Thick mud was sticking on all parts of the front yard—from the walls to the plants, the fences and the pathway. Olivia's gaze was starting to squeeze breath out of my lungs.
I've never seen her this angry in a long time. The last time she was this angry, I was forced to clean the entire front yard of our estate, truly a horrible experience. I thought I'd never see the light of day ever again.
Now that she's about to rip me to pieces again, the only choices I have is to run away or apologize. The first option is possibly the safer one. For the second one…even if I do apologize right this second, the possibility of her tearing me apart limb by limb is still there.
"There were children who threw mud at me as soon as I got here…Look, I'm all covered in mud."
My feet took one step back as I continued to explain. My hand waved shortly to gain Jade's attention. I can't leave her like this, she doesn't deserve receiving Olivia's temporal wrath.
I could use her as a scapegoat, but I've committed the act in broad daylight and I already have Olivia an excuse. She'll never believe me if I point fingers at Jade now.
But by the most rotten luck out there, Jade did not move an inch and instead looked at me with confusion. Why can't she understand the situation I'm in?!
"Don't run away, Amaryllis."
Ah f*ck. My feet stopped on their own, as if they were possessed with fear from Olivia's words.
"You better clean this mess before I get back."
Olivia slammed the door and a few minutes later, she stepped out of the house and strolled through the muddy path with a grim expression. I had no idea where she was going, but I know she'll strangle me if she returns to an unclean house.
"...You can take a stroll around the village of you want. This will take some time to cl-"
"Alright. Good luck."
Wow, I wasn't even finished with my sentence but she already answered. I always liked it people answered me quickly, but not in this situation! How could Jade easily abandon me like this?! She was so determined to follow me earlier, and now that a big mess has appeared—does the thought of helping me clean up never crossed her mind?!
Without a second to waste, Jade left the front yard to take her peaceful stroll and I was left to clean the muddy mess the children made. To be fair, I admit that I part take in the event and held mud in my hands, but that was all seft defense. Surely I have the rights to defend myself to anything that poses as a threat to my life…and my clothes.
The scorching sun was high up in the sky, cleaning mud in the middle of the afternoon is sickening. I started with the windows first. It would be unpleasant to see mud in your shiny, dustless window. It would also be hard to remove once the mud dries.
The cloth that I used in cleaning the windows already sullied fully with mud. Thankfully, the kind old lady next door lent me some of her rugs, but now her rugs can't be even be called 'rugs' anymore, I need to resort to cleaning the walls and fences with pure water.
In the moment of my unclear decision, a voice suddenly came from behind.
"I've brought reinforcements."
It was Jade, carrying a bucket of water, and behind her were the children that I threw mud at earlier.
"We're only helping because Olivia might get angry with us too!"
For a second, I thought they had a change of heart and actually wanted to help me out of sheer good will, but I doubt that these kids will ever get enlightened.
"It's only fair that you help me clean up. Hurry and clean the walls and fences."
I didn't have to hassle myself in looking for rugs for the children to use since they brought their own. Jade was indulging herself in carrying buckets of water from the river nearby. We didn't have to think about our water supply since she had now became our personal water fetcher.
After a while, when the afternoon sun wasn't shining so burning anymore, the children, Jade, and I finally finished cleaning the front yard. It would have taken much longer if I cleaned it by myself, I'm glad that Jade brought these children to help me.
"Well that was tiring…"
Jade made herself comfortable in sitting
on top of the fence.
"All you did was carry water for us, and it looked like you actually enjoyed yourself."
I crossed my arms and sat on top of the fence beside Jade. The children were running around aimlessly again, the little child that acted as the commander for the small army that attacked me with mud balls yelled and tried his best to stop them from causing a mess again.
"It was my first time doing that…"
"...You mean carry water from the river?"
What a grand life this woman must be having. She was born in a highly ranked family, spoiled in multi-colored riches, but if I look at it clearly, weren't we born with equal status?
The only difference between us is how we are currently leading our lives.
"Is that why you were so eager to follow me around? You just wanted to do some chores?"
I asked, tilting my head with an unbearable expression.
"Huh? Of course not. If I wanted to do chores, I could just help the attendants of our estate."
The children became quiet as a figure that was walking towards the house suddenly emerged. It was Olivia, carrying a basket of vegetables.
"Have you finished cleaning?"
She asked to my face then looked around only to see the same children that trashed her front yard with mud.
"And what are you guys doing here?"
She asked the children.