“Edgar, I…”

Rubica took a deep breath. She knew Edgar was offering money out of goodwill, and she wished she could accept that.

Getting blamed was only going to torment her. Rumors of her being extravagant, which she had planned, were going to be spread in secret where she couldn’t hear them. That kind of thing was like weeds that never died, but she could ignore them if she wanted to.

However, this matter about mana quartz was different. Nobles under the Claymore’s protection were going to protest hard once her decision was announced. They were probably going to say a lowly and stupid woman was about to ruin the family.

Of course, Rubica would be grateful if they kicked her out for that, but it didn’t mean she didn’t fear seeing people yelling and pointing fingers at her.

The option Edgar was offering was the easy way. Rubica could take it only if she wanted to, but she just couldn’t.

It wasn’t like her conscience was perfectly clean nor she was a saint. During her long life, she had learned to sometimes give up and sometimes to turn a blind eye.

When she saw someone had done something bad to survive, she tried to understand why that person did it instead of judging, and she sometimes knew how to sympathize.

She wasn’t a person who was clear and pure in the heart.

However, she couldn’t allow herself to let people get mana quartz. Even though she was not a white person but an ordinary grey person, there was this line she just couldn’t cross.

If she decided to get mana quartz, there will be a huge expedition to invade Iber’s territory, the dragon that was sleeping. According to the statistics of the previous quests, 20 people died in the year with the least casualties and 300 died in the year with the biggest casualties.

Rubica just couldn’t turn a blind eye on this.

“I don’t want to get mana quartz. Then the budget wouldn’t be a problem and…”

“Rubica!”

Edgar quickly stopped her. She wasn’t granting even a small wish of his, and it made him sad.

“Is it about spending my private money? You don’t have to feel bad about it. No one is going to speak about it. It is my money and how I use it is entirely up to me. You just became the duchess, and I rather…”

His heart ached. How more did she have to make him miserable to be content?

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t considerate enough.”

So please, get rid of that sad face and smile to me.

However, Rubica didn’t do what he wanted. She did smile, but only awkwardly.

“It’s not about money.”

Edgar’s expression said he couldn’t understand, so Rubica tried not to sigh and explained it to him as calmly as possible.

“Mana quartz can be found only in Iber’s territory, the sleeping dragon. And, its ferocious underlings will protect their sleeping master. Last year, about 20 people died among those who went to get mana quartz. And, a thousand people died after messing with a higher underling ten years ago…”

She wasn’t giving up mana quartz for pretty dresses or money. Her determined eyes showed an unbending will. Edgar’s throat started to burn.

‘It’s good that I made them all leave.’

He had meant to use Rubica’s happy moment to make changes in the rules of their time together and hugging. He also planned to have an honest conversation with her.

However, contrary to his expectations, Rubica wasn’t happy and was saying things that couldn’t be heard by others.

Edgar undid his crossed legs and straightened his back.

“Rubica, going to the dragon’s territory to get mana quartz is an old tradition that started with this family.”

“But is tradition more important than human lives?”

It looked like it was going to be a long conversation. Edgar knew what Rubica was talking about. What she was saying wasn’t bad. No, it was rather noble. However, it wasn’t going to be enough to live life.

“Adventurers are people who make living by doing dangerous things. Lord Zilehan has already given them the down payment when the year started. If we stop getting mana quartz, they will have no way to support their family.”

“Can’t we get them other jobs? I don’t know if such an unnecessary thing is worth risking human lives.”

“It’s their job.”

“But if they die…”

“We are giving enough compensation to the families of the deceased.”

Rubica was angry at hearing that. Money, money, money. Edgar always tried to solve every conflict in the world with money, including their marriage. The attitude he had just shown was no different. He thought everyone would just be delighted when given money.

“Do you really think that was what those family really wanted? They would have preferred their loved ones to be back alive more than those money.”

Edgar looked at Rubica as if she were a strange creature. On the other hand, Rubica felt like he was thinking that she was like a priestess pretending to be innocent. Maybe that was true. She had spent more than half of her life at an abbey. And, although she was never educated to be a priestess, she had learned many things there.

“Rubica, how did Claymore start and grow?”

Edgar spoke without any emotion. Rubica was confused as he was suddenly asking about his family’s history when they were talking about mana quartz. However, the Claymore’s history was more famous than the royal family’s history, so she could answer without any problem.

“By developing weapons that use the energy in the mana stones.”

“Yes, and tens of millions of people in this kingdom cannot starve to death thanks to those weapons.”

Rubica was about to ask what it had to do with what they were talking about, but then his blue eyes sparkled dangerously.

“We provide new weapons that haven’t been tested yet to adventurers who go to get mana quartz. They use those weapons to get rid of the monsters and underlings in the dragon’s territory. Cannons, bombs, guns, and protective shield to fool the underlings’ eyes. How destructive they are, how convenient they are, to what extent they can block the monsters’ attacks. The adventurers use them first and find things on which they can be improved. Finding mana quartz isn’t just a tradition that was made to boast about this family’s wealth and power.”

Rubica’s auburn eyes shook, and Edgar could see his words were convincing her.

It would be great if everything could be done in the good. However, in this world, there was something called necessary evil.

“But… but…”

Rubica moved her dried lips. She couldn’t back off so easily. She hadn’t announced to give up on mana quartz out of a sudden impulse.

Strong memories about life and death from her previous life that no one had experienced yet. The hope and ironies of a life that made her get up the moment she was ready to give up everything.

If she hadn’t had those memories, if she had known only the peace of the time, she would have backed off easily.

‘This kingdom is about to be destroyed in four years because of your weapon. I want to save those I can save before that.’

Rubica wanted to yell so. Plus, people who had all kinds of knowledge and wisdom to survive like adventurers were precious. Each one of them could save at least twenty people nearby. Adventurers who wouldn’t die this year would certainly make their families survive the war after four years.

However, she knew well saying that would only make her look crazy. She wasn’t even sure Edgar would believe her. If it hadn’t been for those memories about the future, she would have given up with a small guilt in the corner of her heart, telling herself it was all part of necessary evil.

She wished she could tell Edgar to stop developing weapons. She wanted to say it was only going to get the kingdom destroyed so everything he did was useless.

However, if he didn’t develop weapons, there would be many who would starve to death right this winter. That was the sad reality. She could neither do this nor do that.

“Is it necessary to have those adventurers do the test? There must be other ways. The southern land still has monsters, so you can give its inhabitants your weapons as a test.”

Rubica worked with her small head to come up with some other options. She didn’t know if what she was saying was right. To be honest, she didn’t know much about wars and weapons.

But still, she wanted to decrease the unnecessary casualties as much as possible. Moreover, she trusted Edgar would find an even better way with just a small hint.

“Rubica.”

However, his voice couldn’t have been colder as he called her name. Her brown eyelashes fluttered.

“We must try to find a way other than sending adventurers to get mana quartz, one with fewer casualties and without people dying unnecessarily…”

Edgar knew she was desperate, and he felt angry since he had to be harsh to her. However, he had to say what he had to say.

“Rubica, what do I do? How does Claymore earn its money?”

It was similar to the question he had asked earlier. He half wanted to stop her desperate, shaking voice.