Reborn with my SSS-Class Innate Talent

The early morning air was crisp, carrying the lingering chill of the night as the sun barely crested the horizon. Kyle was already awake before it was time for him to be up.

His mind was naturally inclined to waking up early and even changing bodies did not break this habit of his.

Inside his private training chamber, Kyle sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, his eyes closed as he focused entirely on the mana coursing through his body. 

The energy was still sluggish, not yet flowing with the natural ease he once commanded, but it was improving.

With each controlled breath, he guided the mana along his veins, forcing it into proper circulation. His body, long accustomed to frailty, fought against him, but he persisted.

Just as he was nearing the peak of his meditation, a sharp knock echoed against his chamber doors.

Kyle sighed, exhaling the excess mana before standing up.

"Come in."

The door creaked open, and his butler, an elderly man with a perpetually anxious expression, stepped inside.

"Young Master Kyle, I apologize for the intrusion, but you must come out to bid farewell to your fiancée, Lady Rose." 

The butler began, bowing slightly. 

Kyle frowned at the statement. 

Fiancée?

"I don't have a fiancée anymore. Lady Rose told me to break the engagement, and I agreed. There's nothing more to discuss. I hope you won't joke like that again in front of me." 

He corrected, stretching his sore limbs. 

The butler visibly stiffened. 

"Pardon…?"

For a moment, the old man simply stared at him, as if struggling to process what he had just heard.

"Young Master, you must reconsider. Lord Armstrong put great thought into this engagement. It is not merely a personal matter—it is a political necessity. Breaking this match could put your position in the family at risk. It could even lead to future problems." 

The butler urged, his voice carrying a newfound urgency. 

Kyle rolled his shoulders, unconcerned.

"I'm not interested in tying myself down just because it's 'necessary.'"

The butler's mouth opened and closed, at a loss for words.

Kyle could see the conflict in the old man's expression—he was not just worried about the engagement, but about Kyle himself.

After a brief moment of thought, Kyle let out a sigh.

"Fine. I'll see her off."

The butler visibly relaxed, nodding in relief. 

"I will have fresh clothes prepared, Young Master."

Once dressed, Kyle stepped outside, dressed in a simple yet elegant black tunic, his long sleeves fitted with silver embroidery. His hair, usually unkempt, was neatly tied back.

Lady Rose was already near the carriage, standing beside her waiting attendants. She turned the moment he approached, eyes widening slightly in surprise.

It was the first time she had truly looked at him since their engagement was decided.

Kyle had always been described as sickly, a shadow of his older brother—but the man standing before her now was different. 

His presence was steady, his gaze sharp and unwavering, and there was an undeniable confidence in the way he moved.

For a brief moment, she hesitated.

Then, regaining her composure, she lifted her chin and crossed her arms.

"I assume you've finally come to your senses?" 

She asked, her voice smooth but edged with challenge.

Kyle simply raised an eyebrow. 

"About?"

"About our engagement, of course. If you regret breaking it, now is the time to apologize and beg me to reconsider."

Rose said, her lips curling slightly. 

Kyle blinked once. Then twice.

Then, he turned away.

"Not interested."

The words hit Rose harder than she expected.

For a moment, she simply stared at him, her pride screaming at her to say something, to make him acknowledge her worth.

But he was already walking away, as if their entire conversation was nothing more than a trivial errand.

A sharp pang of bitterness settled in her chest.

She had wanted him to break the engagement, but now that he had… why did it feel like she had lost?

Her attendants called to her, and she forced herself to move, stepping into the carriage. As the horses pulled forward, she did not look back.

______

With Rose gone, Kyle shifted his attention elsewhere.

Now that his body had begun to recover, it was time to expand his understanding of the world.

Thus, he made preparations to visit the town under his family's rule.

"Young Master, may I ask why you wish to visit the town today?" 

His butler inquired as he assisted Kyle in changing into more casual attire—a deep blue tunic and a dark cloak to blend in.

Kyle fastened the belt around his waist, where a simple but well-balanced sword rested.

"I need to see how the people in our domain live. The Armstrong family may be powerful, but I doubt everything is as stable as they pretend it is" 

He answered, adjusting his sleeves. 

The butler hesitated. 

"Would you like a guard to accompany you?"

Kyle shook his head. 

"No need. If anything happens, I'll handle it."

The butler still seemed uneasy, but he knew better than to argue when his young master had already made up his mind.

Kyle arrived at the village shortly after midday.

The town, situated at the base of the Armstrong estate's hill, was bustling with life—merchants calling out their wares, blacksmiths hammering at molten steel, and children darting between the crowds. 

The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat filled the air.

Kyle observed everything.

He took note of the market's structure, the positioning of the guards, and the expressions of the common folk.

There was unrest.

Though the people smiled and carried on with their daily tasks, there was an undercurrent of tension—shopkeepers throwing wary glances toward armored figures, workers whispering in hushed tones.

It did not take long for Kyle to spot the cause.

A group of men clad in dark armor stood near the center of the market, their presence thick with authority.

They were not his family's guards.

Kyle narrowed his eyes. Mercenaries. And a very familiar bunch at that.