Note that the bond price is higher, and hence the discount from its face value is smaller, when there is less time to maturity. The discount shrinks because the yield has not changed, but there is less time until the face value will be received. This example illustrates a more general property for bonds. If a bond’s yield to maturity does not change, then the rate of return of an investment in the bond equals its yield to maturity even if you sell the bond early.