The Frog Prince and the Witch Chapter 16
Translated by MissQ (ko-fi)
Chapter 16: The Frog That Was Kissed
When Vivian unleashed her attacks, Joanna stood ready, transforming the mad woman’s spells into mere splashes against solid rock; the spectacle was almost comical. Yet Joanna did not underestimate her adversary; she had learned the hard way after suffering a previous defeat at Vivian’s hands. Thus, she responded with her most formidable spells, countering every one of Vivian’s reckless onslaughts.
Having inherited her mother’s witchcraft at the tender age of five, Joanna had dedicated more than a decade to honing her skills. Though still young, she had certainly earned her place as a senior witch. In stark contrast, Vivian had only begun her journey into black magic two years prior, fumbling blindly without the guidance of a master, which only hindered her progress. It wasn’t long before the dragon overpowered her, pinning her beneath its immense weight.
"Impossible… how is this even possible…" Vivian gasped, her voice laced with disbelief. "Why is this happening?!"
Vivian refused to accept that she could be bested by the lowly woman standing before her. Nothing about Joanna seemed remarkable at all. "I clearly possess the strongest Night Demons! How could I possibly lose to such a vulgar creature?!"
"Your foundation is unstable," Joanna retorted calmly. "Even with immense power, if your foundation isn’t solid, all your strength amounts to nothing." She had no desire to kill Vivian as punishment. Contrary to the common belief that witches are malevolent beings who revel in murder, the truth is that witches approach their craft much like other professions—they provide services tailored to the needs of their clients, choosing jobs that align with their own capabilities and moral compass.
Joanna was the kind of witch who detested killing. Unfortunately, the reputation of witches had long been tarnished by a few malevolent practitioners who aggressively sought out clients, casting a shadow over the entire craft. This pervasive misconception filled Joanna with a profound sense of disappointment.
"Actually, I’ve been curious…" Joanna mused, weighing whether to deplete the mad woman’s personal magical reserve before releasing her. A witch stripped of her magic would quickly lose her composure, retreating in shame to some dark corner. Yet, Vivian was so deranged that she might lash out wildly, even in defeat. As Joanna contemplated her approach, she needed a distraction to stall for time.
"Whenever you demand my frog, you insist on saying ‘hand him over’ instead of ‘it,’ don’t you?"
Joanna noticed a flicker of panic in Vivian’s eyes, as if she were on the verge of being exposed.
"Is this frog… a key to unlocking a treasure? No, that doesn’t make sense," She continued to scrutinize the mad witch’s expression, and it was clear that wasn’t the answer. "Or perhaps it’s a clue to some hidden secret?" Yet, Vivian’s face remained inscrutable. What could possibly explain her relentless obsession with such a seemingly insignificant frog?
Meanwhile, Ian, cradled in Joanna’s hands, felt an overwhelming rush of emotions swell within him. It dawned on him that she genuinely did not know he was cursed! From the very beginning, she had always been so kind-hearted, even extending her compassion to the most wretched of creatures.
But how could she be such a powerful witch and yet fail to recognize his plight?
"It can’t be… did you transform a person into a beast?" The thought struck Joanna with fierce intensity, igniting a surge of anger within her.
No wonder the little frog clung to her so desperately! No wonder he felt so isolated whenever she was away! He must have endured unspeakable torment at the hands of this madwoman, leaving him terrified of solitude. That wretched, insane woman!
As Vivian processed Joanna’s remarks, her expression shifted into a tumultuous mix of fear and embarrassment at having her secret unveiled. Yet, with the truth laid bare, she couldn’t suppress a sigh of relief. Suddenly, she erupted into wild laughter, "Hahahaha—you cannot break my curse! It is a curse I crafted with my very life; no one can undo it but me!"
"I'm afraid not," Joanna said, suppressing her fury, though her hands trembled with the weight of her rage. Ian, nestled securely in her palms, could feel the tension rising within her. The thought was chilling—if this little frog hadn’t managed to escape, if she hadn’t come back to check on him at the pond, or if she hadn’t come to rescue him in time, she might have lost a human life entirely due to this madwoman's cruelty.
Joanna inhaled deeply, calming the surge of magic that threatened to overflow. "Because your skill is lacking, all you could manage was to curse someone into a beast, stripping them of the ability to speak. The very essence of such a curse is to bring agony upon the victim—to inflict upon them the sorrow of understanding human words while being treated as mere food. It is a cruel and merciless punishment, crafted to pierce their soul. Yet, the one who weaves this spell does not escape unscathed, for they too must bear a cost. Should the curse be forcibly broken before its natural end, the caster will face a fierce backlash, one that cannot be avoided."
Her voice was steady, but the underlying contempt was palpable as she continued, "Your curse is formidable, but it's incomplete—it's only halfway done. Removing it is simple for me, though you will bear the greatest consequences."
Joanna's eyes narrowed. "I might have considered sparing you, but you’ll only continue to harm others if left unchecked. It’s better to end it now. May you find solace, if any, when you fall into the abyss, daughter of the Duke."
And then, before Vivian's astonished eyes, Joanna brought the small, unassuming frog to her lips and kissed it.