The Frog Prince and the Witch Chapter 23
Translated by MissQ (ko-fi)
Chapter 23: The Prince Found at Last
In a realm where witches roamed, those of kindred spirits would affectionately refer to each other as sisters, embracing one another with the warmth of true kinship in both deed and word.
Some witches reveled in the joy of visiting one another, often stepping out to share tales and laughter with their sisters. Yet, there were also reclusive witches who shunned such company, delighting instead in the solitude that enveloped them. Joanna, however, was a curious case; her solitude was not a choice but a necessity. She rarely ventured forth to visit others but welcomed any sister who might come to share a conversation. Each year, five or six guests would grace her humble abode, all hailing from distant lands.
Sola White, the Witch of the Snow, an inheritor of her teacher's esteemed title. Unlike the unassuming Joanna, Sola was quite renowned in the northern snows. After all, few witches dared to boldly proclaim, "With gold in hand, whatever your heart desires, I shall make it happen!" as Sola did.
"I must say," Sola remarked with a hint of disdain, eyeing the dimly lit room illuminated by the moonlight, "though you call yourself Witch of the Wilderness, you need not shroud yourself in such gloom!" Her gaze fell upon a vibrant pink fabric, and her eyes sparkled with delight. "Ah, what do we have here? You should have done this long ago! While Witches of the Wilderness may don shades of black and blue, there’s no need for your home to be so dreary. A splash of bright color will surely lift your spirits~"
"But the color doesn’t seem to match…"
"I don’t care; use this cloth for a tablecloth and replace that dark one!"
"Alright, but keep your voice down; you’ll disturb the neighbors." Joanna reluctantly guided Sola inside, closing the window behind her. "What brings you here? Did you come all this way just to critique my color choices?"
"Not exactly, though your taste is certainly ripe for critique," Sola replied, making herself comfortable as she seized Joanna's hand and launched into a lively monologue. "You see, with my flamboyant nature, many who seek out a witch end up finding me, even those from the kingdom where you currently reside!"
Joanna's mind raced to the King's List. "The royal family sought you out?"
"Indeed. You possess an extraordinary talent for remaining unnoticed. The famed Witch of the Wilderness has fallen remarkably silent since you inherited the title. Despite your prowess being equal to mine, the kingdom chose not to seek your aid but instead turned to me," Sola exclaimed, her fingers diving into the depths of her small leather bag. "I know I have that portrait tucked away somewhere... Where could it be? Ah! Allow me to explain, the royal family of Galenus has lost their second prince. They claim he’s been cursed and transformed into a frog and have implored me to assist in locating him, though they possess not a hint of where to begin! Honestly, this poor little frog might not have weathered the winter at all. Am I to scour the land for a frosty corpse or the very soil that entombed him? I may end up with naught but a handful of tiny bones, and then the royal family of Galenus would surely brand me a charlatan and commence a witch hunt or some such nonsense... The demands of royalty are truly tiresome!"
Transformed into a frog… Joanna couldn't help but think of Ian. Could it really be such a coincidence that the small thing she picked up by the roadside was actually a prince?
Though Sola's tastes were as lavish as a royal feast, her life would be a chaotic tangle without her loyal familiar, the ever-dutiful butler. She could never seem to recall where she had placed her belongings, often losing track of her possessions and leaving her small bag in a state of utter disarray. As she recounted the royal request, she cursed lightly while rummaging through the mess, searching for the portrait the kingdom had entrusted to her.
The disappearance of the second prince occurred four months ago, amidst turmoil at the palace. Two disgruntled knights had sought an audience, claiming they had news of the prince but demanding absolute asylum in return. Initially, the king was skeptical about the notion that his son had been cursed into a frog and that the Duke’s daughter, Vivian, was an evil witch. However, the situation escalated when the frenzied witch appeared at the palace gates, and in the ensuing chaos, one of the knights was killed by her.
This violent encounter shook the king's doubts, filling him with dread for his son's fate. In response, he issued an imperial edict, offering rewards to anyone who could locate the prince and ensure his safe return. The edict cryptically stated that they were searching for a frog, lacking clear explanations that could have clarified the prince's circumstances. This secretive wording was intended to help the prince remain hidden and protect himself.
That day, the witch, evading capture despite the throngs of soldiers, instilled fear in the king. In a desperate bid for help, he summoned the knights and the temple priests. Fortunately, on the day he encountered the witch, he had been in the presence of the high priest, who was listening to the woes of the common folk. Thus, all the witch's attacks were deftly thwarted by the high priest, who, despite his age, managed to retaliate, causing the witch to flee in a wail of pain.
The high priest proclaimed that as long as the prince was found, he could lift the curse. However, the prince’s energy was so diminished that locating him proved a challenge. Thus, he suggested that the king seek the assistance of witches.
"You were recommended by the high priest?" Joanna exclaimed in surprise. "I thought those believers regarded us as nothing but evil!"
"The high priest met me and realized that not all witches are malevolent, which is such a relief… otherwise, that madwoman would have tarnished our reputation beyond repair! Heaven knows why she chose to practice dark magic; anyone close to a witch should understand how dreadful it truly is!" At last, Sola paused her frantic rummaging, withdrawing a rolled-up portrait from her little bag. "Here it is! Look, this is the second prince’s portrait, painted on his twentieth birthday. Do you think you can use this to help me find him? Honestly, I'm not familiar with this land at all, and searching in an unfamiliar place is terribly troublesome. Thankfully, you are here; this is your homeland, and you know it well. It shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?"
"Yes, it shouldn't be too hard," Joanna replied, her mind racing. The prince in the portrait struck a chord of familiarity within her, though there was something strange about it. The twenty-year-old prince appeared to be an exceedingly proud figure, adorned in splendid royal garments that accentuated his remarkable stature… how different he was from the red-haired man who clung so tightly to her side.
She genuinely felt that the man ought to still possess the appearance captured in the portrait, rather than remaining in this gloomy house, accompanying her, a reclusive witch.
"Sister, the person you seek is here with me."
Sola initially assumed that Joanna would ask for some form of compensation, and they would then continue their discussion about how to collaborate. However, the unexpected words caused her to pause in disbelief. "What did you say? The prince is with you?"
Joanna nodded. "The madwoman was dragged into the abyss by the demons due to a backlash from her own magic; I witnessed it with my own eyes. The curse on the prince has also been lifted, but he still needs to recuperate, so he is currently receiving treatment in my home."
Sola scrutinized her closely. "When will he return to the palace?"
"Soon, sister, I will send him back soon. There are many people, including his family, waiting for his return," Joanna said softly, her fingers brushing the portrait.
Unbeknownst to her, a shadow of loneliness crossed her features, and sadness glimmered in her eyes. Though tears did not fall, the depth of her emotions was unmistakable.
"Oh, dear Joanna, it’s alright," Sola said, embracing her. The clumsy Witch of the Snow could only pat her back in a feeble attempt at comfort. "Everything will be fine; it will be fine."
Yes, it would be fine. After all, had she not anticipated his departure long ago? Joanna remained lost in her thoughts, or perhaps thought of nothing at all, allowing herself to be enveloped in the icy embrace that mirrored her own heart.
