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

Lady Rose stood in the middle of the kitchen, her posture regal but her voice sharp as a blade.

"I want a feast prepared for all our guests today. Don't hold back on the portions or the quality. Spare no expense—make it worthy of noble visitors."

She declared, looking the chef in the eye.

The chef froze for a moment, glancing at the head butler for silent help. The butler, a tall man with streaks of gray in his hair, stepped forward and lowered his voice.

"My lady… it might not be wise."

Lady Rose turned her gaze to him, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes.

"And why would that be?"

"It's not the cost that worries me."

The butler replied carefully.

"It's the lack of supplies. We've barely been able to keep the pantry stocked since the last shipment was delayed, and the villages nearby are already strained. To put on a feast for this many guests now…"

He hesitated, measuring his words.

"It would be better to tell them the truth, my lady. Let them know the estate is in a difficult position, and they will surely be understanding."

Rose's lips pressed into a thin line, her chin lifting.

"Tell them the truth? Ask them to 'go easy on me'? What am I, some pitiful wretch who cannot even host a proper meal?"

Her voice was cold enough to make the chef pretend to focus on his cutting board.

The butler's brow creased.

"It is not about dignity, my lady. It is about—"

"I would only consider such an option if I were on my deathbed with nothing left in my hands,"

Rose cut in sharply.

"Until then, I will not allow anyone to think the Adam family has fallen so low that we cannot treat our guests properly. My pride will not allow it."

The butler exhaled heavily, shoulders sagging.

"As you wish, my lady."

He knew her well enough to understand there was no point arguing further.

Once Lady Rose had made up her mind, no reasoning could pull her back. Even so, he couldn't help but shake his head regretfully at her willful nature.

As he left the kitchen, his thoughts darkened.

'If she keeps this up, we'll be in trouble before the month ends.'

He considered going to the guests himself, quietly explaining the reality so they wouldn't expect such extravagance again.

But knowing Rose, if she discovered such an act, she'd take it as a personal insult and make things worse.

That morning, the grand dining hall buzzed with activity as servants rushed to arrange platters on the long table.

The scent of freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and spiced stews filled the air.

Kyle and his group entered together, the clinking of armor and soft shuffle of boots echoing off the marble floor.

Their eyes widened slightly as they took in the sheer amount of food laid before them. Even for nobility, this spread was excessive.

Amana, the Grand Duchess, paused mid-step. Her gaze swept over the dishes, then shifted to the faintly faded curtains, chipped woodwork, and worn silverware—details that screamed of a household struggling to keep up appearances.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Kyle, is Lady Rose Adam a fool who intends to ruin her own estate?"

She said in a low voice.

Kyle took his seat without much expression, pouring himself a cup of tea before replying.

"Not just a fool. A prideful fool."

"That's worse. This kind of generosity is unsustainable. Does she not see the state of her own home?"

Amana said dryly, taking her seat beside him.

"She sees it. She just refuses to acknowledge it. Her pride won't allow her to admit weakness in front of guests."

Kyle said, his tone calm but tinged with amusement.

Amana leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

"And you're just letting her dig her own grave?"

Kyle shrugged.

"If we confront her, she'll only take offense and double down. Better to act as if nothing is wrong. She'll either run herself into the ground or come to her senses on her own."

One of the servants placed a plate of roasted duck before Kyle, followed by bowls of steaming soup and fresh bread.

The table groaned under the weight of fruit platters, pies, and glazed pastries.

Amana shook her head at the waste.

"This is the kind of dangerous pride that destroys noble houses."

Kyle took a bite of bread and smirked faintly.

"Exactly."

The others at the table, though not privy to the private conversation, could sense the tension between the display of opulence and the reality of the household.

Yet no one said a word, each silently agreeing with Kyle's unspoken advice—best to let Lady Rose handle her pride in her own way.

Meanwhile, outside the dining hall, the butler stood quietly in the corridor, overhearing fragments of their conversation through the open doorway. He let out another sigh.

'If only she would listen…'

Would you like me to continue with the scene immediately after breakfast, where Lady Rose interacts with Kyle and Amana?

That's where the tension between her pride and their awareness of her situation could really flare up.

Lady Rose's generosity did not end at breakfast.

It rolled on like an unstoppable carriage with no driver—straight into lunch.

The dining hall was filled with platters far beyond what was reasonable, each one more extravagant than the last.

Meats that should have been reserved for winter stockpiles, fruits that clearly hadn't been sourced locally, and wines that most noble houses would save for banquets were placed before the guests as if they were everyday fare.

The guests, of course, enjoyed themselves. Some whispered their surprise at such luxury, while others simply indulged without question.

But behind Lady Rose's carefully maintained smile, her head butler stood like a shadow—expression tight, lips pressed together as though to keep words from slipping out.

By the time dinner arrived, his composure had frayed. Once again, the long tables were lined with excess. Roasted game birds stuffed with herbs, honey-glazed vegetables, and delicate pastries were set down by weary servants.

The butler's eyes flickered over every plate, calculating in grim silence how much of the pantry had already been depleted in a single day.

He knew the truth—this pace was unsustainable. A few more days of this and the Adam estate's stores would be all but gone.

The surrounding region's shortages meant they could not restock without great difficulty, and even if they tried, the prices would be exorbitant.

Still, he could not bring himself to abandon his mistress. Not when she stood so proudly before their guests, determined to uphold the image of her house.

That stubborn pride was both her shield and her downfall, and he had been by her side long enough to know that trying to argue with her would only make her double down.

He hovered discreetly at the edge of the room, close enough to intervene if needed, far enough to avoid drawing attention to his distress.

His gaze kept drifting toward Kyle's table, wondering if the sharp-eyed man had already noticed the dangerous game his mistress was playing.

But the butler said nothing.

His loyalty, though tested, held firm. He would see this through—no matter how much it pained him—because Lady Rose Adam was his mistress, and it was not his place to abandon her in front of outsiders, even if she was marching headlong toward disaster.