“Viscount, you are too kind.” The man smiled as he slipped the gold coins into his pocket.

After sending off the emperor’s envoy, Ryan Bennett returned to his own villa. It was a three-story building—actually, rather than calling it a villa, it would be more accurate to call it a delicate little castle: sturdy and incredibly beautiful.

“Young master!”

An elderly man with a head full of silver hair bowed respectfully. He was impeccably dressed. “My name is Milton, and I am the butler His Majesty has bestowed upon you.”

“All right, Uncle Milton, please have someone prepare some food for me.”

“Yes, young master. You can just call me by my name.”

Ryan Bennett smiled and turned to the young girl beside him. “Emily Brooks, what would you like to eat?”

“I…” The elven girl lifted her head and, seeing the magical clock hanging on the wall, a trace of anxiety immediately appeared on her face. “Oh, I’ve been out for so long already. Ryan Bennett gege, I… I need to go back.”

“Go back?” The young man frowned. “Wouldn’t it be better to eat before you leave?”

Ryan Bennett wasn’t stupid. After everything that had happened, it was obvious that this elven girl had developed feelings for him. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. With such a beautiful girl, just the thought of winning her heart was enough to make anyone’s heart race.

“I’m sorry, if I don’t go back soon, everyone will be really worried.”

Emily Brooks had sneaked out without telling her maid. By now, her brother had surely found out. If he told their father after she returned, she could forget about ever leaving the Green Sea Forest again.

“All right!”

Seeing the anxious look on the girl’s face, Ryan Bennett knew he probably couldn’t keep her any longer. “I’ll walk you out.”

Holding the girl’s soft hand, Ryan Bennett escorted her to the door.

“All right, Ryan Bennett gege, I can go by myself from here. I… I’ll come find you again.”

As she finished speaking, two blushes bloomed on the girl’s cheeks. Ryan Bennett’s heart skipped a beat, a surge of joy welling up inside him. This girl really did have feelings for him.

As the saying goes, “Good girls like bad boys.” If you want to win the beauty, you have to be bold. Ryan Bennett gently tightened his grip, and as the elven beauty let out a soft gasp, he pulled her into his arms.

A trace of panic flashed in the girl’s eyes, but Ryan Bennett didn’t give her a chance to resist. He leaned in and, like lightning, kissed her sweet cherry lips. As their lips met, Emily Brooks stiffened as if struck by electricity.

Although this was Ryan Bennett’s “first kiss” in this other world, back on Earth he’d had a girlfriend, so he was quite experienced. Under Ryan Bennett’s persistent teasing, the elven girl’s body finally softened, her small hands unconsciously wrapping around Ryan Bennett, her lips parting, and their tongues entwined…

It was a heart-stirring embrace. The elven girl’s lips were like fragrant petals, making the young man completely intoxicated. After a long while, their lips parted, and a silver thread of saliva stretched between them.

Emily Brooks’s heart pounded like a frightened deer, the blush spreading from her cheeks down her slender neck. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Ryan Bennett. Even though it was the boy who had stolen the kiss, she felt as if she had done something wrong.

What a shy and adorable girl.

In fact, Emily Brooks herself was confused. They had only met for the first time today, and yet he had done this to her… But for some reason, Emily Brooks just couldn’t get angry. On the contrary, she felt a faint sense of happiness.

Unknowingly, the shadow of Ryan Bennett had already been imprinted on this elven girl’s heart.

“Shasha, come here whenever you have time. Remember, I’ll be thinking of you.”

“Mm.”

Emily Brooks nodded obediently like a gentle kitten, then reluctantly left the boy’s embrace. Only after her figure disappeared at the end of the street did Ryan Bennett return to the manor.

After enjoying a fine lunch, Ryan Bennett went to the back garden. A gentle breeze carried a refreshing fragrance, and everything that had happened today flashed through his mind.

He had to admit, fate had treated him well. Originally, he had only come to the imperial capital to try his luck, but now he had become a noble, owned an estate, wealth, servants, and… an elven beauty who was almost like a girlfriend.

It all felt like a dream!

Taking a sip of the fruit drink, Ryan Bennett told himself that this was only the beginning. In this other world, he was determined to live an even more brilliant and exciting life.

He must have gained some kind of superpower when he crossed over. Ryan Bennett was eager to master it, but after fumbling around for a long time, he was still clueless. It seemed that it would only activate at critical moments.

After everything that had happened today, Ryan Bennett was tired. Lying on a rattan chair in the garden, he unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 14: Magic

Time flowed like water; in the blink of an eye, a week had passed.

In the days that followed, Ryan Bennett lived quite comfortably. Princess Alice’s health was recovering rapidly, and the emperor, overjoyed, bestowed many rewards. Now, he was the hottest figure in the empire, with many nobles eager to befriend him. However, Ryan Bennett didn’t accept anyone’s overtures. Though young, he came from Earth, where information was highly developed, so Ryan Bennett had long understood one thing: as the center of power in the empire, the political scene in Alsace was a world that devoured people. He had no desire to get involved.