‘I thought she had made that decision spontaneously because of the lack of budget.’

Rubica was only twenty-two years old. Actually, she had lived until she became an old lady before coming back to be 22, but there was no way Ann knew that.

Moreover, Ann hadn’t known Rubica’s announcement to give up mana quartz was related to her belief.

At age 22, it was enough to start a family and give birth to children, but no matter what anyone said, that age was also the time when they were interested in looking pretty.

Actually, even those who had learned about Claymore and its tradition about mana quartz at school easily said it wasn’t good to send many knights and adventurers to get that luxurious but unnecessary thing.

To those who hadn’t been born and grown up in Claymore, it was difficult to understand the family’s honor and pride attached to what appeared to be an old tradition.

And, there were realistic problems about it as well. Many of Claymore’s relatives worked in businesses related to the development of military weapons to make a living, but that opportunity was only given to smart people who had learned a certain level of mechanics.

Although Claymore was a family led by a genius, not every member was like that. It was necessary to have jobs for those who were not that talented, and finding mana quartz was one of them.

Some relatives made a living by recruiting and introducing adventurers who would get mana quartz and taking a commission.

Claymore chose the best and the biggest mana quartz to decorate its garden. The remaining mana quartz belonged to the adventurers and relatives who were in charge of the mission.

Rubica must have not known that there were relatives who made a living through mana quartz. The budget wasn’t enough, and mana quartz was a luxurious good.

In any other family, her decision would have been right. So, Ann thought she had made that decision only because of money. However, according to Edgar’s explanation, she had been wrong.

‘She made such a decision because she cared about other’s lives. She is so soft-hearted.’

Rubica, however, wasn’t soft-hearted at all. She was firm when she made decisions, and when she spoke after making up her mind, she was never scared. Not even in front of Edgar.

When he looked down on someone with his cold eyes, even those countless girls who lunged at him cowered and apologized. However, Rubica said what she believed to be right, no matter what kind of expression he put on.

She was capable of smiling warmly, but she was also a strong person who could stand for the right cause.

It is easy to think such confident people, who don’t back off easily, also have strong hearts and don’t get easily hurt.

Most people think those who cower are soft-hearted.

However, Ann knew many who acted like that but always sought ways to gain something selfishly. Some even used their own attitude to blame others for speaking harshly to them when they were so timid and weak.

Those people were not soft-hearted at all. They were aggressive people who used their weak behavior as weapons to control others.

Contrary to that, what moved Rubica to insist on something wasn’t her own happiness. It was always for others.

If she was mad, she would try not to point it out when there were eyes watching, even when there were maids and servants, not just other nobles.

She tried to restrain herself and speak nicely. She let out her anger when there were people watching only once when she saw Mrs. Shaynie mercilessly beat the girls at the annex.

‘I misjudged her this time.’

Rubica always liked being happy and making others happy. Therefore, Ann had thought this happened because she was acting spontaneously without thoughts like her peers.

But according to what Edgar said, that wasn’t the case. Rubica thought deeply and did what she believed to be right.

Ann regretted it, although it was too late. She had cared only about stopping Rubica, and it had been wrong. At least she shouldn’t have shut her mouth there, she should have asked Rubica why she had made such a decision.

“She gave up her code for you.”

“I must apologize to her now.”

However, Ann shook her head. Edgar should have apologized on the spot, but he didn’t have any choice.

He was still a young man full of energy. To know when to suppress strong emotions and how to act a lot of experience was required. And, by the time one got enough experience, most people were too old to be madly in love. That was life.

“No, Your Grace. If you go in now, it will only make her close her heart even more.”

Edgar was about to run into the room, but he stopped.

“She is extremely tired now. It must be everything coming up to her at once, the nervousness and worries she got after she came here.”

After Rubica’s arrival at the mansion, she seemed to get used to the place quickly right on the first day, but she only looked like that.

She had come a long way to be the mistress of a huge mansion without any close maid or relative.

It would be a lie to say she had no anxiety or nervousness in her heart.

However, she wasn’t the type of person who showed her anxiety first. That was why Ann had been trying to be nice to her.

Still, to Rubica, Ann was only a housekeeper she met one day. They didn’t know much about each other.

Rubica just pressed down on any dissatisfaction and troubles the people with an inferior rank gave her when she suddenly showed up.

Moreover, Edgar had made a hole in the pot that was suppressing her feelings. Now all of it, pain, sufferings, it all came out at once.

It was better to let it flow out than to force her to mend the hole and stop the fuss.

Then Edgar was supposed to embrace her, and they would be closer than before.

“That is exactly why I should comfort her.”

But of course, Edgar couldn’t see that. He had never cared about others’ feelings. That was the biggest privilege his rank and beauty gave him.

“No. You should just leave her alone now. If you go in, she will not be able to cry out loud because of you. Now you must let her grief. Your Grace, what can be ruder than forcing a sick person to listen to what you have to say?”

Edgar moaned. He had secretly taken pride in providing the best environment for Rubica.

Wealth, high rank, and the housekeeper who cared about her more than anyone else. He hadn’t thought she could have agony and stress piled up inside her.

He just liked her smiling at him. He felt happy when he saw her wearing pretty dresses bought with his money.

He was sure at least he was making her much happier than when she had been at the Berner Mansion and he could make her even happier from now on.

However, he had been arrogant. He was someone who didn’t care when others called him arrogant.

But this time, he had to admit he was arrogant.

“She will not be able to hear a word you say even if you go in now and talk. She is tired and stressed, so she will only get mad at you for not leaving her alone.”

“… no, that can’t happen. Ann, what am I supposed to do?”

Edgar beggingly asked Ann with a sad but eager voice. Ann felt like being electrocuted in that urgent and difficult situation. The image of a desperate Edgar was reflected in her grey eyes.

She had been slightly confused at first, but now this was the proof. She had been right. Her Eddie was in love.

He used to look like someone who would never have any warm feeling toward anyone else, much less love someone. But now, he was in love with Rubica.

It wasn’t a simple desire for possession or feeling that every married couple had. Willingness to gladly sacrifice anything. That was the attitude which only those who were truly in love could have.

“Just let her cry for now. She will fall asleep after crying, and when she wakes up tomorrow morning, she will feel very lonely. She must not have felt it till now because she met new people like me and Elise, and we are not even on bad terms. We happily talked and laughed. That is why she will be even lonelier. Now for the first time, she is realizing that she is here alone without anyone on her side.”

It made Edgar get even more nervous. His palms were wet, but he didn’t know if it was sweat or tears.

“What, what should I do?”

It was a great dilemma. If he went in now, Rubica was going to be mad and disappointed by his rude behavior.

However, if he left her alone like that, she was going to sink in loneliness tomorrow morning.

He wanted to go in and spend the night with her tightly in his arms, even if she started to hate him. He didn’t want to let her feel lonely.