The Frog Prince and the Witch Chapter 24
Translated by MissQ (ko-fi)
Chapter 24: The Witch and the Prince’s Journey
"Are we going on a long journey?" Ian asked, his curiosity piqued as he observed Joanna diligently packing her belongings. After all, with the summer heat so intense, it didn't seem like a suitable time for Joanna to venture out.
"Yes," Joanna confirmed with a nod. "We’ll prepare some more bags today and buy food for the road. We leave tomorrow."
"On foot?"
"No, by carriage," she replied, rifling through her items. "I've already rented a carriage, and it will be waiting for us at the village entrance tomorrow morning. You should see if there's anything you want to bring as well, so we can take it together."
Watching Ian’s enthusiasm, Joanna sighed. Indeed, this little dark room had kept a soaring eagle grounded. After her conversation with Sola the previous day, the plan was set in motion. Sola had assured her that a carriage would be arranged, allowing them the ability to travel during the day. Naturally, the carriage would be provided by the royal family, ensuring both confidentiality and safety. Sola had already set off to inform the king in the capital, so along the way, they might encounter trained escorts from the royal family. Until then, the second prince’s safety rested entirely in Joanna's hands.
Once Ian had packed his things and presented them to Joanna, he suddenly remembered that he needed to inform the neighbors about their journey. He sprang to his feet, saying, "Mistress, I’ll let the neighbors know we’re going on a trip!"
"Why tell them?"
Ian beamed. "So that when we’re gone, someone can water the flowers and take care of the house!"
Truth be told, it probably wasn’t necessary... since she planned to move. This place didn’t suit her well.
Sora had mentioned that near her new home, there was a forest where the foliage was so dense that not even the snow could reach the ground. That area would likely be a place where sunlight was scarce, and living there would mean she wouldn’t have to worry about getting burned all day.
It was absolutely not to avoid Ian or to make sure he could never find her again! Although he was a prince, he didn’t have enough influence to make her feel compelled to relocate!
"Do we have to go out and buy things now?" Ian returned, holding a basket of almond-flavored biscuits. "Aunt Susan said this is for us. You should try them."
Without waiting for Joanna's response, Ian popped a small cookie into her mouth, his fingers brushing against her lips. After withdrawing his hand, he lingered on the fleeting sensation. "So, how does it taste?"
Joanna chewed thoughtfully, nodding in approval before turning to gather her small parasol and veiled gloves. She felt ready to embark on their shopping trip; after all, the journey to the palace would be long. While there would be opportunities to rest at inns along the way, they also needed to prepare for nights spent in the wilderness. It was essential to pack rations and gear up for any unforeseen circumstances, ensuring they were well-equipped for the journey ahead. Moreover, moving to a new home would bring its own set of tasks, and the new place was even more desolate than this one—she would need to buy provisions to last her there.
As Joanna turned away, she remained unaware that Ian had sneakily licked the finger that had just brushed against her lips. The gesture, though subtle, felt significant to him, as if it symbolized his connection to the goddess—an emblem of her belonging to him alone.
He couldn’t shake off his curiosity about what the visitor from yesterday had told Joanna, prompting her—who usually disliked venturing out—to embark on this journey. Was something significant happening? Perhaps someone had offered a hefty sum for the witch's help in seeking revenge, or maybe there was a duel among witches? If that were the case, could he fight as her familiar?
In his mind, Ian compared himself to her other familiars: the lizard, the crow, and even that immobile turtle. Why hadn’t he received the same treatment when he was a frog? Ian longed to be recognized as her familiar, to bear a mark that declared him "Exclusively Joanna's." The thought filled him with a sense of joy and anticipation, causing visions of blooming flowers to dance in his imagination as he looked forward to their journey together.