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

Steel met steel with a vicious clang as Grand Duchess Amana and Melissa crashed together again, their mana flaring like wildfire across the courtyard.

Each blow echoed like thunder through the exhausted royal palace grounds, drawing the attention of nearby soldiers and servants.

"Stop them!"

One guard cried, rushing forward.

"No one interferes!"

Amana shouted, her blade driving Melissa back a step. Her voice rang with authority, and even the most loyal soldiers froze under her command.

Melissa gritted her teeth as she parried another heavy strike. The Grand Duchess wasn't holding back—and neither was she.

"You don't get to decide what's best for him! You only see him as your future husband. I've followed him through blood and ash!"

Melissa shouted.

Amana's eyes narrowed.

"And I've fought beside him with my life. Don't think you understand him better than I do!"

Their weapons clashed again, the shockwave rippling through the ground and knocking loose tiles off the palace roofs.

Energy surged from both women—Amana's like a burning tempest, and Melissa's a precise, honed pressure. The air grew thick with tension as their footwork tore apart the courtyard tiles.

Melissa spun low, trying to catch Amana's knee.

The duchess sidestepped with ease and retaliated with a downward slash, forcing Melissa to throw up her sword just in time.

The impact sent her sliding back across the stone, boots grinding against the shattered floor.

"You're just a servant clinging to a dream! He's already mine!"

Amana yelled as she charged again, cape flaring behind her.

"I don't care about titles! I care about him! And I won't let anyone disturb him when he's vulnerable!"

Melissa shouted back.

A burst of mana erupted between them as they clashed again.

The shockwave slammed into the nearby wall, cracking it from top to bottom before it finally collapsed with a thunderous roar, sending stone and dust flying across the courtyard.

Guards backed away quickly, shielding their faces from the debris.

"This is madness. They'll tear the palace apart."

One whispered.

As Melissa lunged forward once more, her blade aiming for Amana's shoulder, the temperature dropped.

A cold, suffocating pressure settled over the battlefield like a blanket of thunderclouds. Both women froze mid-motion, an overwhelming mana aura bearing down on them like a mountain.

Their heads turned simultaneously.

Kyle Armstrong walked toward them, his cloak fluttering slightly, eyes unreadable and cold. The puppet followed behind him at a distance, silent and watchful.

"…Y-Young master…"

Melissa whispered, the blood draining from her face.

Amana lowered her blade slowly.

"Kyle…"

He said nothing at first. The pressure alone was enough to pin both of them in place.

Kyle's voice was low but carried clear across the broken courtyard.

"Do you have any idea how childish this looks?"

Neither of them replied.

"I left for a moment of quiet. And I return to find the two people I trusted the most… tearing down palace walls like rabid dogs."

Kyle said, stepping over the shattered debris.

Amana flinched. Melissa lowered her eyes, face burning with shame. Your support on M|V|L8EMPYR keeps this series going.

"I expected more. From both of you."

Kyle added, his voice sharp now.

"But—"

Amana began, but Kyle cut her off with a look.

"I don't want to hear excuses. Amana, your pride is getting in the way. And Melissa, your insecurities are no excuse for this behavior.""

He said.

Melissa's shoulders shook.

"…I just didn't want anyone disturbing you…"

Kyle's gaze softened, just barely.

"I know. But this isn't how you protect me."

Amana looked away, jaw clenched.

"You should have said something."

"I shouldn't have to. You're both better than this."

Kyle said.

Silence reigned as his mana finally withdrew, the suffocating pressure lifting from the courtyard like mist after a storm.

"…Now clean this mess up. Both of you. And don't let it happen again."

Kyle said, turning away.

The tension between the trio lingered like smoke after a fire.

Rubble still crumbled from the half-destroyed courtyard walls, and the sound of retreating guards echoed faintly in the distance.

Kyle stood there in silence, his face hardened by disappointment, gaze shifting between Melissa and the Grand Duchess.

Grand Duchess Amana couldn't take it anymore. Her exhaustion—the sleepless nights, the pressure of war, the expectations of royalty—boiled over in a sudden surge of emotion.

"I can't keep doing this. I'm tired, Kyle."

She said abruptly, her voice cracking.

Kyle looked toward her, but didn't speak.

Amana continued, her tone bitter, but her eyes shining.

"Every time I feel like I'm close to you, something happens. I see others near you—loyal, earnest, looking at you with those eyes—and I just… I can't handle it."

Melissa's fists clenched, but she said nothing. Amana's words weren't meant for her, even if they cut into her.

"I'm jealous. Painfully, pathetically jealous. And no matter how hard I try to act like a perfect noble lady or a reliable commander, I know I'll still react like this. It's who I am. So if that's not something you can accept—if you think I'm too petty or immature—then go ahead and abandon me now. I won't stop you."

Amana admitted.

The courtyard fell silent again. The wind stirred dust around their feet, but no one moved.

Kyle finally sighed. Not in frustration—but a deeper, more personal sigh, like someone accepting a burden they chose.

"I won't abandon you."

He said, simply.

Amana blinked.

"I've seen your loyalty, your strength. I know you carry more than anyone can see, and still you lead, still you stand beside me. If this jealousy is part of who you are, then I'll deal with it. I've dealt with far worse than a woman who cares too much."

Kyle continued.

Amana looked down, her hands trembling.

Kyle glanced at Melissa, who looked stunned, lips parted slightly as if wanting to speak but unsure of the words. He smiled faintly, though the disappointment still lingered in his eyes.

"And Melissa. You've always been by my side. That's why I'm asking the two of you to do something for me."

He said, making her tense.

Both women straightened, waiting.

"I want you to go on a mission together."

"What?"

Amana and Melissa said at once, in near-perfect sync, both horrified.

Kyle raised a brow.

"You heard me."

Amana looked like she'd bitten into something sour.

"With her?"

Melissa crossed her arms.

"As long as she doesn't throw her sword at me again."

Kyle sighed again, but there was an edge of amusement to it.

"This tension between you two won't go away unless you deal with it head-on. You're both valuable to me. I need you to trust each other."

Melissa hesitated, then muttered.

"…I trust you."

Amana added.

"I trust you, not her."

Kyle gave them both a look that said he wasn't in the mood for another fight.

"I'm not asking you to become friends overnight. But if you can't even tolerate each other for a short mission, how are you supposed to fight beside each other in a war?"

Kyle said.

The logic was hard to refute, and both women knew it.

Amana finally let out a long breath.

"Fine. But if she so much as breathes too loudly, I'm throwing her off a cliff."

Melissa rolled her eyes.

"I'd climb back up just to throw you first."

Kyle shook his head.

"Try not to kill each other. That's all I ask."

He turned away, clearly done with the conversation. The weight of command was back on his shoulders, and he had more pressing things to attend to.

As he walked off, the two women stared at each other—resentment simmering just under the surface—but with a new, reluctant understanding.

"…What mission is this, anyway?"

Amana finally asked.

Melissa groaned.

"Knowing him? Probably something dangerous."

"And awkward."

They looked at each other again.

Melissa shrugged.

"Let's get it over with."

Amana nodded tightly.

"Agreed. For his sake."