Chleora was still playing in the snow outside and building a snow castle as soon as she finished her dinner. The little girl was chatting happily with her new ice prince. Without realizing it, the clock had shown ten o'clock even though the sky in the astral world was still bright as it was during the day.
As an adult, let alone in his astral world, Vasili did not have hours of sleep. He could not even sleep for hours in his astral world because this place did not have a limited time.
In contrast to Chleo, a small child who did not have any supernatural power, it would take a toll on her later on. The little girl would not feel tired or sleepy while in this place, yet Chleo would feel the effect once she left this place.
Vasili didn't want the girl to get sick nor too tired, so he told Chleo to stop playing and sleep. To show that the day was over, Vasili changed the bright sky above them into the nighttime.
As the owner of this place who had no limited time, Vasili could change the sky to daylight or dark according to his preference.
"Chleora, come here. It's time for bed. I'll take you home tomorrow morning."
"Awww... but I'm still not sleepy." pouted Chleo, earning an amused smile from Vasili. It was worth seeing that girl sulking at him.
Focus Vasili! She's only a little girl! Vasili scolded himself.
"What do you want me to do so that you go to sleep?"
"Hm..." Chleo tapped her index finger against her chin several times, looking seriously thoughtful. It was precisely this pose that added to her cuteness, making Vasili barely control his passion.
Is there something wrong with his brain? There was no way he would want to touch a child, right? As far as he remembered, Vasili was never interested in minor age girls. Not. He does like children but not more than familial love. He even adopted a daughter and sincerely considered her like his own.
But he never involved lust for a child at all. Then why does he now even crave for that child? What's the difference?
Of course, it's different! Chleo was not just any kid. That child was his true love. Obviously, he would feel something other than pure familial love for an adopted child.
Vasili took his most extended breath of the day. He must quickly return this child to her parents. Otherwise, Vasili worried that his passions would overwhelm him and do something he would regret. Especially considering that he had been married to that girl, and he simply couldn't touch her or hug her every night.
Now that the child was within his reach. Didn't that mean he was free to do anything with the child?
Vasili managed to control his desires. He managed to distract himself by thinking about the fate of the red king. He remembered Katalina would die to save Chleo. Now that he had secured Alexsei and saved Chleo, would Katalina still perish?
He sincerely hoped the answer to his question was no. It would be useless if he changed history but had the same ending. He wanted a different result. That was his sole purpose of going back in twenty years past time.
Twenty years. Imagine twenty years.
There's a lot that has happened in twenty years. One slight change had a significant effect on what would happen, mainly if he had changed many things in the past.
What would happen in twenty years? Vasili didn't know the answer.
"I want to hold your hand when I sleep!" exclaimed Chleo to bring Vasili back to reality.
The Ice Prince gasped in surprise at the words of the loud voice. He just managed to get rid of the thoughts of his desire; now that little girl wants to sleep holding hands??
Vasili massaged his temple in frustration. Finally, he fulfilled the request while thinking the algebraic formula in mind. Even as he wrapped the child's tiny body with a blanket so that Chleo wouldn't wake up cold, Vasili was still thinking about this highly complex formula.
But the formula suddenly went somewhere when two tiny hands clasped his hand and placed it under the girl's cheek.
"I like your hand. It feels so nice." praised Chloe without hiding her admiration.
"You're a strange child. Usually, children do not like cold temperatures." his comment gained the little girl's hearty chuckle.
Ah, even the sound of giggling sounded so angelic to his ears.
Vasili shook his head, realizing that his thoughts had begun to stray.
Gosh... the longer he listened to Chleo's honey-like voice, the more he couldn't control his hormones. Moreover, this child was very sweet to him. How could he possibly endure this sweet temptation?
"I'm not a strange child. I am special because I'm different from the others."
Vasili smiled warmly, which made Chleo feel enchanted by that charming smile.
"You are right. You're very special." continued Vasili sincerely. Chleora was indeed a special child in his heart. Nothing could replace that girl's position in his heart even in a thousand years.
"Are we going to meet again when you took me home?" Chleo asked hopefully.
"Maybe. But I won't see you until you turn twenty-one."
Vasili remembered Chleo would remember all the adversity she faced with him. Chleo would remember that she had dated Alexis, then planned to elope with him when Vincent opposed their relationship. Chleo would hate him for forcing her to marry by threatening her family's life once she remembered it all.
Vasili must win her heart before all her memories come back. That way, he could beg for mercy and approach her as any normal young man would.
Vasili would not be pushy and continue to approach Chleo without ever giving up. This time he would compete with his rivals in a manly and fair manner.
"How can I know if you are the one who met me? I'm not sure I'll get to know you when I grow up."
Even though Chleo was only six, she was smart. She knew people would change in the next ten years. Chleo knew she couldn't recognize her Ice Prince if their next encounter would be the next ten years.
"My body temperature. You can immediately recognize me by my body temperature. I'm the only one who has a body temperature as cold as ice in this world."
Chleo smiled broadly at that. "Because you are the Ice Prince!" exclaimed Chleo in a cheerful manner, making Vasili giggled in amusement.
"Yes. Because I am the Ice Prince."
"Good evening, my Ice Prince."
Thump!
Vasili felt the restraining string that barely holds his desire snapped at once. He moved closer and landed his lips right in the corner of the girl's lips.
'Sweet dreams, my future bride.'