Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 216: Ch : A Gift to not Refuse- Part 1

Chapter 216: Ch 216: A Gift to not Refuse- Part 1

The village was alive with the pitter-patter of rain. For most of the villagers, the unexpected downpour was a cause for celebration.

The dry winds of the past weeks had left the air stifling, and many had struggled with the heat as they worked the fields or managed their daily tasks.

Now, with the temperature dropping and the air refreshed, people smiled more freely.

Children danced in the puddles, farmers tilted their faces skyward in gratitude, and chatter rose in clusters as the community enjoyed the rare blessing.

It was, Kyle realized, the perfect moment to introduce the Grand Duchess to his people.

He stood beside her beneath a large canvas tarp they’d strung up for shade days ago, now serving as makeshift shelter from the rain.

The Grand Duchess was dressed in a soft cream tunic and long navy cloak, freshly bathed and composed—yet Kyle could see through her composure.

She stood straighter than usual, her hands folded neatly, her smile polite.

But her eyes shifted just a bit too often, and her shoulders were slightly stiff.

She was out of her element.

Still, when Kyle introduced her as “Amanda, the Grand Duchess and my esteemed guest,” the crowd welcomed her with a round of polite applause. Most offered short bows or friendly greetings.

Some even cheered, though it was more out of respect for Kyle than out of recognition of the Grand Duchess herself.

But not everyone was pleased.

Kyle noticed it immediately: a few faces in the crowd with faintly curled lips and narrowed eyes.

One villager whispered to another, and both frowned. Another folded his arms and didn’t bother to clap. Suspicion. Maybe resentment.

Kyle stepped slightly in front of Amanda, hiding her from their view under the excuse of guiding her away.

As he did, he leaned toward Bruce and whispered under his breath.

“Keep an eye on the ones who didn’t look pleased.”

Bruce’s eyes flicked to the crowd and back.

“Understood.”

Kyle’s voice was low, meant for Bruce alone.

“Also, send word to Sasha. Tell her to hurry up with the ruin formations. I’ve got a bad feeling about this rain. Something’s not right.”

Bruce nodded grimly.

“I’ll go now. Be careful.”

With that, Bruce slipped away from the gathering, rain soaking into the back of his cloak as he disappeared into the village streets.

Kyle returned to the Grand Duchess’s side, gently placing a hand near her back to guide her further from the center of attention.

“You handled that well.”

He said quietly.

Amanda chuckled under her breath, though it sounded a little dry.

“Don’t lie to me, Kyle. I was stiff as a frozen board.”

“I said you handled it well. Not that you enjoyed it.”

He replied, offering her a sidelong glance.

She huffed a soft breath, visibly relaxing just a little.

“You’re lucky I trust you enough to do this at all.”

He gave her a half-smile.

“You trusted me more than I expected.”

Meanwhile, Bruce reached the edge of the southern fields, where Sasha knelt in the mud near a circular formation of stone markers.

Rain splattered her robes, and her hair clung to her face, but she was working fast—drawing lines in chalk, infusing them with mana, whispering chants to reinforce the protective ruins.

She was surrounded by a few apprentices, but they mostly watched as she barked instructions.

“Master Sasha.”

Bruce called out as he approached.

“Bruce. If you’re here to give me more work, I might scream.”

She muttered, wiping her brow and barely looking up.

“I’ll brace myself. Young Master says to speed it up. He has a bad feeling about the rain. Says something isn’t right.”

Bruce crouched beside her, voice low.

Sasha sighed, slumping for a breath.

“He always has a bad feeling. And every time, I end up with double shifts and sleepless nights.”

“I know. But when was the last time he was wrong?”

Bruce stood again and crossed his arms.

Sasha didn’t reply right away. Instead, she focused back on the ruin formation and pressed her palm against one of the stones.

Mana pulsed outward in waves, and the chalk lines lit up faintly. She exhaled.

“…Fine. I’ll double the output and move to the east quadrant next. But if I collapse, I expect a week of rest and hot baths.” ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Her tone was resigned but serious.

“I’ll make sure he hears that.”

Bruce said with a small smile.

As Bruce left, Sasha muttered to herself.

“Something’s off. I felt it too. This rain… doesn’t belong.”

Back at the center of the village, Kyle kept a calm front as he guided the Grand Duchess toward his office for a brief respite. But his thoughts churned.

The Queen’s influence had always come with signs—mana shifts, unnatural weather, corrupted life.

This rain, so sudden and so conveniently timed, was beginning to reek of divine manipulation.

And this time, they might already be too late.

______

The rain did not stop.

What had started as a refreshing surprise soon became a persistent curse.

For three days straight, the village was soaked without pause.

The sound of rain pattering on rooftops, once pleasant, now grated on everyone’s nerves.

Streets turned to mud, fields began to overflow, and barrels once used for water storage were now overflowing, pointless.

The mood in the village turned sour.

Even the most optimistic villagers—those who had cheered during the first rainfall—now muttered curses under their breath as they trudged through the slush.

“It’s too much. Another day or two of this and we’ll lose everything we planted.”

One farmer complained to another, watching helplessly as water crept into the edge of his vegetable patch.

Worse yet, the damp air brought more than just inconvenience. The humidity clung to every surface, never allowing anything to dry.

Blankets were constantly wet, and even the walls inside homes seemed to sweat.

Children began coughing, elders developed chills, and complaints of aching joints grew more frequent. With no sunlight to warm or cleanse, illness spread like fog across the village.

Even the mood in Kyle’s residence had taken a downturn.

The Grand Duchess, usually composed and resilient, now paced restlessly inside the room Kyle had given her.

Her brows were furrowed, her arms crossed, and her expression darkened with each glance outside.

“I’m beginning to feel trapped. At this rate, I won’t be able to leave your village for another week—or worse.”

She muttered, staring out the window where grey skies continued to weep.

Kyle, seated nearby with his hands steepled beneath his chin, didn’t look surprised. He had been expecting her to voice her frustration sooner or later.

“You’re not wrong. The roads are starting to collapse. We’ve got reports of minor landslides in the eastern paths, and the river’s rising.”

He said calmly.

Amanda turned toward him, lips pressed into a thin line.

“Then what are we doing still sitting here?”

Kyle met her gaze steadily.

“Exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I think it’s time we started looking into the cause of this rain.”

The Grand Duchess blinked, then frowned deeper.

“You believe this rain is being caused by something?”

“Not something. Someone. This doesn’t feel natural.”

Kyle said quietly.