The Frog and The Beast

The Frog Chapter 16

Trapped in the body of a frog, I find myself forced to read a teen girl magazine to save my own skin. Truly, my life has hit an all-time low.

I flipped through the pages, skimming articles on fashion trends, beauty tips, and the latest celebrity gossip. I came across sections on healthy eating, popular makeup brands, fashion labels, and upcoming events. Oh this was painful.

"Which lip gloss delivers the best shine?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes at one page. "Do girls really read this crap?"

I turned to the next page.

"Ooh! A recipe for swamp gumbo, along with pie and pudding on flambé! Maybe this isn't entirely useless." I quickly tore out the recipe page, tucking it away for future use.

As I flipped through the glossy pages, I came across an article titled "Five Ways to Connect with Your Inner Goddess." I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and think, Thank God no one I know can see me reading this.

The article covered a range of topics: yoga, accessories, perfumes, bath-bombs, nail polish, manicures, pedicures, facials, boy bands, flirting techniques, dating advice, tips for clearing up blemishes, and recommendations for the best shampoo and conditioner. There were sections on dress models, casual wear models, and swimsuit models. Okay I have to admit, I actually enjoyed that page—don't judge me; I'm still a guy!

I was feeling stuck, so I decided to flip back to the contents page. There, I spotted an article titled "Meet Fiore's Stars: The Princess Behind the Crown."

Here we go.

The article opened with a stunning glossy photo of Lucy, adorned with a sparkling tiara. "Meet Princess Lucy," it proclaimed, "the reigning queen of Magnolia High and the envy of every girl in town."

Yeah like we don't already know that.

As I read on, the article detailed Lucy's rise to popularity, her fashion choices, and her preferences.

Favorite shoes: Heels and flats.
Favorite jeans: Jeggings.
Favorite activity: Shopping.
Favorite accessory: Prada purse.
Favorite lipgloss: Strawberry glitter.
Daily Routine: School, shopping, and partying.
Goal in life: To be fabulous.

I was going to be sick. This is basically what every other pretty girl says about herself. How am I supposed to really learn anything about her by reading this?

Then I came across something that finally offered me the insight I had been searching for.

Inspiration: My mother.

Now, we're getting somewhere.

I set the magazine aside, hopped over to my laptop, and typed in "Layla Heartfilia." That was the name of Lucy's mother.

As I delved into the online articles, I discovered that Lucy's mother was not only Fiore's Princess during her high school years just like she was but she graduated with honors and went on to become a professor of astronomy. In the summers, she traveled to various countries to study meteorites and the locations where they had fallen. After marrying, she dedicated herself to philanthropy. Impressive.

In several of the articles I came across, I discovered photographs of Mrs. Heartfilia, and she looked just like her daughter—stunning and flawless. Some images captured her at glamorous socialite parties and charity events alongside her husband, while others depicted her attending these occasions with both her husband and Lucy when she was a little girl. There was something strikingly different about the Lucy in those photographs compared to the one I recognized from magazines and school. It wasn't just the age difference; there was something else, an elusive quality that I couldn't quite put my finger on at that moment.