A fortune-telling princess Chapter 131

The very man who had sought to usurp the heir’s position, plotted countless atrocities against the duke, and caused his amnesia was still alive and well?

The fact that he was attending the family meeting meant he was still active in society.

“That’s fascinating.”

“What is?”

“That someone with that personality is still alive.”

Wasn’t the Duke of Escra famous for his ruthlessness toward enemies? Was this leniency because they were brothers, tied by blood?

“There was no proof,” Jaynor explained casually. “No evidence that Uncle attacked Father. By the time Father regained his memory and returned, Uncle had meticulously erased every trace of his crimes.”

Jaynor’s faint smile only deepened Camilla’s disbelief. She had heard that Jaynor’s biological father had also been killed by the duke’s younger brother.

In other words, the man who had murdered Jaynor’s real father was now being referred to as “uncle” without a hint of animosity.

“I’ve tried everything, though.”

“What do you mean?”

Reading the look in her eyes, Jaynor responded nonchalantly.

“I’ve killed him. Countless times.”

“Who? That younger brother?”

“Ersch. Uncle Ersch.”

His lips curled into a wry grin, the expression oddly out of place.

“You can assume I’ve used every method imaginable.”

…What methods? Camilla had no idea what those might entail. Murder was not something she had much experience pondering.

“Was it the fifth cycle? I once starved him to death, not giving him a single drop of water. That was probably the most pathetic end. He begged, sobbing, for just one sip.”

“……”

“Heh.”

Noticing the strange look on her face, Jaynor let out a soft chuckle.

“After killing him more than twenty times, it became tedious. After a while, even seeing him didn’t make me angry anymore. I’d hear him mention Father, and instead of rage, I’d feel like laughing.”

Camilla swallowed hard.

“Well, maybe I’ll want to kill him again someday. But since this is supposed to be the final life, I suppose I should restrain myself.”

‘He’s insane. This guy is completely insane!’

Camilla felt the pieces fall into place.

The unease she had felt when first meeting Jaynor, the strange discomfort in the way he looked at her—it all made sense now.

His kind and gentle demeanor had always seemed just a little too polished, and behind his eyes lay a glimmer of amusement.

It was the same look she had seen before.

Once, in her previous world, she had witnessed the trial of a serial killer who had taken the lives of over twenty people.

That man had gazed at the courtroom with the same expression—completely devoid of guilt, as if the people he had killed were nothing more than temporary playthings.

‘That’s exactly the kind of look Jaynor has.’

Letting out a long sigh, Camilla wondered if Jaynor had always been like this or if the endless cycle of lives had twisted him into something unrecognizable.

“So, this Ersch is coming to the meeting?”

“Yes.”

Ersch Escra. The man whose schemes had left her mother to bear her child alone.

If not for him, Camilla wouldn’t have been born. Did that mean she should be grateful?

‘As if.’

After everything she had endured, what was there to be thankful for? Should she bow in gratitude for the miserable life she had been handed?

Even after learning the truth from Duke Escra, her growing anger had no outlet. She couldn’t take it out on the duke, who had suffered amnesia and genuinely seemed regretful.

‘…Forget it.’

It wouldn’t do to lash out at someone she’d never even met before, either.

“Still, I’d like to see his face at least once.”

***

On the day of the meeting, the largest hall of the Escra estate was filled to capacity. A heavy silence hung over the gathering as all eyes turned to one spot.

At the center of the attention, calmly sipping tea, sat Camilla.

“That girl… could she be?”

“Red eyes.”

“It seems the rumors were true.”

“She has the duke’s ring.”

Whispers rippled through the crowd. They seemed to already know quite a bit about her.

“Haa…”

Count Althon, sitting nearby, sighed deeply. He glanced at Camilla with visible concern.

‘What could she be thinking?’

She had insisted on attending the meeting despite knowing it would turn her into a spectacle. She must have known, so why would she want this?

A sharp clack broke the murmurs.

The heavy door opened, and Duke Escra entered, his mere presence silencing the room.

A palpable tension swept through the hall.

Only Camilla and Jaynor seemed unaffected, seated with the same unbothered expressions.

And then…

“It’s been a while, Brother.”

The voice belonged to a man bearing a faint resemblance to the duke, though the atmosphere he exuded was entirely different.

Ersch Escra entered with a smooth smile.

“Hmm.”

The duke responded with a curt nod before taking his seat, his sharp gaze sweeping the room.

Many flinched under his scrutiny, quickly bowing their heads.

When his eyes landed on Camilla, he frowned slightly, clearly displeased with her presence.

“Is that your daughter, Brother?”

Ersch’s words cut through the room, brazenly disregarding decorum.

‘What did he just say?’

‘Did he just call me that?’

“Watch your words, Ersch.”

The duke’s voice dropped into a chilling tone, silencing even Ersch for a moment.

After a brief hesitation, Ersch cleared his throat and continued, his tone no less provocative.

“I assume this child must have been born during your… unfortunate incident.”

His gaze turned to Camilla.

“So, even you wouldn’t have any memory of her.”

Many faces hardened at the mention of the duke’s amnesia, particularly those of the count Althon and others loyal to him.

To speak of such a shameful period so openly—how bold, or rather, how insolent.

“And yet, you’re claiming that as part of our family? We don’t even know what kind of woman birthed that—”

Ersch’s voice cut off abruptly as a suffocating pressure filled the room.

It was the duke’s aura.

Even Ersch, who had been so smug moments ago, paled under its weight.

The tension was broken by a clear, ringing voice.

“Excuse me, may I say something?”

Camilla’s tone was light, almost cheerful, but her emphasis on “that” was deliberate.

Her lips curved into a bright smile as she turned to Ersch.

‘I was going to let this slide.’

But he had all but begged to be put in his place.

“Ersch, right?”

She asked the question so casually, her serene expression never faltering.

Ersch’s eyes narrowed.

Camilla’s smile widened.

“You’ll be divorced soon.”

“What?”

The room froze as Camilla’s offhand remark sliced through the air.

“What did you just say?”

Ersch shot to his feet, his face twisting with outrage. But before he could finish his retort—

Schlrrk!

Camilla calmly spread a set of cards across the table. The cards, marked with intricate, mystical patterns, gleamed faintly under the light.

Ersch’s furious expression faltered, his anger replaced by confusion.

Camilla plucked one of the cards from the spread.

“Your mistress is one of your subordinates’ wives.”

“…!”

Her statement hit like a thunderclap, leaving the room in stunned silence.

“And not just any subordinate—your most trusted one.”

Ersch’s face turned a mottled red.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Ignoring his protest, Camilla picked another card.

“Oh, and she’s pregnant with your child.”

“Baseless lies!” Ersch roared, his voice trembling.

Camilla cocked her head, her expression almost pitying.

“Her initials are L, aren’t they? She’s already demanding that you take responsibility.”

At this, Ersch’s composure shattered. His lips moved soundlessly, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

“And…” Camilla drew another card, barely sparing him a glance.

“You’ve been embezzling from the family’s funds.”

The murmur in the room grew louder, the tension thick enough to choke.

“To be precise—1,254,000 gold.”

Ersch froze as if struck.

That number. The exact amount he had siphoned from the family’s joint accounts.

“Anything else you’d like me to reveal, Uncle?” Camilla asked sweetly, her smile widening.

Ersch could only tremble, his once-smug expression now contorted in sheer panic.