diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f82a100..a68f7d6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 - Increase / decrease indent (paragraphs and lists)
 - Bulleted and ordered lists — nested, with multiple numbering styles (decimal, alpha, roman; `.` or `)` suffix) and whole-list indent; Tab / Shift-Tab to nest / un-nest
 - Word-style nesting defaults for ordered lists: an indented level numbers 1. → a. → i. (repeating) instead of restarting at "1." everywhere; explicit styles per level still override. Plus legal/outline numbering (1., 1.1., 1.2.1. …) as a list type — rendered via CSS counters, round-trips to ODF `text:display-levels` and DOCX `%1.%2.` lvlText chains
+- Nested ordered levels advance the cycle relative to the level above and inherit its suffix (a level-1 `a)` gives `i)` then `1)`); the numbering style chosen for a level is reused when you nest into it again
 - Customizable bullet symbols per list level (Word-style picker on the bullet-list split button: • ◦ ▪ ❖ ➢ ⇨ ✓ – >); round-trips to ODF `text:bullet-char` and DOCX `w:lvlText`, and the DOCX/ODT import maps Wingdings/Symbol bullets (arrows, diamonds, checkmarks …) to their Unicode equivalents instead of flattening them to plain dots. Symbols Liberation Serif lacks render from a bundled 2 KB DejaVu Sans subset (`EdenSymbols.woff2`), so markers look compact and identical on every platform instead of a stretched OS fallback
 - Tab stops (real tab character) and manual line breaks (Shift+Enter)
 
diff --git a/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts b/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts
index cbe8ae6..ae1f070 100644
--- a/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts
+++ b/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Extension, type CommandProps } from '@tiptap/core';
-import type { Node as PMNode } from '@tiptap/pm/model';
-import type { EditorState } from '@tiptap/pm/state';
+import type { Node as PMNode, ResolvedPos } from '@tiptap/pm/model';
+import type { EditorState, Transaction } from '@tiptap/pm/state';
 
 // Left indent in cm: maps to fo:margin-left on paragraphs/headings; on lists it shifts
 // the whole list block (list items nest instead via sinkListItem/liftListItem).
@@ -32,6 +32,57 @@ export function listContext(state: EditorState): ListIndentContext {
   return { inList: true, wholeList, listIndent, nested };
 }
 
+// The innermost list wrapping the head, with its 0-based nesting depth (bullet +
+// ordered ancestors counted), or null when the head is not in a list.
+function innermostList($from: ResolvedPos): { node: PMNode; depth: number; depth0: number } | null {
+  let depth0 = -1;
+  let found: { node: PMNode; depth: number; depth0: number } | null = null;
+  for (let d = 1; d <= $from.depth; d++) {
+    const name = $from.node(d).type.name;
+    if (name === 'bulletList' || name === 'orderedList') found = { node: $from.node(d), depth: d, depth0: ++depth0 };
+  }
+  return found;
+}
+
+// The type-defining attr an explicit same-kind list at `depth0` already uses in this
+// tree (DFS-first), so a freshly nested list can reuse it — Word's per-level memory.
+function rememberedListStyle(root: PMNode, kind: string, depth0: number): Record<string, unknown> | null {
+  let found: Record<string, unknown> | null = null;
+  const walk = (list: PMNode, d: number) => {
+    if (found) return;
+    if (d === depth0 && list.type.name === kind) {
+      const attr = kind === 'orderedList' ? list.attrs.listStyleType : list.attrs.bulletChar;
+      if (attr) { found = kind === 'orderedList' ? { listStyleType: attr } : { bulletChar: attr }; return; }
+    }
+    list.forEach((item) => {
+      if (item.type.name !== 'listItem') return;
+      item.forEach((child) => {
+        if (!found && (child.type.name === 'bulletList' || child.type.name === 'orderedList')) walk(child, d + 1);
+      });
+    });
+  };
+  walk(root, 0);
+  return found;
+}
+
+// After a Tab-sink deepens the list, stamp the new (attr-less) nested list with the
+// per-level style a sibling already uses, so the chosen numbering/bullet is remembered.
+function stampRememberedStyle(tr: Transaction, beforeDepth0: number): void {
+  const $from = tr.selection.$from;
+  const inner = innermostList($from);
+  if (!inner || inner.depth0 <= beforeDepth0) return;
+  const kind = inner.node.type.name;
+  const has = kind === 'orderedList' ? inner.node.attrs.listStyleType : inner.node.attrs.bulletChar;
+  if (has) return;
+  let rootDepth = inner.depth;
+  for (let d = inner.depth - 1; d > 0; d--) {
+    const name = $from.node(d).type.name;
+    if (name === 'bulletList' || name === 'orderedList') rootDepth = d;
+  }
+  const remembered = rememberedListStyle($from.node(rootDepth), kind, inner.depth0);
+  if (remembered) tr.setNodeMarkup($from.before(inner.depth), undefined, { ...inner.node.attrs, ...remembered });
+}
+
 declare module '@tiptap/core' {
   interface Commands<ReturnType> {
     indent: {
@@ -140,10 +191,15 @@ export const Indent = Extension.create({
       indentLess: () => step(-INDENT_STEP_CM),
       indentListMore: () => stepList(INDENT_STEP_CM),
       indentListLess: () => stepList(-INDENT_STEP_CM),
-      indentListForward: () => ({ state, commands }) => {
+      indentListForward: () => ({ state, chain, commands }) => {
         const ctx = listContext(state);
         if (!ctx.inList) return false;
-        return ctx.wholeList ? commands.indentListMore() : commands.sinkListItem('listItem');
+        if (ctx.wholeList) return commands.indentListMore();
+        const beforeDepth0 = innermostList(state.selection.$from)?.depth0 ?? -1;
+        return chain()
+          .sinkListItem('listItem')
+          .command(({ tr }) => { stampRememberedStyle(tr, beforeDepth0); return true; })
+          .run();
       },
       indentListBackward: () => ({ state, commands }) => {
         const ctx = listContext(state);
diff --git a/src/lib/editor/extensions/orderedList.ts b/src/lib/editor/extensions/orderedList.ts
index 989e76e..7ef511c 100644
--- a/src/lib/editor/extensions/orderedList.ts
+++ b/src/lib/editor/extensions/orderedList.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import OrderedListBase from '@tiptap/extension-ordered-list';
-import type { EditorState } from '@tiptap/pm/state';
-import type { ResolvedPos } from '@tiptap/pm/model';
-import { defaultOrderedType, orderedTypeAttr, type OrderedListType } from '../../utils/orderedListTypes';
+import { Plugin, PluginKey, type EditorState } from '@tiptap/pm/state';
+import { Decoration, DecorationSet } from '@tiptap/pm/view';
+import type { Node as ProseMirrorNode, ResolvedPos } from '@tiptap/pm/model';
+import { childCycle, defaultOrderedTypeAt, orderedTypeAttrAt, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, type OrderedCycle, type OrderedListType } from '../../utils/orderedListTypes';
 
 declare module '@tiptap/core' {
   interface Commands<ReturnType> {
@@ -12,15 +13,21 @@ declare module '@tiptap/core' {
   }
 }
 
-// 0-based list nesting depth of the node at resolved depth `d` (counts bullet and
-// ordered ancestors — the level Word/ODF assign to it).
-function listDepth0($from: ResolvedPos, d: number): number {
-  let depth0 = 0;
-  for (let i = d - 1; i > 0; i--) {
+// Cycle position of the list node at resolved depth `d` — walks its list ancestors
+// (bullet + ordered) from the outermost in, advancing one slot per level and
+// re-anchoring at each explicit ordered style (see childCycle).
+function baseCycleAt($from: ResolvedPos, d: number): OrderedCycle {
+  const depths: number[] = [];
+  for (let i = 1; i <= d; i++) {
     const name = $from.node(i).type.name;
-    if (name === 'bulletList' || name === 'orderedList') depth0++;
+    if (name === 'bulletList' || name === 'orderedList') depths.push(i);
   }
-  return depth0;
+  let cycle = ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE;
+  for (let k = 1; k < depths.length; k++) {
+    const parent = $from.node(depths[k - 1]);
+    cycle = childCycle(cycle, parent.attrs.listStyleType, parent.type.name === 'orderedList');
+  }
+  return cycle;
 }
 
 // Innermost/outermost ordered-list ancestor depths at the cursor (null = not in one).
@@ -52,7 +59,7 @@ export function effectiveOrderedTypeAt(state: EditorState): OrderedListType | nu
     if (t === 'multilevel') return 'multilevel';
     if (t) break; // a nearer explicit style cuts the chain
   }
-  return defaultOrderedType(listDepth0($from, ctx.innermost));
+  return defaultOrderedTypeAt(baseCycleAt($from, ctx.innermost));
 }
 
 // OrderedList with a `listStyleType` attr (an ORDERED_LIST_TYPES key; null = the
@@ -94,7 +101,7 @@ export const OrderedList = OrderedListBase.extend({
           const inChain = target !== ctx.outermost && $from.node(ctx.outermost).attrs.listStyleType === 'multilevel';
           const value = key === 'multilevel' ? 'multilevel'
             : inChain ? key
-            : orderedTypeAttr(key, listDepth0($from, target));
+            : orderedTypeAttrAt(key, baseCycleAt($from, target));
           if (dispatch) {
             tr.setNodeMarkup(pos, undefined, { ...node.attrs, listStyleType: value });
             if (key === 'multilevel') {
@@ -109,4 +116,60 @@ export const OrderedList = OrderedListBase.extend({
         },
     };
   },
+
+  addProseMirrorPlugins() {
+    return [
+      ...(this.parent?.() ?? []),
+      new Plugin({
+        key: orderedListStyleKey,
+        state: {
+          init: (_, state) => orderedListStyleDecos(state.doc),
+          apply: (tr, old) => (tr.docChanged ? orderedListStyleDecos(tr.doc) : old),
+        },
+        props: {
+          decorations(state) {
+            return orderedListStyleKey.getState(state);
+          },
+        },
+      }),
+    ];
+  },
 });
+
+const orderedListStyleKey = new PluginKey<DecorationSet>('orderedListEffStyle');
+
+// An attr-less <ol>'s marker depends on its list-ancestor chain. This walk resolves
+// each list's effective numbering (re-anchoring at explicit styles, propagating
+// multilevel) and tags the <ol> with `data-eff-list-style`, which editor.css maps.
+export function orderedListStyleDecos(doc: ProseMirrorNode): DecorationSet {
+  const decos: Decoration[] = [];
+  const walk = (node: ProseMirrorNode, pos: number, cycle: OrderedCycle, multilevel: boolean, inList: boolean) => {
+    let nextCycle = ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE;
+    let nextMultilevel = false;
+    let nextInList = false;
+    const name = node.type.name;
+    if (name === 'orderedList' || name === 'bulletList') {
+      const listCycle = inList ? cycle : ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE;
+      const listMultilevel = inList && multilevel;
+      if (name === 'orderedList') {
+        const own = node.attrs.listStyleType as string | null;
+        const eff = own === 'multilevel' || (listMultilevel && !own) ? 'multilevel' : own ?? defaultOrderedTypeAt(listCycle);
+        decos.push(Decoration.node(pos, pos + node.nodeSize, { 'data-eff-list-style': eff }));
+        nextMultilevel = eff === 'multilevel';
+      }
+      nextCycle = childCycle(listCycle, node.attrs.listStyleType as string | null, name === 'orderedList');
+      nextInList = true;
+    } else if (name === 'listItem') {
+      nextCycle = cycle;
+      nextMultilevel = multilevel;
+      nextInList = inList;
+    }
+    let p = pos + 1;
+    node.forEach((child) => {
+      walk(child, p, nextCycle, nextMultilevel, nextInList);
+      p += child.nodeSize;
+    });
+  };
+  walk(doc, -1, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, false, false);
+  return DecorationSet.create(doc, decos);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/export/docx.ts b/src/lib/export/docx.ts
index 3341c55..591ce31 100644
--- a/src/lib/export/docx.ts
+++ b/src/lib/export/docx.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import type { Orientation } from '../storage/pageOrientation';
 import { HF_DISTANCE_CM, hfIsEmpty } from '../storage/headerFooter';
 import { HEADER_SHADE } from '../editor/extensions/tableHeaderRow';
 import { parseBorderAttr, type BorderSide } from '../editor/extensions/tableCellBorders';
-import { effectiveOrderedDef, formatOrdinal } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
+import { effectiveOrderedDefAt, formatOrdinal, childCycle, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, type OrderedCycle } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
 import { defaultBulletChar } from '../utils/bulletListTypes';
 import { normalizeColor, HEADING_STYLE_OVERRIDES, type HfExport } from './odt';
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class Numbering {
     return reference;
   }
 
-  ensureLevel(reference: string, depth: number, node: TiptapNode, extraIndentCm: number): void {
+  ensureLevel(reference: string, depth: number, node: TiptapNode, extraIndentCm: number, cycle: OrderedCycle): void {
     // A multilevel top list turns the whole reference into a "%1.%2." chain; its
     // attr-less nested lists inherit it (the top registers first — pre-order walk).
     if (depth === 0 && node.attrs?.listStyleType === 'multilevel') this.mlRefs.add(reference);
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class Numbering {
     if (node.type === 'orderedList') {
       const attr = node.attrs?.listStyleType as string | null | undefined;
       const chained = this.mlRefs.has(reference) && (depth === 0 || !attr);
-      const def = effectiveOrderedDef(attr === 'multilevel' ? 'decimal' : attr, depth);
+      const def = effectiveOrderedDefAt(attr === 'multilevel' ? 'decimal' : attr, cycle);
       levels.push({
         level: depth,
         format: chained ? LevelFormat.DECIMAL : ORDERED_FORMAT[def.numFormat] ?? LevelFormat.DECIMAL,
@@ -409,11 +409,12 @@ function txbxParagraphXml(node: TiptapNode, indentTwip = 0, markerText = ''): st
 // In-box lists flatten to literal-marker paragraphs (real numbering would need
 // numbering.xml references, which the post-pack string pass can't mint).
 // `mlPrefix`: parent chain ("1.2.") when inside a multilevel list, else null.
-function txbxListXml(node: TiptapNode, depth: number, mlPrefix: string | null = null): string {
+function txbxListXml(node: TiptapNode, depth: number, mlPrefix: string | null = null, cycle: OrderedCycle = ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE): string {
   const ordered = node.type === 'orderedList';
   const attr = node.attrs?.listStyleType as string | null | undefined;
   const chained = ordered && (attr === 'multilevel' || (mlPrefix !== null && !attr));
-  const def = effectiveOrderedDef(attr === 'multilevel' ? 'decimal' : attr, depth);
+  const def = effectiveOrderedDefAt(attr === 'multilevel' ? 'decimal' : attr, cycle);
+  const cChild = childCycle(cycle, attr, ordered);
   let n = typeof node.attrs?.start === 'number' ? node.attrs.start : 1;
   let out = '';
   for (const item of node.content ?? []) {
@@ -421,7 +422,7 @@ function txbxListXml(node: TiptapNode, depth: number, mlPrefix: string | null =
     let first = true;
     for (const child of item.content ?? []) {
       if (child.type === 'bulletList' || child.type === 'orderedList') {
-        out += txbxListXml(child, depth + 1, chained ? `${mlPrefix ?? ''}${n}.` : null);
+        out += txbxListXml(child, depth + 1, chained ? `${mlPrefix ?? ''}${n}.` : null, cChild);
       } else if (child.type === 'paragraph' || child.type === 'heading') {
         const ordinal = chained ? `${mlPrefix ?? ''}${n}. ` : `${formatOrdinal(n, def.numFormat)}${def.numSuffix} `;
         const marker = first ? (ordered ? ordinal : `${bulletCharOf(node, depth)} `) : '';
@@ -578,17 +579,18 @@ function paragraphToDocx(node: TiptapNode, opts: ParaOpts = {}): Paragraph {
 // ---- lists -----------------------------------------------------------------
 function listToParagraphs(
   node: TiptapNode, depth: number, reference: string, extraIndentCm: number,
-  num: Numbering, out: (Paragraph | Table | TableOfContents)[],
+  num: Numbering, out: (Paragraph | Table | TableOfContents)[], cycle: OrderedCycle = ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE,
 ): void {
   const indentCm = extraIndentCm + (typeof node.attrs?.indent === 'number' ? node.attrs.indent : 0);
-  num.ensureLevel(reference, depth, node, indentCm);
+  num.ensureLevel(reference, depth, node, indentCm, cycle);
   const levelLeftTwip = cmToTwip((depth + 1) * LIST_LEFT_STEP_CM + indentCm);
+  const cChild = childCycle(cycle, node.attrs?.listStyleType as string | null | undefined, node.type === 'orderedList');
   for (const item of node.content ?? []) {
     if (item.type !== 'listItem') continue;
     let numberedFirst = false;
     for (const child of item.content ?? []) {
       if (child.type === 'bulletList' || child.type === 'orderedList') {
-        listToParagraphs(child, depth + 1, reference, indentCm, num, out);
+        listToParagraphs(child, depth + 1, reference, indentCm, num, out, cChild);
       } else if (child.type === 'paragraph' || child.type === 'heading') {
         if (!numberedFirst) {
           out.push(paragraphToDocx(child, { numbering: { reference, level: depth } }));
diff --git a/src/lib/export/odt.ts b/src/lib/export/odt.ts
index e51050b..0fc56db 100644
--- a/src/lib/export/odt.ts
+++ b/src/lib/export/odt.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { HF_DISTANCE_CM, hfIsEmpty, type HfDoc } from '../storage/headerFooter';
 import { HEADER_SHADE } from '../editor/extensions/tableHeaderRow';
 import { BORDER_SIDES, parseBorderAttr } from '../editor/extensions/tableCellBorders';
 import { TEXTBOX_PADDING_CM } from '../editor/extensions/textBox';
-import { orderedTypeDef, effectiveOrderedDef } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
+import { orderedTypeDef, effectiveOrderedDef, effectiveOrderedDefAt, childCycle, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, type OrderedCycle } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
 import { DEFAULT_BULLET_CYCLE, defaultBulletChar } from '../utils/bulletListTypes';
 
 type AlignValue = 'left' | 'center' | 'right' | 'justify';
@@ -707,32 +707,35 @@ const DEFAULT_ORDERED_FMTS: OrderedFmt[] = Array.from({ length: 6 }, (_, i) => {
 });
 const MULTILEVEL_FMTS: OrderedFmt[] = Array.from({ length: 6 }, () => ({ numFormat: '1', numSuffix: '.' }));
 
-// Effective numbering of an ordered list at a 1-based depth: its attr, else the
-// depth-default cycle ('multilevel' handled by the callers).
-function effOrderedFmt(list: TiptapNode, depth: number): OrderedFmt {
+// Effective numbering of an ordered list at a cycle position: its attr, else the
+// cycle default (re-anchoring slot + suffix at explicit styles; 'multilevel' handled
+// by the callers).
+function effOrderedFmt(list: TiptapNode, cycle: OrderedCycle): OrderedFmt {
   const key = list.attrs?.listStyleType as string | null | undefined;
-  const def = effectiveOrderedDef(key === 'multilevel' ? 'decimal' : key, depth - 1);
+  const def = effectiveOrderedDefAt(key === 'multilevel' ? 'decimal' : key, cycle);
   return { numFormat: def.numFormat, numSuffix: def.numSuffix };
 }
 
-// Per-level numbering for a list subtree — same DFS-first model as bulletCharVector.
-function orderedFmtVector(list: TiptapNode, startDepth: number, base: OrderedFmt[]): OrderedFmt[] {
+// Per-level numbering for a list subtree — same DFS-first model as bulletCharVector,
+// threading each list's cycle position down so nested defaults advance past their parent.
+function orderedFmtVector(list: TiptapNode, startDepth: number, base: OrderedFmt[], startCycle: OrderedCycle): OrderedFmt[] {
   const vec = [...base];
   const seen = new Set<number>();
-  const walk = (node: TiptapNode, depth: number) => {
+  const walk = (node: TiptapNode, depth: number, cycle: OrderedCycle) => {
     if (depth > vec.length) return;
     if (node.type === 'orderedList' && !seen.has(depth)) {
       seen.add(depth);
-      vec[depth - 1] = effOrderedFmt(node, depth);
+      vec[depth - 1] = effOrderedFmt(node, cycle);
     }
+    const cChild = childCycle(cycle, node.attrs?.listStyleType as string | null | undefined, node.type === 'orderedList');
     for (const item of node.content ?? []) {
       if (item.type !== 'listItem') continue;
       for (const child of item.content ?? []) {
-        if (child.type === 'bulletList' || child.type === 'orderedList') walk(child, depth + 1);
+        if (child.type === 'bulletList' || child.type === 'orderedList') walk(child, depth + 1, cChild);
       }
     }
   };
-  walk(list, startDepth);
+  walk(list, startDepth, startCycle);
   return vec;
 }
 
@@ -744,7 +747,7 @@ function collectOrderedListFormats(node: TiptapNode, result: (OlStyleFix | null)
       if (child.attrs?.listStyleType === 'multilevel') {
         result.push({ fmts: MULTILEVEL_FMTS, multilevel: true });
       } else {
-        const vec = orderedFmtVector(child, 1, DEFAULT_ORDERED_FMTS);
+        const vec = orderedFmtVector(child, 1, DEFAULT_ORDERED_FMTS, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE);
         // odf-kit's own output is all-decimal; only an all-"1." vector needs no rewrite.
         result.push(vec.every(f => f.numFormat === '1' && f.numSuffix === '.') ? null : { fmts: vec, multilevel: false });
       }
@@ -896,12 +899,12 @@ function applyListIndents(odtBytes: Uint8Array, indents: number[]): Uint8Array {
 // 6-level list style (same pattern applyCellBlocks uses for cell lists).
 type ListDef = { ordered: boolean; multilevel: boolean; fmts: OrderedFmt[]; bulletChars: string[] };
 
-function listDefOf(node: TiptapNode, depth: number, baseChars: string[], baseFmts: OrderedFmt[]): ListDef {
+function listDefOf(node: TiptapNode, depth: number, cycle: OrderedCycle, baseChars: string[], baseFmts: OrderedFmt[]): ListDef {
   const multilevel = node.attrs?.listStyleType === 'multilevel';
   return {
     ordered: node.type === 'orderedList',
     multilevel,
-    fmts: multilevel ? MULTILEVEL_FMTS : orderedFmtVector(node, depth, baseFmts),
+    fmts: multilevel ? MULTILEVEL_FMTS : orderedFmtVector(node, depth, baseFmts, cycle),
     bulletChars: bulletCharVector(node, depth, baseChars),
   };
 }
@@ -909,7 +912,7 @@ function listDefOf(node: TiptapNode, depth: number, baseChars: string[], baseFmt
 // One entry per nested <text:list> in DFS order (null = inherits its governing
 // style correctly). Only walks top-level lists — cell lists never emit bare tags.
 function collectNestedListFixes(doc: TiptapNode, result: (ListDef | null)[]): void {
-  const walkList = (list: TiptapNode, governing: ListDef, isTop: boolean, depth: number) => {
+  const walkList = (list: TiptapNode, governing: ListDef, isTop: boolean, depth: number, cycle: OrderedCycle) => {
     let gov = governing;
     if (!isTop) {
       const ordered = list.type === 'orderedList';
@@ -923,24 +926,25 @@ function collectNestedListFixes(doc: TiptapNode, result: (ListDef | null)[]): vo
         const attr = list.attrs?.listStyleType;
         differs = !!attr && attr !== 'multilevel';
       } else {
-        const f = effOrderedFmt(list, depth);
+        const f = effOrderedFmt(list, cycle);
         const g = governing.fmts[(depth - 1) % governing.fmts.length];
         differs = f.numFormat !== g.numFormat || f.numSuffix !== g.numSuffix;
       }
-      const def = differs ? listDefOf(list, depth, governing.bulletChars, governing.fmts) : null;
+      const def = differs ? listDefOf(list, depth, cycle, governing.bulletChars, governing.fmts) : null;
       result.push(def);
       if (def) gov = def; // restyled list governs its own descendants
     }
+    const cChild = childCycle(cycle, list.attrs?.listStyleType as string | null | undefined, list.type === 'orderedList');
     for (const item of list.content ?? []) {
       if (item.type !== 'listItem') continue;
       for (const child of item.content ?? []) {
-        if (child.type === 'bulletList' || child.type === 'orderedList') walkList(child, gov, false, depth + 1);
+        if (child.type === 'bulletList' || child.type === 'orderedList') walkList(child, gov, false, depth + 1, cChild);
       }
     }
   };
   for (const child of doc.content ?? []) {
     if (child.type === 'bulletList' || child.type === 'orderedList') {
-      walkList(child, listDefOf(child, 1, DEFAULT_BULLET_CYCLE, DEFAULT_ORDERED_FMTS), true, 1);
+      walkList(child, listDefOf(child, 1, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, DEFAULT_BULLET_CYCLE, DEFAULT_ORDERED_FMTS), true, 1, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE);
     }
   }
 }
@@ -1091,7 +1095,7 @@ function applyCellBlocks(odtBytes: Uint8Array, cellBlocks: CellBlock[][]): Uint8
   // Each <text:list> (root or nested) carries its own type-based style-name, so mixed
   // bullet/number nesting renders correctly; indent comes from nesting depth. One
   // segment consumed per list item, DFS order (matching buildCellContent).
-  const buildList = (list: CellListBlock, segments: string[], cur: { i: number }, depth = 1, mlGov = false): string => {
+  const buildList = (list: CellListBlock, segments: string[], cur: { i: number }, depth = 1, mlGov = false, cycle: OrderedCycle = ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE): string => {
     const isBullet = !list.ordered;
     const ml = !isBullet && (list.listStyleType === 'multilevel' || (mlGov && !list.listStyleType));
     let listStyle: string;
@@ -1100,16 +1104,17 @@ function applyCellBlocks(odtBytes: Uint8Array, cellBlocks: CellBlock[][]): Uint8
     } else if (ml) {
       listStyle = numberStyleFor('1', '.', true);
     } else {
-      const def = effectiveOrderedDef(list.listStyleType, depth - 1);
+      const def = effectiveOrderedDefAt(list.listStyleType, cycle);
       listStyle = numberStyleFor(def.numFormat, def.numSuffix);
     }
+    const cChild = childCycle(cycle, list.listStyleType, list.ordered);
     const paraParent = isBullet ? 'List_20_Bullet' : 'List_20_Number';
     let out = `<text:list text:style-name="${listStyle}">`;
     list.items.forEach((item, idx) => {
       const startAttr = !isBullet && idx === 0 && list.start != null ? ` text:start-value="${list.start}"` : '';
       const seg = segments[cur.i++] ?? '';
       out += `<text:list-item${startAttr}><text:p text:style-name="${styleNameFor(paraParent, item.style)}">${seg}</text:p>`;
-      if (item.nested) out += buildList(item.nested, segments, cur, depth + 1, ml);
+      if (item.nested) out += buildList(item.nested, segments, cur, depth + 1, ml, cChild);
       out += '</text:list-item>';
     });
     return out + '</text:list>';
diff --git a/src/lib/export/pdf.ts b/src/lib/export/pdf.ts
index cc24287..e9b2593 100644
--- a/src/lib/export/pdf.ts
+++ b/src/lib/export/pdf.ts
@@ -164,7 +164,9 @@ function listMarkerGlyph(li: HTMLElement, root: HTMLElement): string {
     for (let e: HTMLElement | null = parent; e && e !== root; e = e.parentElement) {
       if (e.tagName === 'OL') olDepth++;
     }
-    const def = effectiveOrderedDef(parent.getAttribute('data-list-style'), olDepth - 1);
+    // orderedList.ts's plugin resolves the effective numbering onto data-eff-list-style
+    // (re-anchoring nested defaults); olDepth is only a fallback if it is absent.
+    const def = effectiveOrderedDef(parent.getAttribute('data-eff-list-style'), olDepth - 1);
     return formatOrdinal(liOrdinal(li), def.numFormat) + def.numSuffix;
   }
   // Explicit bulletChar attr wins; otherwise the default cycle keyed by the number
diff --git a/src/lib/import/docx.ts b/src/lib/import/docx.ts
index 968d555..9a8548e 100644
--- a/src/lib/import/docx.ts
+++ b/src/lib/import/docx.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { DocxStyles, parseRunProps, mergeRunProps, readNumPr, wVal, W, R, WP, A,
 import { lengthToPt } from './styleResolver';
 import { HEADING_STYLE_OVERRIDES, normalizeColor } from '../export/odt';
 import { HEADER_SHADE } from '../editor/extensions/tableHeaderRow';
-import { orderedTypeFromFormat, orderedTypeAttr } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
+import { orderedTypeFromFormat, orderedTypeAttrAt, childCycle, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, type OrderedCycle } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
 import { bulletCharAttr, bulletCharFromDocx } from '../utils/bulletListTypes';
 import { PX_PER_CM, type PageMargins } from '../storage/pageMargins';
 import type { Orientation } from '../storage/pageOrientation';
@@ -285,6 +285,20 @@ function paragraphNum(el: Element, ctx: Ctx): { numId: number; ilvl: number } |
   return np && np.numId !== 0 ? np : null; // numId 0 = "no list"
 }
 
+// Cycle position of level `ilvl` — walks the shallower levels of the same numbering,
+// advancing one slot each and re-anchoring slot + suffix at explicit ordered formats
+// (like the ODT importer), so an attr-less nested default advances past its parent.
+function listBaseCycle(ctx: Ctx, numId: number, ilvl: number): OrderedCycle {
+  let cycle = ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE;
+  for (let l = 0; l < ilvl; l++) {
+    const d = ctx.styles.level(numId, l);
+    const bullet = !d.numFmt || d.numFmt === 'bullet' || d.numFmt === 'none';
+    const key = bullet ? null : orderedTypeFromFormat(wordFmtChar(d.numFmt), lvlSuffix(d.lvlText));
+    cycle = childCycle(cycle, key, !bullet);
+  }
+  return cycle;
+}
+
 function makeListNode(ctx: Ctx, numId: number, ilvl: number): Node {
   const def = ctx.styles.level(numId, ilvl);
   const bullet = !def.numFmt || def.numFmt === 'bullet' || def.numFmt === 'none';
@@ -301,7 +315,7 @@ function makeListNode(ctx: Ctx, numId: number, ilvl: number): Node {
       attrs.listStyleType = 'multilevel';
     } else if (placeholders <= 1) {
       const key = orderedTypeFromFormat(wordFmtChar(def.numFmt), lvlSuffix(def.lvlText));
-      const attr = orderedTypeAttr(key, ilvl);
+      const attr = orderedTypeAttrAt(key, listBaseCycle(ctx, numId, ilvl));
       if (attr) attrs.listStyleType = attr;
     }
     if (def.start != null && def.start > 1) attrs.start = def.start;
diff --git a/src/lib/import/odt.ts b/src/lib/import/odt.ts
index 19b2869..d0e5701 100644
--- a/src/lib/import/odt.ts
+++ b/src/lib/import/odt.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { unzipSync, strFromU8 } from 'fflate';
 import { StyleResolver, NS, lengthToPt, lengthToCm, layerTextProps, type PropMap } from './styleResolver';
 import { HEADING_STYLE_OVERRIDES, normalizeColor } from '../export/odt';
 import { HEADER_SHADE } from '../editor/extensions/tableHeaderRow';
-import { orderedTypeFromFormat, orderedTypeAttr } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
+import { orderedTypeFromFormat, orderedTypeAttrAt, childCycle, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, type OrderedCycle } from '../utils/orderedListTypes';
 import { bulletCharAttr, bulletCharFromOdf } from '../utils/bulletListTypes';
 import { PX_PER_CM, cmToPx, type PageMargins } from '../storage/pageMargins';
 import type { Orientation } from '../storage/pageOrientation';
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ function formatPt(v: number): string {
 // their own — the outermost list's style governs, with one level def per depth.
 // `govMultilevel`: this list sits inside a multilevel (display-levels) chain, so an
 // explicit numbering here must never be suppressed to null (null = rejoin the chain).
-function convertList(el: Element, ctx: Ctx, inheritedStyleName: string | null, depth: number, govMultilevel = false): Node | null {
+function convertList(el: Element, ctx: Ctx, inheritedStyleName: string | null, depth: number, govMultilevel = false, baseCycle: OrderedCycle = ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE): Node | null {
   const styleName = el.getAttributeNS(NS.text, 'style-name') ?? inheritedStyleName;
   const levelDef = listLevelDef(ctx.resolver.listStyle(styleName), depth);
   const ordered = levelDef?.localName === 'list-level-style-number';
@@ -755,6 +755,11 @@ function convertList(el: Element, ctx: Ctx, inheritedStyleName: string | null, d
   const isMultilevelTop = ordered && depth === 1
     && parseInt(listLevelDef(ctx.resolver.listStyle(styleName), 2)?.getAttributeNS(NS.text, 'display-levels') ?? '1', 10) > 1;
   const inChain = ordered && (isMultilevelTop || displayLevels > 1);
+  // This list's rendered numbering re-anchors its children's default cycle (slot + suffix).
+  const renderedKey = ordered && !inChain
+    ? orderedTypeFromFormat(levelDef!.getAttributeNS(NS.style, 'num-format'), levelDef!.getAttributeNS(NS.style, 'num-suffix'))
+    : null;
+  const childBaseCycle = childCycle(baseCycle, inChain ? 'multilevel' : renderedKey, ordered);
 
   const items: Node[] = [];
   let start: number | null = null;
@@ -771,7 +776,7 @@ function convertList(el: Element, ctx: Ctx, inheritedStyleName: string | null, d
       if (child.namespaceURI === NS.text && (child.localName === 'p' || child.localName === 'h')) {
         blocks.push(convertParaLike(child, ctx, 'list'));
       } else if (child.namespaceURI === NS.text && child.localName === 'list') {
-        const nested = convertList(child, ctx, styleName, depth + 1, inChain);
+        const nested = convertList(child, ctx, styleName, depth + 1, inChain, childBaseCycle);
         if (nested) blocks.push(nested);
       } else if (child.namespaceURI === NS.table && child.localName === 'table') {
         ctx.warnings.add('Nested tables were flattened to paragraphs');
@@ -812,13 +817,10 @@ function convertList(el: Element, ctx: Ctx, inheritedStyleName: string | null, d
   } else if (displayLevels > 1) {
     listStyleType = null; // chain member — the multilevel top carries the attr
   } else {
-    const key = orderedTypeFromFormat(
-      levelDef!.getAttributeNS(NS.style, 'num-format'),
-      levelDef!.getAttributeNS(NS.style, 'num-suffix'),
-    );
-    // Explicit styles inside a chain stay explicit; elsewhere the depth default
-    // (1. → a. → i.) imports as null so round trips don't accrete attrs.
-    listStyleType = govMultilevel ? key : orderedTypeAttr(key, depth - 1);
+    const key = renderedKey!;
+    // Explicit styles inside a chain stay explicit; elsewhere the cycle default
+    // (re-anchored per ancestor) imports as null so round trips don't accrete attrs.
+    listStyleType = govMultilevel ? key : orderedTypeAttrAt(key, baseCycle);
   }
   const attrs: Record<string, unknown> = {};
   if (start != null) attrs.start = start;
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/orderedListTypes.ts b/src/lib/utils/orderedListTypes.ts
index bfe410a..502f1e1 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/orderedListTypes.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/orderedListTypes.ts
@@ -65,6 +65,51 @@ export function orderedTypeAttr(key: OrderedListType, depth0: number): OrderedLi
   return key === defaultOrderedType(depth0) ? null : key;
 }
 
+// The cycle slot (0=decimal, 1=alpha, 2=roman) a numbering type renders as, keyed
+// by its num-format so paren/upper variants share their base slot. A nested list
+// advances one slot past its parent's *effective* type, so it never repeats it.
+export function cycleSlotOf(key: string | null | undefined): number {
+  switch (orderedTypeDef(key).numFormat) {
+    case 'a': case 'A': return 1;
+    case 'i': case 'I': return 2;
+    default: return 0;
+  }
+}
+
+// A list's position in the default cycle: its base slot plus the suffix inherited down
+// the chain (so "a)" at one level makes deeper defaults keep the ")" suffix).
+export type OrderedCycle = { slot: number; suffix: '.' | ')' };
+export const ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE: OrderedCycle = { slot: 0, suffix: '.' };
+
+const DOT_SLOTS: OrderedListType[] = ['decimal', 'lower-alpha', 'lower-roman'];
+const PAREN_SLOTS: OrderedListType[] = ['decimal-paren', 'lower-alpha-paren', 'lower-roman-paren'];
+
+// The default numbering at a cycle position: the slot's base form (1./a./i.) carrying
+// the inherited suffix, so a level-1 "a)" makes level 2 default to i), not i.
+export function defaultOrderedTypeAt(cycle: OrderedCycle): OrderedListType {
+  return (cycle.suffix === ')' ? PAREN_SLOTS : DOT_SLOTS)[cycle.slot % DOT_SLOTS.length];
+}
+
+// Cycle position of a list nested under a parent: advance one slot; an explicit ordered
+// parent re-anchors both slot and suffix to its own, so a level-1 "a., b." makes level 2
+// default to i. and a level-1 "a)" makes it i) — others pass the context through.
+export function childCycle(parent: OrderedCycle, parentKey: string | null | undefined, parentOrdered: boolean): OrderedCycle {
+  if (parentOrdered && parentKey && parentKey !== 'multilevel') {
+    return { slot: cycleSlotOf(parentKey) + 1, suffix: orderedTypeDef(parentKey).numSuffix };
+  }
+  return { slot: parent.slot + 1, suffix: parent.suffix };
+}
+
+// Cycle-aware variants of orderedTypeAttr/effectiveOrderedDef (null = matches the
+// cycle default, so round trips don't accrete explicit attrs).
+export function orderedTypeAttrAt(key: OrderedListType, cycle: OrderedCycle): OrderedListType | null {
+  return key === defaultOrderedTypeAt(cycle) ? null : key;
+}
+
+export function effectiveOrderedDefAt(key: string | null | undefined, cycle: OrderedCycle): OrderedTypeDef {
+  return orderedTypeDef(key ?? defaultOrderedTypeAt(cycle));
+}
+
 function toRoman(n: number): string {
   const map: [number, string][] = [[1000, 'm'], [900, 'cm'], [500, 'd'], [400, 'cd'], [100, 'c'], [90, 'xc'], [50, 'l'], [40, 'xl'], [10, 'x'], [9, 'ix'], [5, 'v'], [4, 'iv'], [1, 'i']];
   let s = '';
diff --git a/src/styles/editor.css b/src/styles/editor.css
index 54eec47..076d958 100644
--- a/src/styles/editor.css
+++ b/src/styles/editor.css
@@ -377,44 +377,30 @@
   margin-bottom: 0.212cm;
 }
 
-/* Ordered-list numbering styles (Toolbar split-button dropdown → orderedList
-   `listStyleType` attr, rendered as data-list-style). The dot variants reuse the
-   built-in counter styles (which already render with a trailing "."); the bracket
-   variants override the suffix via @counter-style … system: extends. `decimal`
-   needs no rule (the <ol> default already renders "1."). Keep in sync with
-   src/lib/editor/orderedListTypes.ts and export/odt.ts. */
+/* Ordered-list numbering, keyed by data-eff-list-style — the effective numbering
+   orderedList.ts's plugin resolves per <ol> from its attr + ancestor chain. Dot
+   variants reuse the built-in counter styles; bracket variants override the suffix. */
 @counter-style oledit-decimal-paren     { system: extends decimal;     suffix: ") "; }
 @counter-style oledit-lower-alpha-paren { system: extends lower-alpha; suffix: ") "; }
 @counter-style oledit-upper-alpha-paren { system: extends upper-alpha; suffix: ") "; }
 @counter-style oledit-lower-roman-paren { system: extends lower-roman; suffix: ") "; }
 @counter-style oledit-upper-roman-paren { system: extends upper-roman; suffix: ") "; }
 
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="decimal"]           { list-style-type: decimal; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="decimal-paren"]     { list-style-type: oledit-decimal-paren; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="lower-alpha"]       { list-style-type: lower-alpha; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="lower-alpha-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-lower-alpha-paren; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="upper-alpha"]       { list-style-type: upper-alpha; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="upper-alpha-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-upper-alpha-paren; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="lower-roman"]       { list-style-type: lower-roman; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="lower-roman-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-lower-roman-paren; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="upper-roman"]       { list-style-type: upper-roman; }
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="upper-roman-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-upper-roman-paren; }
-
-/* Default numbering per nesting depth when no data-list-style is set — Word's
-   multilevel template 1. → a. → i., repeating (DEFAULT_ORDERED_CYCLE in
-   orderedListTypes.ts). Explicit attrs win via the higher-specificity rules above. */
-.paper .tiptap ol          { list-style-type: decimal; }
-.paper .tiptap ol ol       { list-style-type: lower-alpha; }
-.paper .tiptap ol ol ol    { list-style-type: lower-roman; }
-.paper .tiptap ol ol ol ol { list-style-type: decimal; }
-.paper .tiptap ol ol ol ol ol    { list-style-type: lower-alpha; }
-.paper .tiptap ol ol ol ol ol ol { list-style-type: lower-roman; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="decimal"]           { list-style-type: decimal; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="decimal-paren"]     { list-style-type: oledit-decimal-paren; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="lower-alpha"]       { list-style-type: lower-alpha; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="lower-alpha-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-lower-alpha-paren; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="upper-alpha"]       { list-style-type: upper-alpha; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="upper-alpha-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-upper-alpha-paren; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="lower-roman"]       { list-style-type: lower-roman; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="lower-roman-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-lower-roman-paren; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="upper-roman"]       { list-style-type: upper-roman; }
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="upper-roman-paren"] { list-style-type: oledit-upper-roman-paren; }
 
 /* Legal/outline numbering (1., 1.1., 1.2.1. …): the whole chain rendered via CSS
-   counters. Applies to the multilevel list and its attr-less nested ordered lists;
-   a nested explicit style breaks out via its own data-list-style rule. */
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="multilevel"] > li::marker,
-.paper .tiptap ol[data-list-style="multilevel"] ol:not([data-list-style]) > li::marker {
+   counters. The plugin tags the multilevel list and every attr-less member of its
+   chain with data-eff-list-style="multilevel". */
+.paper .tiptap ol[data-eff-list-style="multilevel"] > li::marker {
   content: counters(list-item, ".") ". ";
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/roundtrip.test.ts b/tests/roundtrip.test.ts
index e2ab261..3db35d0 100644
--- a/tests/roundtrip.test.ts
+++ b/tests/roundtrip.test.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,22 @@ const fixture: N = {
         ] }),
       ] }),
     ] },
+    // Re-anchoring: an explicit "a., b." parent makes its attr-less child default to
+    // i. (not another a., b.), and the child re-imports as null (no accreted attr).
+    { type: 'orderedList', attrs: { listStyleType: 'lower-alpha' }, content: [
+      LI(P(null, T('reanchor a')), { type: 'orderedList', content: [
+        LI(P(null, T('reanchor i'))),
+      ] }),
+    ] },
+    // Suffix inheritance: an explicit "a)" parent makes attr-less children default to
+    // i) then 1) (paren, not dot), all re-importing as null.
+    { type: 'orderedList', attrs: { listStyleType: 'lower-alpha-paren' }, content: [
+      LI(P(null, T('paren a')), { type: 'orderedList', content: [
+        LI(P(null, T('paren i')), { type: 'orderedList', content: [
+          LI(P(null, T('paren 1'))),
+        ] }),
+      ] }),
+    ] },
     // Multilevel (1. / 1.1. / 1.1.1.): attr on the top list only; an explicit style
     // inside the chain breaks out (NL mint) and must survive as an explicit attr.
     { type: 'orderedList', attrs: { listStyleType: 'multilevel' }, content: [
diff --git a/tests/unit/list-style-memory.test.ts b/tests/unit/list-style-memory.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35b9c83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/list-style-memory.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { Editor } from '@tiptap/core';
+import Document from '@tiptap/extension-document';
+import Paragraph from '@tiptap/extension-paragraph';
+import Text from '@tiptap/extension-text';
+import ListItem from '@tiptap/extension-list-item';
+import type { Node as PmNode } from '@tiptap/pm/model';
+import { OrderedList } from '../../src/lib/editor/extensions/orderedList';
+import { BulletList } from '../../src/lib/editor/extensions/bulletList';
+import { Indent } from '../../src/lib/editor/extensions/indent';
+
+const extensions = [Document, Paragraph, Text, ListItem, OrderedList, BulletList, Indent];
+
+let editor: Editor;
+afterEach(() => editor?.destroy());
+
+const li = (...blocks: unknown[]) => ({ type: 'listItem', content: blocks });
+const p = (t: string) => ({ type: 'paragraph', content: [{ type: 'text', text: t }] });
+
+function posOf(doc: PmNode, text: string): number {
+  let pos = 0;
+  doc.descendants((node, p) => { if (node.isText && node.text === text) pos = p + 1; });
+  return pos;
+}
+
+// The listStyleType of the nearest ordered-list ancestor of the given text.
+function styleAround(doc: PmNode, text: string): string | null {
+  const $p = doc.resolve(posOf(doc, text));
+  for (let d = $p.depth; d > 0; d--) {
+    if ($p.node(d).type.name === 'orderedList') return ($p.node(d).attrs.listStyleType as string | null) ?? null;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+// A 3-item level-1 list; the first item already holds an explicit `style` sublist.
+function docWith(style: string | null) {
+  const sub = style
+    ? { type: 'orderedList', attrs: { listStyleType: style }, content: [li(p('styled sub'))] }
+    : { type: 'orderedList', content: [li(p('plain sub'))] };
+  return {
+    type: 'doc',
+    content: [{ type: 'orderedList', content: [li(p('a'), sub), li(p('b')), li(p('c'))] }],
+  };
+}
+
+describe('list-style memory (Tab into a new level reuses the level style)', () => {
+  it('stamps a newly nested list with a sibling level-2 explicit style', () => {
+    editor = new Editor({ extensions, content: docWith('lower-alpha-paren') });
+    editor.commands.setTextSelection(posOf(editor.state.doc, 'c'));
+    editor.commands.indentListForward();
+    // 'c' is now a level-2 item; its list should have adopted the remembered style.
+    expect(styleAround(editor.state.doc, 'c')).toBe('lower-alpha-paren');
+    // The original sibling is untouched.
+    expect(styleAround(editor.state.doc, 'styled sub')).toBe('lower-alpha-paren');
+  });
+
+  it('leaves the new list attr-less when no sibling level carries an explicit style', () => {
+    editor = new Editor({ extensions, content: docWith(null) });
+    editor.commands.setTextSelection(posOf(editor.state.doc, 'c'));
+    editor.commands.indentListForward();
+    expect(styleAround(editor.state.doc, 'c')).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/ordered-list-decorations.test.ts b/tests/unit/ordered-list-decorations.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2df591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/ordered-list-decorations.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { getSchema } from '@tiptap/core';
+import type { Node as PmNode } from '@tiptap/pm/model';
+import Document from '@tiptap/extension-document';
+import Paragraph from '@tiptap/extension-paragraph';
+import Text from '@tiptap/extension-text';
+import ListItem from '@tiptap/extension-list-item';
+import { OrderedList, orderedListStyleDecos } from '../../src/lib/editor/extensions/orderedList';
+import { BulletList } from '../../src/lib/editor/extensions/bulletList';
+
+const schema = getSchema([Document, Paragraph, Text, ListItem, OrderedList, BulletList]);
+
+const p = (t: string) => schema.nodes.paragraph.create(null, schema.text(t));
+const li = (...content: PmNode[]) => schema.nodes.listItem.create(null, content);
+const ol = (attrs: Record<string, unknown> | null, ...items: PmNode[]) => schema.nodes.orderedList.create(attrs, items);
+const ul = (...items: PmNode[]) => schema.nodes.bulletList.create(null, items);
+const doc = (...content: PmNode[]) => schema.nodes.doc.create(null, content);
+
+// The effective data-eff-list-style the plugin tags each <ol> with, in document order.
+function effStyles(d: PmNode): (string | null)[] {
+  const set = orderedListStyleDecos(d);
+  const out: (string | null)[] = [];
+  d.descendants((node, pos) => {
+    if (node.type.name !== 'orderedList') return;
+    const deco = set.find(pos, pos + 1).find((x) => x.from === pos) as { type?: { attrs?: Record<string, string> } } | undefined;
+    out.push(deco?.type?.attrs?.['data-eff-list-style'] ?? null);
+  });
+  return out;
+}
+
+describe('orderedListStyleDecos (effective numbering per <ol>)', () => {
+  it('advances the default cycle 1. → a. → i. with plain nesting', () => {
+    const d = doc(ol(null, li(p('one'), ol(null, li(p('two'), ol(null, li(p('three'))))))));
+    expect(effStyles(d)).toEqual(['decimal', 'lower-alpha', 'lower-roman']);
+  });
+
+  it('re-anchors: an explicit "a., b." parent makes its child default to i.', () => {
+    const d = doc(ol({ listStyleType: 'lower-alpha' }, li(p('a'), ol(null, li(p('i'))))));
+    expect(effStyles(d)).toEqual(['lower-alpha', 'lower-roman']);
+  });
+
+  it('inherits the paren suffix: an explicit "a)" parent makes its child default to i)', () => {
+    const d = doc(ol({ listStyleType: 'lower-alpha-paren' },
+      li(p('a'), ol(null, li(p('i'), ol(null, li(p('1'))))))));
+    expect(effStyles(d)).toEqual(['lower-alpha-paren', 'lower-roman-paren', 'decimal-paren']);
+  });
+
+  it('propagates multilevel to attr-less chain members', () => {
+    const d = doc(ol({ listStyleType: 'multilevel' }, li(p('1'), ol(null, li(p('1.1'))))));
+    expect(effStyles(d)).toEqual(['multilevel', 'multilevel']);
+  });
+
+  it('counts a bullet ancestor: an ol one level inside a ul defaults to a.', () => {
+    const d = doc(ul(li(p('x'), ol(null, li(p('y'))))));
+    expect(effStyles(d)).toEqual(['lower-alpha']);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/ordered-list-types.test.ts b/tests/unit/ordered-list-types.test.ts
index 5dfe397..a0bda3c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/ordered-list-types.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/ordered-list-types.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
-import { orderedTypeDef, orderedTypeFromFormat, DEFAULT_ORDERED_TYPE, defaultOrderedType, orderedTypeAttr, effectiveOrderedDef, formatOrdinal } from '../../src/lib/utils/orderedListTypes';
+import { orderedTypeDef, orderedTypeFromFormat, DEFAULT_ORDERED_TYPE, defaultOrderedType, orderedTypeAttr, effectiveOrderedDef, formatOrdinal, cycleSlotOf, childCycle, defaultOrderedTypeAt, ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE } from '../../src/lib/utils/orderedListTypes';
 
 describe('orderedTypeDef', () => {
   it('returns the matching definition for a known key', () => {
@@ -61,6 +61,32 @@ describe('depth defaults (null attr → 1. → a. → i. cycle)', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('cycle re-anchoring (nested default advances past its parent)', () => {
+  it('cycleSlotOf keys by num-format, sharing paren/case variants', () => {
+    expect(cycleSlotOf('decimal')).toBe(0);
+    expect(cycleSlotOf('decimal-paren')).toBe(0);
+    expect(cycleSlotOf('lower-alpha')).toBe(1);
+    expect(cycleSlotOf('upper-alpha-paren')).toBe(1);
+    expect(cycleSlotOf('lower-roman')).toBe(2);
+    expect(cycleSlotOf(null)).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it('childCycle advances one slot, re-anchoring slot + suffix at an explicit parent', () => {
+    // Plain cycle from the root: top → a., → i. (dot suffix throughout).
+    expect(defaultOrderedTypeAt(childCycle(ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, null, true))).toBe('lower-alpha');
+    expect(defaultOrderedTypeAt(childCycle(childCycle(ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, null, true), null, true))).toBe('lower-roman');
+    // An explicit "a., b." parent makes its child default to i. (not another a.).
+    expect(defaultOrderedTypeAt(childCycle(ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, 'lower-alpha', true))).toBe('lower-roman');
+    // Suffix inherits: an explicit "a)" parent makes the child default to i) not i.
+    expect(defaultOrderedTypeAt(childCycle(ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, 'lower-alpha-paren', true))).toBe('lower-roman-paren');
+    // And the ")" keeps propagating a further level down (→ decimal-paren, "1)").
+    const twoDeep = childCycle(childCycle(ROOT_ORDERED_CYCLE, 'lower-alpha-paren', true), null, true);
+    expect(defaultOrderedTypeAt(twoDeep)).toBe('decimal-paren');
+    // A bullet parent doesn't re-anchor; it still advances the depth, keeping the suffix.
+    expect(childCycle({ slot: 1, suffix: ')' }, null, false)).toEqual({ slot: 2, suffix: ')' });
+  });
+});
+
 describe('formatOrdinal', () => {
   it('formats alpha and roman ordinals', () => {
     expect(formatOrdinal(3, '1')).toBe('3');