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

26. Family

The sky above her head was clear and the salty air from the ocean was replaced with the relaxing smell of nature in the countryside. Princess Yona took a deep breath, swaying left and right in the wooden cart, between bags of groceries, sitting on Bang Chan's jacket that he laid out for her.

"I am so sorry for the poor choice of transportation, Your Highness," Chan's father turned to her, holding the reins of the brown horse that pulled the cart.

Yona smiled at him, shaking her head, "Don't be sorry, Mr. Bang, I've always wanted to ride this type of carriage. I love it!" she really meant it - the cart didn't have expensive velvet seats, it wasn't freshly painted, nor did the a thoroughbred horse pull it. It was simple and that was what Yona loved the most.

Bang Chan sat in the cart as well, behind his father and in front of the princess, surrounded by luggage. He looked at her, enjoying her expressions as she looked around her in awe. For him, there wasn't anything interesting about the fields and small houses - he grew up surrounded by that scenery - but it was all new and exciting for her.

Soon enough, the cart stopped and Yona turned her head towards the small two-story house with a lovely little porch and a garden in front of it. There, in the garden, a woman worked, pulling out the weeds away from the flowers.

"Honey! Look who I've brought with me!" Mr. Bang shouted, jumping off the carriage. Chan stood as well, hopping out of the cart. The woman in the garden stood up, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She looked at two men but her gaze fixed on the younger one and her mouth opened in disbelief.

"Channie..." she muttered, panting from the garden work, and came running to her son, hugging him as tight as she could. Yona teared up again, happy that he's finally reunited with his parents. Mrs. Bang broke the hug and grabbed Chan's face, just like his father did, "Are you alright? Have you been eating well? Did something happen in the army? Oh, Chan... I've... We've been so worried when the war broke out..." she teared up and hugged her son again, crying heavily.

"I'm alright now, mother, don't cry..." Chan hugged his mom, caressing her hair, "I'm here on a short visit. I must return to the kingdom by the end of the month. I mean, we must return..." he corrected himself and his mom looked up at him, confused that he used the plural, just like his dad was, "I've brought a guest with me..." he turned to Yona, extending his arm for her. She stood up and bowed to the older woman.

"It's the princess..." Mrs. Bang whispered, shocked at the view of a royal.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, madam," Yona got out of the cart with Chan's help and bowed again and Mrs. Bang stepped away from Chan, fixing her clothes and hair, bowing to the princess as well.

"It's really Chan! He's back!" suddenly, a child's voice interrupted and everybody turned. Two black-haired young ones came running, both hugging Chan. He hugged his siblings back, patting them on the heads.

"Is this your girlfriend, Chris?" the girl looked up at her older brother and then Yona. Both of them were took aback by her bold question but neither could answer as if their tongues were tied.

"Hannah! Behave!" Mrs. Bang nudged her, "I am sorry for her rudeness, Your Highness," she bowed to Yona again.

"It's really alright--"

"The princess?!" both of the younger ones shouted in a union, visibly shocked.

"Are you really a princess?" the boy asked, stepping away from Chan.

"Lucas!" his mom tried to scold him but Yona raised her arm.

"It's really alright, Mrs. Bang. They aren't rude, just curious and shocked that I'm here. I don't mind answering any of their questions as I don't consider them a bit impolite," Yona answered and came to the children, pulling a long chain necklace out of her blouse with a pendant dangling from it, "This is the only proof I can give you, Lucas and Hannah," Yona leaned to the children, showing them the pendant with the royal family's crest, "I don't usually wear it but since I'm out of the kingdom, my father gave it to me to use it in 'case of an emergency'," they watched the shiny golden pendant in amazement until Hannah broke the silence first.