In the Middle of the Night [BANG CHAN FF] ✔️

23. Cake by the lake

Princess Yona had just a few days of peace after graduating - her schedule suddenly became fully booked as many locals requested for her. From a regional tailor who wanted Yona to model for his dresses to a tea house owner who requested for the princess to try his new tea blend. She was requested in the library, theater, as well as by many business people, talking with them about profit and economy.

The whole kingdom saw princess Yona as a respectful member of society, now that she has graduated from college and would turn 21 very soon.

Seeing how his daughter was busy every day, the king offered Yona an assistant, saying how Bang Chan had other responsibilities as a Captain, but no one could manage the princess's duties like he did. Chan already knew Yona's habits and work ethic, he knew when to motivate her and when to give her a break so he took upon himself the job of being princess Yona's assistant.

"I already pledged my life to her, Your Majesty," Bang Chan told the king one day, "This 'job' is nothing different from what I've already been doing, you can rest assured."

Chan was so sure of his words that he never once thought that working as Yona's assistant would be difficult. On the contrary, he was very happy that he'll get to be close to her every day, watch her work, advise and help her with any difficulty. But, just like any human, Yona had her ups and downs... and he had to deal with that.

"Your Highness! Are you ready?!" Bang Chan knocked on Yona's bedroom door loudly. The castle hallway was still lit by the dim light from the lamps on the walls, as the sun slowly rose from the east, "Our carriage is waiting and we must leave soon," he shouted but there was no response from the inside of the princess's room. Just when Chan reached for the handle, the door opened slightly and a head peeked out.

"I'm so sorry, Sir Bang," the maid looked up at him, apologizing, "I tried every trick in the book but the princess just doesn't want to get up. You're going to be late, I'm so sorry," the maid straightened up from the door, opening it just enough for Chan to see a curled up princess under the covers.

He looked down at the saddened girl and smiled, "It looks like I came at the right moment," the maid looked up at him, confused, "Don't worry, Sylvia, I'll take care of the princess. Please go check if the basket with food is ready and load it into the carriage." Chan talked with a smile and his words and the positive energy that beamed from him cheered up the maid so she nodded and rushed to the kitchen, apologizing a few more times on her way.

Bang Chan's smile faded when the maid turned the corner. His eyelids lowered as he entered the princess's bedroom and closed the door behind him. A quiet sigh escaped his lips - there were days when princess Yona had to be babied and, last time he checked, Chan didn't assign to be her nanny but... he had to do it. And he knew just the right way to cheer up the exhausted grumpy princess.

"If Your Highness doesn't get up and get dressed right away, we're going to arrive late at our next patron's residence. And that would stain the perfectly clean image of the kingdom's princess," Chan put on his serious voice, marching to the princess's bed and clicking his heels together when he stopped.

"I don't wanna go..." Yona whined under the covers, curling up into a ball.

Chan sighed once again, and hearing the silence from the hallway, he slowly came close to the side of her bed and knelt to be closer to the curled up princess, "And why do you not want to go, my princess?" he asked softly.

"I'm tired... I don't wanna do this anymore!" she cried, still covered over her head.

"Awww, my poor little darling," Chan cooed, stroking the princess's covered head, "I know you're tired, love, but let me tell you one thing..." he intentionally paused, bringing his face closed to the side of her head, "After this job is done, my dear, you'll have two full days free so we can do whatever you want..."