The Frog Prince And The Witch Chapter 18

The Willful Prince

"Don't do this, please get up!" Joanna tried to pull him up in her panic, but instead, she was embraced directly by the forlorn man. He buried his face on her abdomen, causing her to feel overwhelmed. "Don't you have family and loved ones waiting for your return? Shouldn't you go home?"

"Then I'll never get to see you again! I don't want to leave!" Believing that their separation would mark this as their last meeting, he became even more afraid of letting her go—she was his light!

What's going on? Joanna could only see the top of the man's hair. The red hair was as beautiful as the maple leaves in autumn, but the man behind them acted like a little child. No, perhaps he was merely affected by the curse that turned him into a beast, but now he was a grown man. Maybe it was because he had not been rehabilitated that he was no different from a child.

"Master…my master….I beg you please don't give up on me!" Ian managed to hold back his tears while his broken words and wet eyes left a pain that was difficult to ignore. "I'll cook for you, I'll clean, I can even be your servant. I'll fight for you as long as you don't give up on me!"

Hearing his pleas, Joanna became more certain that the man was probably cursed for too long, to the point that he couldn't think clearly. She sighed and decided to treat the man as a child. Joanna gently patted his head and said, "I will not give up on you. So what do you say? Straighten up and don't ever do that posture again. It's bad for your body….You're no longer a frog, you're human now. And don't get close to wet and cold things anymore."

"So you're willing to let me stay?" The man's pleading eyes were full of hope, just like the little frog who had pulled her skirt when he begged to join her…..Joanna could not refuse this look. So she smiled and touched his hair just like she used to when she would stroke the frog's back. "It's true, so rise up."

The man smiled and laughed joyfully. He felt so satisfied, so happy…..just by her one sentence, he felt as if he was smitten by a spell.

When she helped the man up, Joanna found for the first time that his hands were somewhat disfigured. It appeared as if his bones were broken, but weren't treated well. Needless to say, such an injury must have been inflicted by that crazy woman! This made Joanna feel even more distressed.

"Can you still remember your name?"

"My name is Ian, Master."

At present, it didn't seem like a good time to correct how he addressed her; who knows, if she rejected the way he called her, would he once again be pained with a broken heart? So Joanna simply nodded and helped him along as they walked; his feet also showed signs of fracture revealing that he didn't recover well. I'm afraid that from now on it will be hard for him to stand, and even more painful for him to walk. When he was frog, she never discovered that he had suffered this kind of injury. Doesn't that mean that she wasn't a good master?

A carriage was parked outside the forest. The coachman worriedly awaited the young lady who had rented his services. When he saw the girl approach him with a strange man, he felt even more scared. But why did he not escape? That's because although he was scared, he felt that the rich reward was worth the risk! As long as he received a generous pay, it didn't matter how afraid he was. The benefits this time was enough to support him for half a month even if he didn't work!

"After we return home, the first thing I'll do is to heal you……but I don't know if you can still be completely cured. Especially since it's gotten this serious. Joanna examined Ian's hands carefully. Although they were somewhat disfigured, it was undeniable that these were a pair of warm and thick hands. Such hands brought considerable warmth to her own chilly hands. "Do you have any other injuries?"

"I may have some on my back, and on my chest." He hesitated, "she would often strike me with a whip. Although her servants would sometimes apply medicine, I'm still unsure whether it's recovered at this time."

Whip the little frog? That's too much! She caressed his back as she held back her anger. "Well such a thing won't happen again. I'll give you a thorough check-up later to see if you have any other wounds that need attending to."

"Yes, Master."

Ian was very satisfied; being able to get Joanna's attention was already a kind of happiness…..As for the castle, along with his worried parents and brother….for now he would like to forget about them. After all his limbs have already been crippled—even if he was cured, he would no longer be able to use his hands and feet like he used to, rendering him unable to a.s.sist his brother in the army. He no longer could lead in combat…..Also he wasn't very good with paperwork, so there was no use in being around his brother. Besides, if word got out that one of the princes was cursed into a frog, the citizens may criticize their ruling monarchs as weak and incompetent for allowing one of their own to be taken advantage of by a witch….There weren't enough wise men among the public who could see that there was no direct relations.h.i.+p between a weak leader, and a leader who was cursed. Once such doubts were spread in the hearts of the people, it would be easy to lose their support.

Ian could not afford to make himself a burden to his brother, the Crowned Prince, and to his father.

Perhaps Ian will consider paying them a visit after his father decides to tear down the "King's List" from the town's bulletin board. But for now, let him be selfish, to serve his new master as he pleases….

hoping that someday, his Master may completely become his.