Re:Crafting in Another World
Chapter 57: Pride of a Sturgon

Chapter 57: Pride of a Sturgon

The garden behind Sturgon Academia was bathed in the bright orange light of the setting sun, the soft breeze carrying the scent of fresh blossoms. A group of girls walked through the pathway, their hushed voices filled with anticipation and excitement. In the lead was a young lady, clutching a heart-shaped letter in her trembling hands.

"Are you really nervous, Emilia?" one of her friends giggled, nudging her playfully.

"W-What if he rejects me?" Emilia stuttered, her emerald eyes filled with uncertainty.

"There’s no way Lord Daniel would reject you!" another friend chimed in. "Haven’t you noticed how he always gives you special attention? He remembers little details about you. And he always walks you back to the dorms when it’s late!"

"That’s right," the third friend added. "The way he looks at you... It’s obvious! You have nothing to worry about."

Emilia nodded hesitantly, then took a deep breath. "That... might be true." A small smile formed on her lips, determination filling her heart.

As the daughter of a count, she knew the proper thing to do would be to inform her family and send a formal marriage proposal. But before all of that, she wanted to experience this moment—the dreamlike confession of her heart.

While thinking about all this, she was reminded of a certain incident involving Lord Daniel that made Emilia’s heart race— the moment she first realized she might be in love with him.

"You should be more careful, Lady Emilia," Daniel murmured, his voice laced with amusement. "I’d hate to see you bruised."

It was in the academy’s ballroom that Emilia met Daniel on the balcony, looking outside, while everyone else was busy making connections and discussing politics.

Emilia’s breath hitched. He was too close, his touch searing through the thin fabric of her sleeve. It was maddening how he could say things like that so carelessly. She, on the other hand, felt as though the entire world had tilted.

"I—I wasn’t expecting anyone here, Lord Daniel" she said, stepping back quickly. "It’s unusual for a son of a famous Duke Marciel to be here.."

Daniel leaned against the stone archway, arms folding across his chest in a way that made it infuriatingly clear he was in no rush to leave. "Is that concern I hear? How touching. But don’t worry, I can handle a bit of moonlight. Lady Emilia, should enjoy some moonlight with me. It is beautiful tonight just like you."

Emilia swallowed. Why did he always do this—say things that sent her heart racing, only to smirk as if it were all just a game?

It was just a simple moment, but it felt like Emilia had a genuine connection with Daniel, and today, she was ready to take it to the next step.

As they neared the designated spot, they noticed a tall figure standing under the shade of a grand oak tree famous for being good luck for couples. The young man, Daniel was none other than the esteemed son of Duke Marciel and the nephew of the legendary Juno Marciel. The head of the student body, the most sought-after student in Sturgon Academia.

He stood with an air of effortless charm, his blonde hair shining under the sun, his deep blue eyes calm and unreadable. When his gaze fell on Emilia, a small, enchanting smile played on his lips.

"Lady Emilia," he greeted, his voice smooth as silk.

Emilia felt her heart skip a beat. Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she clenched the letter tighter.

"I-I..." Her voice wavered, and she mentally cursed her nerves.

Daniel tilted his head slightly. "Are you alright?"

Unable to form proper words, Emilia thrusts the letter towards him, her hands trembling.

Daniel took the letter, his expression calm as he unfolded the heart-shaped paper. His eyes scanned the words carefully, and then, as expected, he smiled.

Emilia’s friends stifled squeals, exchanging excited glances. Everything was going perfectly!

But then—

Daniel silently folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket. His gaze lifted, meeting Emilia’s eyes directly. Then, in a calm and unwavering tone, he spoke. "I’m sorry."

The world seemed to freeze. The whispers of the wind, the chirping of the birds—all faded into silence.

"W-What...?" Emilia’s voice cracked.

Daniel exhaled softly. "I cannot return your feelings."

"But... I thought..." Emilia’s voice wavered.

Daniel’s expression remained unreadable as he gently cut her off. "This is a huge misunderstanding."

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a stunned group of girls and Emilia—tears brimming in her eyes. Her heart clenched as the weight of rejection sank in. It wasn’t supposed to go this way.

"Emilia..." one of her friends whispered, placing a hesitant hand on her shoulder.

Emilia shook her head, a single tear escaping. "Let’s go back."

Her friends knew all too well that this delicate soul could never be the kind to let just a single tear fall. The moment Daniel disappeared from view, the dam within her broke, and silent sobs shook her frame as glistening streams of sorrow cascaded down her cheeks, painting her face with the depth of her heartache.

Meanwhile, Daniel walked away from the garden, his expression unreadable.

He wasn’t heartless—he knew how much courage it took for a noble lady like her to confess, but feelings couldn’t be forced.

As he strode towards the student council building, a familiar voice cut through the evening air.

"How many does that make this month, Daniel?"

He halted in his tracks and turned to see Famina, the vice president of the student body. She stood tall, her posture rigid with barely concealed disdain. The daughter of a prestigious military family, Famina carried an air of discipline and strength that few dared to challenge. Her steel-gray eyes bored into him, her arms crossed.

Daniel sighed. "Famina, I don’t have the patience for another lecture."

"Then stop giving me a reason to lecture you!" she snapped. "How many this time? Two? Three? Five? Have you lost count already?" Her voice was laced with barely restrained frustration. "You go around giving girls hope, smiling at them like they’re the only ones in your world, and then—" she scoffed, "—then you crush them as if their feelings never mattered. Is this a hobby of yours? A fetish?"

Daniel met her gaze without flinching. "I did it for her own goodwill."

Famina let out a sharp breath. "Her goodwill? Do you even hear yourself? Do you think rejecting her in such a cold manner was good for her?"

"It’s better than lying." His voice remained calm, as though her accusations didn’t affect him. "Would you rather I pretend to love her?"

Famina clenched her fists. "I’d rather you stop playing with emotions you have no intention of returning. You lead them on, Daniel. Whether you mean to or not, you do."

Daniel merely smirked and turned away. "Believe what you will."

As he walked past, Famina’s sharp eyes flickered towards the bag he carried. She muttered under her breath, "Scumbag."

She knew all too well what kind of man Daniel Marciel was. He changed affections like he changed his wardrobe. One day, he showered a girl with attention, making her feel special—then, as soon as someone else caught his interest, he moved on as if she had never existed.

Her grip on her arms tightened as she whispered to herself, "I wonder who the next innocent girl is... the one who will fall into his trap without knowing."

And yet, for some reason, a strange chill ran down her spine as she could guess who he was trying to flirt with next.

This time, she had a gut feeling—this time, he was about to reach someone he was forever going to regret ever reaching.

"I don’t know why I am even bothering. This doesn’t affect me or my family. If he makes a foolish decision, it will affect him. I should just focus on making sure his actions won’t possibly cause a war..." Famina kept her hands on her forehead, and she looked like she absolutely hated working with Daniel. "I know he is not that stupid but..."

While this was happening, the familiar clashing of swords and the grunts of students filled the air. Yet, today was unlike any other.

A group of students whispered among themselves, eyes locked onto a single figure in the center of the field.

"Is that... her?" one murmured.

"The warrior princess of Harlow...? No way!" another responded in hushed awe.

At the center of the training ground, a woman unlike any Sturgian student moved with unmatched grace.

She was tall, with raven-black hair cascading in waves down her back, her sharp emerald eyes gleaming with confidence.

Unlike the stiff and modest Sturgian uniforms, she wore a form-fitting black and crimson bodysuit that hugged her figure perfectly, accentuating her toned physique and her womanly curves. The suit was adorned with intricate gold embroidery across her chest, signifying her royal status. High boots, sharp and sleek, ran up her legs, adding an air of dominance to her presence.

The bodysuit’s design was bold and daring, with elements that allowed for fluid movement, the split of her skirt giving her the freedom to command the room with every step. She radiated an aura of authority, a mix of power and allure, captivating all who dared to look her way.

Men and women alike were captivated by her movements and actions, so much so that she easily began to form her own fanbase without even realizing it.

"She’s nothing like us..." a girl whispered, gripping her practice sword tighter. "They let women into the military in Harlow. She’s living proof of that."

Princess Maria Alexandria Harlow, the very woman who had been the subject of countless rumors, stood calmly in the center of a circle of warriors—her own royal guards from Harlow.

"Come at me, my warriors!" she ordered, her voice smooth yet commanding.

Without hesitation, the armored men lunged.

Maria moved like a shadow, twisting effortlessly to evade a strike before slamming the hilt of her sword into an opponent’s ribs. Another came from behind, but she spun, her long leg lifting in a sharp kick to his chest, sending him sprawling. She danced between the incoming attacks, her tight uniform emphasizing every flex of her muscles, every swift motion that made her untouchable.

One by one, her own men fell to the ground, groaning in defeat.

The Sturgian students watched in stunned silence.

"A princess...?" a boy whispered in disbelief.

"A warrior," another corrected. "The best example of what their kingdom stands for. They’re nothing like us."

Maria exhaled, lowering her sword, her piercing gaze shifting toward the watching students. With a smirk, she tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Get up, my people! Show you Harlow blood and roar like a dragon and fight like a dragon," she taunted, looking down at her fallen men.

Even among warriors, she stood alone.