Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 61: Ch 63: I’ll take Responsibility - Part 2

After finishing breakfast, the Head Knight adjusted her gloves and stood up.

"I’ll go get the supplies we need."

She announced. The heavy armor still hid her body and face, but Kyle could hear just a hint of frustration in her voice.

"I’ll join you."

Melissa immediately added, pushing her chair back.

The room fell silent for a brief moment.

Kyle barely reacted, his attention still on his meal, but Bruce frowned.

"Melissa…"

Bruce started, his tone edged with caution.

Melissa turned slightly toward him, a confident smirk playing on her lips.

"Relax! I won’t bite."

That was what Melissa said, but her voice made it sound like she wanted to only only bite, but chew and throw the head knight out.

Bruce leaned back, arms crossed.

"That’s what I’m worried about. Just…don’t do anything you would regret in the future, alright?"

Melissa rolled her eyes.

"I know my limits."

Bruce gave her a doubtful look, but after a moment, he sighed and let it go.

The Head Knight had remained quiet during the exchange but had noted Melissa’s tone—the slight hostility buried beneath it.

With that, the two women left together, their steps brisk and their postures tense.

The marketplace was alive with activity—merchants shouting out deals, customers haggling over prices, and the occasional street performer drawing small crowds.

The Head Knight walked with purpose, scanning the stalls for what they needed.

Melissa, however, wasn’t focused on shopping.

She was focused on the head knight.

Minutes passed before Melissa finally broke the silence.

"What do you want with my master?"

The words were blunt—too blunt.

The Head Knight paused in her steps, caught off guard by Melissa’s directness.

She turned her head slightly, golden eyes narrowing beneath her helmet.

"I don’t mean him any harm. I’m just here to observe him."

She said smoothly.

Melissa scoffed.

"Observe?"

The Head Knight didn’t respond, continuing toward a stall selling dried meat and travel supplies.

Melissa clenched her fists before following.

"I don’t buy it."

She said coldly.

Still, the knight didn’t react.

Melissa exhaled sharply.

"I am Kyle Armstrong’s shield. If anyone dares to come after him, I will be standing in their way."

She declared.

Something stirred in the Grand Duchess’s chest.

Loyalty.

Unwavering, undeniable loyalty.

Melissa didn’t hesitate in declaring her devotion to Kyle.

She didn’t care who heard her.

She spoke with pride.

And yet…

The Grand Duchess couldn’t do the same.

Beneath her helmet, her jaw tightened.

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’How foolish.’

But even as she told herself that, an uncomfortable feeling settled inside her.

Was she… jealous?

Of Melissa’s courage?

Or was it something else?

Her hands clenched at her sides.

Melissa had no fear in saying where she stood.

But the Head Knight?

She was forced to stand on the sidelines.

Watching.

Guarding.

Hiding.

Her heart skipped a beat before she could stop it.

Panic bloomed in her chest.

’This is dangerous. I need to get to my castle before my feelings bloom anymore.’

She needed distance—quickly—before these feelings turned into something she could no longer ignore.

She turned away from Melissa, forcing herself to refocus.

"This conversation is pointless."

She said finally.

Melissa scowled, but before she could say anything else, the Head Knight walked away.

The conversation was over.

But the thoughts it left behind were not.

By the time the two returned to the inn, the sky had darkened.

Their group gathered for a meal, but the Head Knight was quieter than usual.

Even Melissa, despite her sharp tongue earlier, was unusually silent.

Kyle, however, noticed everything.

After they finished eating, the group began to head upstairs to their rooms.

Kyle’s steps slowed as he passed a table near the entrance.

A group of rough-looking men sat there, whispering among themselves.

They barely hid their interest as their eyes followed Kyle’s group.

But it wasn’t Kyle they were watching.

It was their belongings.

Kyle didn’t stop walking, but his gaze sharpened slightly.

Bruce, noticing Kyle’s shift in demeanor, spoke in a low voice.

"What is it?"

Kyle’s voice was calm, but firm.

"We’ll have company tonight."

Bruce immediately understood.

Melissa, who had been in a bad mood since earlier, suddenly perked up.

She welcomed the thought of a fight.

The Head Knight, though lost in thought from her earlier conversation, also nodded.

Kyle rarely missed anything.

And if he said there would be an attack—then there would be one.

______

Kyle’s eyes snapped open the moment he heard the faint creaking of wooden floorboards outside his door.

His body moved instinctively.

Silent and precise, he slipped out of bed, grabbed his sword, and stepped toward the door.

The hallway was dimly lit, but he could see them.

A group of masked intruders.

Their gazes flicked toward him as he stepped into the corridor, his presence unsettlingly calm.

One of the men stepped forward.

"Well, well! You’re awake, Young Lord!"

The intruder sneered.

Kyle didn’t respond, merely watching.

Another one spoke up, voice dripping with arrogance.

"We know you’re a noble. If you want to keep your pretty little head, you’ll hand over all your valuables."

Kyle sighed, his expression utterly unimpressed.

"You woke me up for this?"

He muttered.

The leader’s face twitched with annoyance.

"You should be begging right now."

Kyle raised an eyebrow.

"Why would I beg?"

The thieves exchanged glances.

"Because if you don’t, you’re dead."

One of them growled.

Kyle let out another sigh, rolling his shoulders lazily.

"I have no intention of doing what you ask."

The air shifted.

The intruders, clearly used to fearful nobles, weren’t sure how to react to Kyle’s bored indifference.

It angered them.

"You little—!"

The first attacker lunged, dagger flashing in the dim light.

Kyle didn’t even flinch.

With a single, precise step, he avoided the strike entirely, his body moving as if he had foreseen it.

Before the attacker could process what happened, Kyle’s fist shot forward, slamming into the man’s gut.

The thief collapsed instantly, gasping for air.

The rest of the masked men froze.

Kyle cracked his knuckles.

"Let’s get this over with."