After putting on the white lace edged stockings, Ryan retrieved the pair of high heels from the storage space.

  The moment he took them out, his gaze was immediately captured. The shoes were far more exquisite than he had expected.

  The high heels were pure white, with long, elegant lines that gave them a graceful and noble posture.

  The heels were slender yet stable, tapering naturally from the sole, with proportions perfectly balanced elongating the legs while maintaining a sense of steadiness.

  From the back of each heel hung a long white ribbon, clearly meant to wrap around the ankles for support. The ribbons were soft yet resilient, designed to protect the feet.

  Ryan lifted Evelyn's feet again, placing them carefully on his knees, and picked up the left shoe, gently sliding it onto her foot.

  "Where did you get these shoes?" Evelyn finally asked, unable to hold back.

  She had assumed that in the days to come she would only be moving around in stockings, and she never expected that Ryan had also prepared women's shoes for her.

  Moreover, the craftsmanship was incredibly meticulous, clearly the result of great effort.

  "I actually made these shoes many years ago," Ryan said.

  "It's just that back then, I didn't have the chance to give them to you, nor did I dare."

  After speaking, he lowered his head slightly, as if deliberately hiding a long-buried sense of loss.

  Evelyn, looking at his somber expression, felt a surge of guilt well up in her chest, stronger than before.

  The thought of how she had repeatedly struck him down in the past, while he had prepared such a thoughtful gift for her so long ago, made her heart tighten painfully, a mix of sourness and sting.

  Yet she still did not know what to say to comfort Ryan. Words of apology felt too pale, and even the previously promised conditions now seemed powerless. All her words were stuck in her throat.

  Ryan did not continue the heavy topic. He focused on putting on the other shoe, then picked up the white ribbon from the back of the heel, gently wrapping it around Evelyn's slender ankle and tying a small, delicate knot.

  Seeing that Ryan focused solely on putting on the shoes and tying the ribbons, without any improper actions, Evelyn's tense body gradually relaxed. She just watched him, somewhat dazed.

  He was exceptionally careful when tying the knots. Whether deliberate or not, every time he adjusted the shoes, his fingertips would brush lightly against her toes, sending a faint ticklish sensation along her nerves.

  The tingling made Evelyn distinctly uncomfortable, and several times she wanted to speak up. But each time she saw Ryan so absorbed in his task, she swallowed her words, biting her lip and silently enduring it.

  "All done," Ryan finally said, lifting his head and patting his hands. He then took a small step back to put some distance between them, ready to properly admire his work.

  Looking down, the white lace edged stockings made Evelyn's legs appear even more slender and fair. Paired with the high heels, they were impossible to look away from.

  Ryan could not help but stare in awe. His gaze slowly rose, landing on Evelyn's flushed, delicate face, and he was completely captivated.

  This shy yet charming appearance stirred his heart more than ever, making him feel utterly enchanted.

  Evelyn felt Ryan's gaze, unrestrained and full of infatuation, and her cheeks burned even hotter. Embarrassed, she turned her face away, avoiding his eyes.

  From Ryan's perspective, Evelyn's legs were adorned with the white lace edged stockings and high heels.

  The outfit did not feel out of place at all. On the contrary, it blended seamlessly with her natural aura of aloofness, creating a unique, elegant charm that was both cold and alluring, impossible to look away from.

  Ryan suddenly snapped back to reality, shaking his head hard to forcibly suppress the surge of agitation in his chest. He could not afford to lose control at this moment.

  He then reached out to gently pull the hem of her skirt back, covering her slender long legs once more.

  Only after doing this did the restless feeling inside him calm slightly. He walked over to Evelyn and slowly crouched down.

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  His lips were almost brushing against her ear, warm breath so close it could be felt.

  Evelyn's heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening, fingertips curling instinctively, and her breathing softened slightly.

  She could clearly feel the warmth of his breath against her ear.

  Yet Ryan did not make any overstepping move as she had feared. He simply exhaled softly near her ear and spoke in a slow, slightly lazy and dependent tone:"Mentor, may I take a nap on your lap?"

  He deliberately did not call her by her name, instead using the title Mentor.

  This was the respectful title for Evelyn at Glacial Arcana Academy. Hearing it from his mouth at this moment added a hint of intimacy and playfulness.

  These past days, he had been taking care of Evelyn, regulating her magic, staying alert to other adventurers in the forest, and setting up protective magical arrays, leaving him utterly exhausted. At this moment, all he wanted was to find a safe spot by her side and sleep peacefully.

  He was not seeking closeness for indulgence; he was genuinely tired. Moreover, his Chaosforge Arcana allowed him to operate while sleeping, drawing magic from the world to nourish himself, making this the perfect opportunity to recuperate.

  Having now set up protective magical arrays with alert runes along the edges that would trigger a piercing alarm if anyone approached, he had no reason to worry about safety.

  "No…" Evelyn instinctively tried to refuse.

  But before she could finish speaking, she felt Ryan's head quickly rest on her skirted lap.

  Her mouth opened slightly, but she swallowed the remaining words, her cheeks burning even more intensely.

  Evelyn lowered her gaze to see Ryan, breathing evenly and quietly asleep on her lap.

  His brows were relaxed, free from their usual mischief, leaving only pure tranquility. He looked so handsome it made her heart flutter.

  She slowly raised her fair fingers, hesitated for a moment, and gently touched Ryan's cheek. She felt the warmth beneath her fingertips, and then could not resist lightly pinching his cheek.

  Ryan, still asleep, instinctively raised his hand to brush away the disturbance from his face.

  Startled, Evelyn quickly withdrew her hand, narrowly avoiding his movement.

  It was only when she saw Ryan return to a calm sleep that she exhaled in relief, a faint smile unconsciously forming on her lips.

  Her gaze lingered tenderly on Ryan's handsome face, the smile on her lips growing more noticeable.

  In fact, she had regained her mobility several days ago with the help of the Amethyst Earrings, but had kept it secret. Instead, she had deliberately used herself as bait, intentionally drawing Ryan closer.

  As for when exactly she decided to do this, even she could not remember.

  Was it when she had just awakened from the magical backlash? Or during the past half month that Ryan had been taking care of her? Or perhaps it was in that very moment he was putting the shoes on her?

  Evelyn lowered her gaze to look at Ryan, who lay quietly on her lap, then lifted her eyes toward the faintly glowing embers of the fire nearby. Ryan's words about his final lifetime echoed repeatedly in her mind.

  She let out a soft sigh, her thoughts gradually settling, and finally closed her eyes. Accompanied by the steady rhythm of his breathing beside her, she drifted into sleep together with Ryan.

  …

  The next morning, the sky was dimly lit, and the forest mist had yet to dissipate.

  Ryan slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Evelyn's delicate face close at hand, long lashes resting quietly, her breathing soft and gentle.

  Instantly, his mood lifted. He instinctively buried his head in the slight cold fragrance of Evelyn's chest and nuzzled softly.

  Evelyn was startled, eyes snapping open, and magical energy surged within her. She almost raised a hand to release an ice blade.

  But she forced herself to calm down. Over these days since discovering she had regained full mobility, she had lost count of how many times she had nearly lost control like this.

  Feeling the stiffness of her body against him and catching a glimpse of the mix of embarrassment and anger in her eyes, Ryan quickly sat up, awkwardly scratching his head as he tried to cover the intimacy of the moment."It's morning. Time to get going."

  Saying that, he turned and hurried to the place where he had set up the magical array, removing the crystals embedded in the ground and putting them back into the storage pouch.

  Without the energy support, the protective barrier vanished instantly into the air.

  Evelyn watched quietly, still looking fragile and weak, as if she did not even have the strength to lift a hand.

  The fire in the distance had long since died out, leaving only a pile of black ashes, saving Ryan the trouble of putting it out with water.

  Once everything was packed up, Ryan quickly returned to Evelyn's side.

  With a thought, a glow suddenly appeared around his left arm, and a metallic arm with a cold sheen manifested out of nowhere.

  The Arcane Enchantment ability had just come back to his mind yesterday thanks to Grimoire's reminder.

  Although the metallic arm did not have real tactile sensation, it allowed him to act without restriction and gave him increasingly smooth and precise control.

  Ryan bent down and lifted Evelyn onto his back, gently taking her hands and guiding them to lock around his neck.

  He then firmly supported her legs with both hands, preventing her from slipping.

  As he stood up, his right hand could not help but pinch her soft thigh slightly.

  A light thump immediately came from the back of his head.

  Ryan let out a staged cry of pain and then burst into laughter.

  No need to guess—it was Evelyn bumping him with her forehead.

  He could even imagine the view of her on his back now, cheeks flushed, a mix of embarrassment and anger.

  "Ready for takeoff!" Ryan adjusted his stance, gripping Evelyn's legs tightly, and set himself in a starting posture.

  The next moment, his magical energy surged, and he pushed off with both feet.

  Powerful gusts of air exploded behind them, leaving only a roaring wind in their wake, as Ryan's figure shot forward, carrying Evelyn deep into the forest.

  Along the way, a few low-level beasts out for an early hunt appeared, but Ryan casually kicked them aside, not even giving them the chance to obstruct his path.

  A deafening roar sounded in the distance, clearly from a high-level beast.

  But Ryan paid it no mind. His speed did not falter, and he immediately veered with Evelyn in another direction, continuing their rapid journey.

  They rushed forward relentlessly, not daring to stop.

  By noon, the sun shone high, and the forest mist had long since cleared. A small town nestled in a valley appeared in their sight.