasant smile.

The innkeeper's wife.

The woman's expression was harmless, almost motherly, but something about her put Melissa on edge.

'Too late to run now."'

She realized.

'Stay calm. Stay casual.'

The woman tilted her head slightly.

"What are you doing here, dear?"

Melissa's mind raced. She couldn't let the woman suspect anything, but she also couldn't show hesitation.

With a small, sheepish smile, Melissa replied.

"Ah… I got lost on the way to my room. This place is bigger than I expected."

The innkeeper's wife studied her for a moment, then chuckled.

"Ah, I see. These old hallways can be a little tricky at night."

She stepped aside, gesturing for Melissa to pass.

"Go on then, dear. Get some rest."

Melissa nodded politely and walked past, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

She had made it.

Or so she thought.

Just as she exhaled a quiet sigh of relief, something shifted in the air.

A strange, sweet scent.

Melissa's instincts screamed at her—but it was too late.

The dizzying aroma wrapped around her, making her head spin.

Her vision blurred, her knees buckled, and an overwhelming drowsiness crashed over her like a wave.

Poison.

She barely had time to turn back before the world tilted and she collapsed.

The last thing she saw was the innkeeper's wife smiling sweetly down at her.

A smile that was too kind.

A smile that told Melissa she had made a mistake.

The innkeeper's wife sighed, watching Melissa's body go limp.

She adjusted the apron over her dress and knocked lightly on the door behind her.

A few seconds later, the innkeeper himself emerged.

"What is it?"

He grumbled.

His wife smirked and pointed down at Melissa.

"Caught a little rat. She was sneaking around."

The innkeeper's eyes gleamed with interest as he crouched down and lifted Melissa's chin.

"Tch. Too young to be a spy. Probably one of that noble brat's people."

The wife nodded.

"He's already annoying enough, poking his nose where it doesn't belong."

She ran a hand through Melissa's hair as if checking the quality of livestock before pulling back with an approving nod.

"She'll fetch a good price if we sell her. But first, let's deal with her master."

The innkeeper grinned darkly.

"Agreed."

______

Kyle sat in the dimly lit room, flipping through a book he had brought with him.

The faint glow of a candle cast soft shadows across the pages as he read, absorbing the words with a calm, detached air.

Queen, the ever-watchful hawk, was perched comfortably on his shoulder, occasionally preening its feathers.

Just as Kyle was turning a page, the door creaked open.

Bruce stepped in, grinning proudly.

"Young Master, I took care of everything. You don't need to worry about a thing."

Kyle barely glanced up.

"I was never worried. And stop making a big deal out of small things"

He said plainly.

Bruce twitched slightly, feeling unappreciated.

This always happened. No matter how much effort he put in, Kyle always brushed it off like it was nothing.

Still, Bruce knew better than to argue. Instead, he forced a strained smile, though the frustration in his eyes was clear.

Unfortunately, Queen wasn't as forgiving.

The hawk fixed Bruce with an intimidating glare, its sharp eyes almost glowing in the dim light.

Bruce stepped back instantly, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Alright, alright, I get it! Relax, bird!"

Kyle sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Why is my personal guard acting like a spineless fool?"

Bruce coughed awkwardly.

"Young master…please don't say that. I'm trying my best here."

Kyle didn't bother arguing. Instead, he set his book aside and looked up.

"Did you see Melissa on your way back?"

Bruce blinked in confusion.

"Huh? No, not even once. But it's probably nothing. Maybe she went sightseeing or something."

Kyle frowned.

"Melissa? Sightseeing?"

That didn't sound right. Melissa was too dedicated to her duties to just wander off.

But, for now, Kyle decided to give her a little more time.

He waited.

Ten minutes passed.

Thirty minutes.

An hour.

Melissa still hadn't returned.

Kyle's gut feeling turned into full-fledged unease.

Without hesitation, he stood up.

"I'm going to find her."

Bruce immediately raised his hands in protest.

"Wait, wait! You can't just head out alone! What if something happened—"

Kyle shot him a look.

Bruce's protest died in his throat.

He knew.

Once Kyle made up his mind, there was no stopping him.

Kyle stepped into the dimly lit hallway, his expression unreadable as he made his way forward.

Queen, perched on his shoulder, tilted its head, sensing its master's unease.

Kyle raised his arm, and the hawk immediately took off, flapping its powerful wings as it disappeared into the shadows of the inn.

"Find anything suspicious."

Kyle murmured under his breath.

Queen let out a sharp cry in acknowledgment before soaring away.

Kyle, meanwhile, closed his eyes for a moment and focused.

Melissa's mana signature wasn't far off.

But something was wrong.

Normally, her mana was lively and alert.

Now, it was too calm… too still.

Kyle's eyes snapped open.

Without hesitation, he followed the source of the mana, moving quietly but quickly toward the section of the inn where he could feel her presence.

But before he could get far, a delicate voice called out to him.

"Young Master, you shouldn't be here."

Kyle stopped and turned his head slightly.

The innkeeper's wife stood in front of him, a sweet smile gracing her lips.

She had a mature beauty, the kind that made many men eager to listen to her words.

But Kyle barely spared her a glance.

She noticed this.

And it irritated her.