Tyrant of the Icefield

Time seemed to slow down in the warm atmosphere the two of them were deliberately creating.

After having that perfectly timed breakfast, Lu Yan and Aemeath did not go out as promised.

The two snuggled up on the large sofa in the living room and began a gaming marathon that lasted all day.

Aemeath, dressed in loose loungewear, casually placed her soft, delicate white silk-clad feet on Lu Yan's body, holding a game controller in her hand.

Lu Yan lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the pair of delicate, jade-like feet encased in fine white silk on her thigh, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Why are you putting your feet on me?"

Aemeath's eyes remained fixed on the television screen, but she let out a haughty snort, "What? You don't want to? Fine, don't touch it then."

As she spoke, she made a move to pull her foot off Lu Yan's leg.

"Hey, no!" Lu Yan reacted quickly, grabbing her slender ankle and grinning mischievously. "This is a treat for me, how could I possibly let go?"

His broad, calloused hands gently grasped those soft little feet in his palms and kneaded them lightly.

The sensation from my palm was exquisite. Through a thin layer of cool white stockings, it was a perfect match for Aemeath's delicate, boneless little feet.

His thumb gently caressed her delicate arch, and he squeezed her full, soft sole with a little force.

The silk stockings, smooth as water, blended perfectly with the soft warmth of a girl's skin; their tiny size seemed born to be held and played with in his palm.

"Mmm... yes, that's it, feels so good~~~"

Aemeath squinted her eyes contentedly, let out a long sigh, and felt the tingling and comfortable sensation in her feet make her feel like a kitten that has been stroked, her round and cute toes playfully curling up in his palm.

Looking at her enjoying herself, Lu Yan shook his head with a helpless smile, "I think this isn't a perk you're giving out; you're clearly trying to get me to be your personal masseuse."

Upon hearing this, Aemeath lay back on the sofa and giggled, her clear laughter echoing in the warm room.

Just as the two were flirting, the game started, and a large wave of enemies suddenly appeared on the screen.

"Oh no! A-Yan, quick, quick, there's a monster on the left, block it for me!" Aemeath exclaimed, instantly switching her attention back to the game.

"Okay, leave it to me."

Lu Yan operated the handle with one hand, but his other hand was still reluctant to let go of that soft, warm jade foot.

His gaze would occasionally drift from the screen to the focused profile of the person beside him.

In this unguarded daily life, Aemeath is like an ordinary girl who craves her boyfriend's company, and after each level is cleared, she would come over and ask for a kiss.

Night quietly fell, and the early summer breeze blew through the half-open French windows, dispelling some of the daytime heat.

After washing up, the two lay down in each other's arms on the familiar bed in the bedroom.

As usual, Aemeath wrapped herself around Lu Yan with both hands and feet, burying her face deeply in the crook of his neck.

As Lu Yan listened to her breathing gradually become steady, he reached out and put his arm around her waist, placing a goodnight kiss on the top of her head.

Aemeath always clings to me like this when she sleeps. Is it because her sudden disappearance scared her when she was little?

He patted Aemeath's head, and in the stillness, Lu Yan slowly drifted into a deep sleep.

The familiar feeling of weightlessness returned.

When Lu Yan's senses returned to normal, the first thing he noticed was a feeling of dryness.

Lu Yan opened his eyes and was greeted by the Glimmering Lakeside Lodge.

He looked down and realized he was still wearing the clothes the Rover had given him.

At the Glimmering Lakeside Lodge, he really did come back.

"A-Yan--!"

Before Lu Yan could fully adjust to the change in environment, a clear and delighted voice suddenly rang out in the cabin.

Immediately afterwards, a pink blur shot up from the sofa in front of the TV and pounced straight at Lu Yan.

Lu Yan instinctively opened his arms and caught the little pink bundle of joy as it pounced on him.

The immense impact caused him to involuntarily take half a step back, but he still managed to steadily support Little Aemeath's back.

Little Aemeath clung tightly to his waist, rubbing her little head against his chest. That familiar sense of dependence filled Lu Yan with an indescribable feeling.

"A-Yan! You're finally back!"

Little Aemeath looked up, and her eyes, which had been filled with deathly stillness and emptiness because of the loss of her parents, now shone with an unprecedented brightness.

Her little face was flushed with excitement, and the corners of her mouth were turned up high. Where was the trembling, weak, and helpless look she had shown before?

Little Aemeath Ai looked much better than when she came out of the Jian Lake.

Looking at that vibrant, innocent face, Lu Yan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

He chuckled and gently pinched her nose. "Yes, I'm back. Seeing you so energetic puts my mind at ease."

"You've arrived." A cool, clear voice came from not far away.

Lu Yan looked up and saw the Rover sitting properly at the workbench in the small house.

She was still wearing her black Star Torch Academy uniform, and was reading a book in her hand.

She looked at Lu Yan, who had appeared out of nowhere, without the slightest surprise on her face, as if she were simply greeting an old acquaintance.

Lu Yan carried Little Aemeath to the sofa and sat down. He looked at the Rover and tentatively asked:

"Rover, how many days have I been missing this time?"

Lu Yan was actually quite unsure about this dream, which involved a completely illogical flow of time.

Last time, he only slept for a short while in his dream, and seven whole days have passed here.

The Rover put down his book, looked calmly at Lu Yan, and said softly:

Two months have passed.

Two months!

Lu Yan's pupils contracted sharply, and his arms around Little Aemeath involuntarily tightened.

In reality, he only spent one day playing games with Aemeath, but here more than sixty days have passed!

"I'm sorry..." A dull ache rose in Lu Yan's chest.

He looked down at Little Aemeath in his arms, his eyes filled with guilt. "I've made you stay here so long again."

"It's okay!"

Little Aemeath's behavior surprised Lu Yan; she didn't burst into tears like last time.

Instead, she broke free from Lu Yan's embrace, turned around and ran to the workbench, where she pulled out a small wooden sword that was clearly handmade, its surface worn smooth.

"A-Yan! A-Yan, look!"

Little Aemeath held the small wooden sword in both hands, proudly puffed out her little chest, and earnestly swung it twice in mid-air, creating a slight gust of wind.

She turned her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lu Yan, and said with a boastful air, "I'm really strong right now, you know~"

Looking at her trying so hard to prove herself like a little adult, Lu Yan felt even more sorry for her.

He raised an eyebrow in agreement, feigning surprise, and asked, "Oh? Why does our Little Aemeath want to become stronger? Do you want to be a great hero?"

Upon hearing this question, Little Aemeath stopped swinging her wooden sword.

She held the wooden sword to her chest, her originally lively expression turning somewhat serious.

She didn't look at anything else, but fixed her gaze intently on Lu Yan's face.

"I want to become stronger so that I can protect everyone."

She said she was protecting everyone, but her eyes only reflected Lu Yan's image.

That look made Lu Yan's heart skip a beat.

He suddenly saw in the eleven or twelve-year-old girl in front of him the figure in the real world who schemed step by step to possess him exclusively.

It turns out that this deep-seated, almost pathological, protective and possessive instinct had already taken root and sprouted at such a young age.

What kind of innate female physique is this?!

To alleviate the feeling of gravity, Lu Yan deliberately reached out and pinched her soft cheek, saying with a teasing tone:

"Really? Then may I ask this very powerful hero, during the two months I was gone, did that little crybaby secretly hide under the covers and cry a bit?"

"I... I didn't!" Little Aemeath's pink face instantly turned bright red after being hit where it hurt.

She stomped her foot in embarrassment and annoyance, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on, and retorted angrily:

"I haven't cried anymore! Rover can testify, I've been diligently practicing my swordplay every day, and I haven't shed a single tear!"

The Rover sitting at the workbench spoke up at the opportune moment, "Yes, she didn't cry."

She stood up, walked to Little Aemeath's side, and gently patted the little girl's head:

"But those Snowy Fluff Leopard suffered a lot. These past few days, Aemeath has been going to play with them whenever she has free time."

"Why play those hero-versus-demon games? He's already become the overlord of the ice plains, chasing after those Snowy Fluff Leopard with seaweed in his hand."

When Little Aemeath heard the title "Dominator of the Icefield," her already rosy cheeks turned even redder, like ripe apples.

She lowered her head shyly, her feet drawing restless little circles on the wooden floor. Then, as if remembering something, she looked up at Lu Yan and explained with a grin:

"It's not as exaggerated as Sister Rover said... The leopards clearly enjoy playing with me too!"

"Otherwise, why would they all come over and hum as soon as I approach?"

As Little Aemeath spoke, she playfully twitched her little nose, mimicking the way Snowy Fluff Leopard would whine, making the air in the room feel much lighter.

The Rover sat to one side, watching Aemeath's forced explanation, a slight smile playing on his lips, his usually cold eyes now showing a hint of amusement.

"Yes, they did indeed 'gather' together."

The Rover chuckled, his voice carrying a rare hint of lighthearted teasing. "Come over here so you can wrap them up like demons with seaweed, and while you're chasing me around, I can practice my short-distance sprint."

The Rover turned to look at Lu Yan, the smile still lingering in his eyes, and added, "Indeed, on this snowfield, only this little girl can get those lazy creatures to run at this speed."

"Every time Little Aemeath appears with seaweed, the speed of that pack of leopards increases visibly."

"Sister Rover--!"

Aemeath, embarrassed and annoyed, snuggled back into Lu Yan's arms, burying her flushed face deep in his clothes, protesting in a muffled voice:

"I was helping them exercise! How can exercising be called torture!"

Lu Yan looked at the pair of small pink ears in his arms, which were trembling slightly with shyness, and let out a pleasant laugh.

He reached out and gently stroked Aemeath's head as he looked at the Rover.

Seeing the rare, genuine smile on the face of the Rover, Lu Yan felt the heaviness in his heart dissipate.

Although he was absent for two months, under the care of the Rover, Aemeath had transformed from someone drowning in sorrow into a lively little girl who could reign supreme on the icy plains.

This growth filled him with immense joy, yet also a touch of melancholy.

He remembered Aemeath's words earlier. "I will protect everyone."

In the mind of this little girl who is only eleven or twelve years old, the scope of "everyone" may be very wide, but her gaze is always fixed on him. Right now, she probably only wants to protect Rover and him.