The Frog Prince and the Witch Chapter 7
Translated by MissQ (ko-fi)
Chapter 7: The Prince's Yearning Heart
Ian lived happily in the young girl’s home. She had cleared a corner of her room just for him, setting up a small pond adorned with aquatic plants. The girl diligently replaced the water and used the damp scarf to wipe and moisturize his skin. Thankfully, Ian no longer had to subsist on insects! Once she discovered that he enjoyed cooked food, she often shared morsels from her own plate, much to his delight. It felt like a blessing!
As the girl held the spoon and fed him, Ian looked down his nose at the other pets in the house, puffing out his chest as if to proclaim, “See, I am the most favored one!”
The girl had introduced herself as Joanna, and she lived alone in a quaint house by the stream. Her room was filled with the trappings of an ordinary girl, but one striking feature caught Ian’s attention: the thick, heavy curtains that darkened the room when drawn shut. He soon learned that Joanna's skin was exceedingly sensitive. While she could tolerate the morning sun, exposure to its midday rays would leave her with painful blisters. To protect herself, she covered her body completely when venturing outside during the afternoon. It was safest for her to remain indoors; otherwise, she risked burning under the intense heat.
Joanna was a remarkably caring girl.
There were many small animals in Joanna's home, but they were not the typical pets one might expect. One day, Ian watched as she returned with an injured puppy. After gently bandaging its wounds, she promptly sent it away to the local hunters, who welcomed a hound into their homes without hesitation. It was then that Ian realized all the creatures under Joanna's care were ones in desperate need of assistance.
In one corner, a lizard with broken legs slept fitfully, while a turtle, its shell cracked and fragile, languished beneath the table, constantly ailing. There was also a crow that could no longer fly due to its wounded wings, a once-mighty creature now rendered helpless. All of them were unfortunate beings unable to fend for themselves in the wild.
Despite his surroundings, Ian refused to acknowledge that he, too, was one of these pitiful creatures.
Joanna's house was modestly sized—not too small, yet not overly spacious either. The living room and bedroom were cozy, but the study was quite expansive, with all four walls lined with towering bookshelves. The ceiling soared approximately six meters high. In addition to the four large shelves, there were two more designated for newly acquired books. The room was so filled with volumes that if the shelves were to collapse, it would be as if a deluge of literature flooded the space.
Joanna had a deep love for reading, and Ian delighted in watching her lose herself in the pages of her books. When he first followed her into the study, she was initially bemused by his behavior, but as he persistently entered the room, it became clear that the frail little frog was simply trying to stay close to her. From that point onward, whenever she settled down to study, she would place a basin of water beside her, along with a few stones for Ian to hop onto. As long as he kept her books dry, she didn’t mind having an additional, albeit sticky, companion.
Having a little frog around provided her with delightful company, allowing her to enjoy her reading while occasionally teasing her new friend. It was a charming arrangement that alleviated her boredom and made her reading time all the more enjoyable.
Ian felt utterly helpless when teased, often responding with loud croaks of protest. When Joanna set her book aside, she would sometimes gently stroke his head or caress his back, bringing him a fleeting sense of comfort. However, there were also moments when she would playfully pinch his nose or poke his protruding belly with the back of her pen. Each time she did this, he couldn’t help but croak even louder. While some frogs merely “squeak,” the River Frog species is known for its resonant calls—almost as loud as a cow. Ian, being a river frog himself, found that Joanna delighted in his vocalizations.
Initially, Ian confined himself to the basin, wary of venturing beyond its boundaries. Gradually, however, he grew bolder, eventually climbing onto her shoulder to keep her company. Joanna welcomed his presence with laughter, occasionally poking his nose in a teasing manner.
If Ian were just an innocent frog, he would undoubtedly be the happiest amphibian in the world. But he was not merely a frog; he was a person, and with that humanity came an insatiable longing. He yearned to embrace her, to breathe in the scent of her hair, to converse with her, and to offer her the world’s most precious treasures. He wanted to see her radiant smile, knowing that it was only when they were together that it shone most brightly.
These thoughts felt mad, almost irrational, but Ian believed that Joanna was worth every ounce of his longing and desire.
“How is it that you’re so quiet today?” Joanna inquired, her cool hand reaching out to gently touch his nose, a hint of concern in her voice.
Feeling the soothing sensation of her touch, Ian instinctively buried his face in her hair. Each day spent with her brought immense joy, yet it was also a source of deep anguish. He yearned to be her pet, to remain by her side for all eternity, but he couldn’t shake the discontentment that gnawed at him. He longed to be more than just a pet; he wanted to be a man—a man who could protect her and stand by her through all of life’s challenges.
