I lost my balance and almost slipped because of someone's loud shout. But I managed to regain control and didn't fall.
"Hey Angela! Looking forward to seeing you."
I turned angrily towards Alex and his father, who were standing in front of the gate. Alex's father was holding a large, one-meter tall bouquet, and he was wearing a very stylish and formal suit. What do you think that bouquet could be for?
'Why won't these people leave us alone?'
This is the hundredth time since that Manson party that he and his son come to propose. When Alex saw I wasn't responding, he shouted again,
"This time we're going for your mom."
'Does he think my mother is some kind of farm land that he can talk about like this?'
"We've rejected you from a long time. Why are you here again?" I shouted angrily.
"L-Look, my dear..."
"I'm not your daughter."
I wouldn't say I'm against Manson and my mother's marriage, because obviously, having someone important like Duke Manson in our family would increase our standing. But all the family members were against it. So I have no choice but to obey.
I sighed and massaged my temples with my fingers.
"I'm really tired of this life."
Duke Manson took a step forward, looking worried and anxious.
"Angela, marriage is a sacred and pure thing. You can't take your own life because of your feelings about this."
I looked at him blankly.
'What the hell is this idiot saying?'
"Please just get off the gate right now."
'He thinks I'm going to commit suicide?'
I looked down at the gate.
'This height won't kill anyone. At most, I'll break my limbs.'
I remembered the times when I'd get angry at my sister and pack my bags to leave home, pretending to run away. But I would end up sitting in the yard with my toys, and I'd go back home when I got hungry. I sneered.
'Well, since I'm a child and don't understand heights, he has the right to think I'm going to kill myself.'
"Angela, please come down, we're going home right now."
I smiled maliciously in my heart.
"Either you leave right now and never look back, or I'll jump down and kill myself."
Alex and Manson's terrified gaze was fixed on me. They didn't even blink out of fear.
"Okay, we'll leave, but after you come down. Now jump down, I'll catch you."
Manson had his hands raised in the air, encouraging me to come down.
"No, you have to leave right now."
"I'll give you a candy."
"Keep that candy in your pocket to eat on the way."
"What about a doll? Or a cute pet?"
"No!"
Manson lowered his raised hands to his head.
"Oh, if something happens to Angela, the Countess will blame everything on me."
Alex shouted louder than before,
"Angela, come down already."
Then he turned to his father,
"I'll go up and get her."
He was about to climb the gate when I yelled,
"If you touch me, I'll jump."
"You're putting my father in trouble with this. Don't be so childish."
"You're a child too, so don't call me a child."
"I'm two years older than you!."
"But I'm older mentally."
"If you were older_"
The gate slammed open violently, and I slid off the decorative crest and was thrown forward. I heard shouting in my ears. I came to, but it was too late.
'It seems I'm going to be in a lot of pain...'
I landed on something soft with my butt.
'What happened?'
I sat up, and I heard Manson groaning. I looked back in surprise. Apparently, he had run towards me to catch me and make sure I didn't get hurt. I was thrown onto him and knocked him to the ground. I was now sitting on his stomach.
"Are you okay, dear Angela?"
I stared at him blankly.
'This guy is a little too kind for our family. Maybe I should oppose this marriage for his own mental health.'
Suddenly, someone grabbed me from under my arm and lifted me up.
"Mr. Manson, how many times do I have to see you at the gates of our mansion? Doesn't this perhaps hurt your pride?"
My mother was holding my arm and glaring angrily at Manson.
"Madam, about Angela again_"
"Can you please leave as soon as possible?"
'Oh oh, it seems as if this was all poor Manson's fault.'
I was filled with guilt. I didn't really want to get Manson in trouble. But with the noise we made, my mom's arrival like this was predictable.
'Of course, they are to blame and should have left.'
Manson got up from the ground with a grimace and cleared the dust off of himself.
"Are you okay, Dad?"
"Yes, son! Let's go."
He turned towards me and Mom. He respectfully took off his black and gray striped hat.
"I apologize for the inconvenience we caused. If you want a checkup for Angela..."
"There's no need."
"Then... have a good day."
He put his hat back on. He took his son's hand and they went towards their carriage. As soon as their carriage started moving, my mother grabbed my arm and pulled me towards her. I could see anger in her eyes. But more than that, worry was evident.
"Are you okay?"
'I'm in the best shape, thanks to that soft and warm landing.'
I nodded my head in confirmation. She looked me up and down first. Then she let go of my arms and pressed her temples in frustration.
"Why were you on top of the gate?"
"I called Bernard several times, but he didn't open the door. I wanted to come from this way..."
I didn't want to make Manson look any worse, as his only mistake was asking for proposal. Suddenly, Aldous came from behind my Mom and stood beside her, and I was a bit shocked to see him. His face was red with anger, and he stared at me with eyes wide open.
"This jerk made a fool of us..."
I looked at him fearfully, worried that he meant Manson. But I breathed a sigh of relief with the rest of his sentence.
"He gets paid all this money. He couldn't stop those two from blocking the door behind them, and then he can't even open a door? We need to fire him as soon as possible."
"sigh! I really don't know what to do with this situation."
After saying this, Mom lifted me, who weighed 35 kilograms, like it was nothing. My eyes widened in surprise. This much power in a housewife? Unbelievable.
"The priority now is to take Angela to a doctor."
"But I'm fine..."
"There are some injuries that don't require symptoms, Angela. But they are very dangerous. So we need to make sure you are completely healthy, just in case something happened."
I wanted to ask her how she lifted me. But I didn't say anything.
'I feel like asking that would be very random.'
We entered the mansion. Mom was still holding me. She was going up the stairs to take me to my room.
"Where's Arina, Mom?"
"Oh, she's..."
She looked sadly at the door to Arina's room, which was directly opposite mine. The room I became the owner of after much insistence and begging, as it used to be Aldous's.
"She's studying..."
After Arina passed the Red Sun Exam, I couldn't contain myself. I was happy that Arina wouldn't get into trouble and would have a peaceful life. But my happiness was pointless. Arina either locked herself in her room and studied or practiced her swordsmanship on the training ground. I rarely saw her anymore. And when I did, I was even more worried about her because of her terrible situation. She had big dark circles under her eyes, had lost about 10 kilograms, and was in a bad mental state. Once I tried to talk to her, but it ended in a bad fight. She threw things at me and yelled, "Get lost!"
After that incident, Mom didn't let me go near her room. All the family members tried in their own way to bring Arina back to herself. Mom even brought a therapist for her. But until Arina herself wants to save herself from this mess, we are practically helpless.
'I was looking for a normal life, but not at the cost of Arina's depression...'
I clenched my fist in anger.
'If it had been fair, I wouldn't be so angry. I should have hit those boys more.'
But hitting them won't solve anything. I need to hit the root of the problem.