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

- EPILOGUE -

Clean and fresh air came down from the hill, blowing gently and cooling down the hot prolonged weather of the third day in the month of October. Green nature has slowly started changing its colors to orange, red, and brown tones, carefully inviting the autumn season to the world. Birds and small animals were still present in the forest, making the last preparations for the upcoming cold.

The early afternoon sun shone on the freshly watered begonias, the water drops on the leaves glistering. A young woman was sitting on the porch of a small wooden cottage, swaying back and forth in the tall wooden rocking chair, relaxing by eating forest berries and reading the newspaper. The head title gave her mixed feelings...

"YOUNG PRINCE DAVID CELEBRATES HIS FIFTH BIRTHDAY WITH HIS FAMILY"

A big picture showed a young boy, sitting on his mother's lap in the soft velvet chair while the young king stood beside them. In the second photograph was the whole family, including the previous king and his wife. The males weren't smiling. They stood proudly, showing off the ribbons and medals on their chests.

Yona sighed. Her brother and father couldn't smile even for the young prince's birthday picture. Her eyes traveled to the young queen, her brother's wife. She met Victoria in the past - she was soft-spoken, polite, and gentle, always wearing a smile on her face, her green eyes glistering. She looked the same, after all these years, Yona thought and looked at her mother who visibly aged. The old queen's hair was already filled with gray strands, her once gentle face showing wrinkles. But she still smiled gently, even though her eyes showed sadness.

Yona sighed again and read the text. She was happy for her nephew, silently wishing him happiness even though she has never met him. She often wondered if Alec, her brother, mentioned her to his son. In the past, her chest would tighten on the memory of her family and how they parted ways, but now... she barely felt a pinch of sadness. Yona didn't miss them much, because she only needed one person by her side.

Looking up from the paper, Yona smiled at the man who pulled two massive black Shire stallion horses, plowing the field in front of their house to get the soil ready for winter. The man wore a white tank top, his broad shoulders tensing and covered in sweat that glistered in the sun. His blue jeans were tight and tucked in his leather boots. He guided the horses, making them turn at the end of the field, and then quickly ran behind them to unhook the plow. His work in the field was done.

Yona stood up from the chair and went into the house, bringing back two glasses and a tall glass jug filled with cold lemonade. She laid the tray with refreshments on the table and went to the railing.

"Bang Chan!" Yona yelled, making the man stop his work and turn towards the house.

"Yeah?!" he shouted from the distance, stopping the horses.

Yona gestured with her arm for him to come. Chan unhooked the horses too and guided them out of the field. Leaving the animals to feed themselves on the grass, Bang Chan ran to the house, jumping on the porch and grabbing Yona's hips.

"What does my beautiful wife need me for?"

Yona chuckled and wiped the sweat off his forehead with a white cotton handkerchief, "I need you to relax and drink some lemonade. It's enough work for today, dear," she said and kissed his lips.

She poured the chilled drink into glasses as Chan sat on the second chair, letting out a long sigh.

"How are you?" he asked, wiping the sweat that slid down his cheek.

"I'm fine," Yona chuckled again, handing him the glass, "You don't need to ask me the same question 10 times a day."

She sat back in the rocking chair and Chan stood up, coming to kneel in front of her.