The Redo of a Novel's Villain: Moira - Chapter 35: Chapter 35

"Headmistress Bonnes! Do you have any ideas of the motive for the attack?"
"Miss Bonnes, is it right to assume war will break out in the country?"
"How will Glory Academy deal with the damages?"
"Headmistress Bonnes!"
"Madame!"
"Miss––"
Rows upon rows of journalists pushed against the wall of security. The press' fanatical aim for new material an attack in its own right. Mira Bonnes' expression was dark after entering the carriage.
Her secretary, Katy, pulled the curtains, and the carriage was quickly dimmed. Even so, Mira could still hear the press shouts and her coachman's loud cursing. As the carriage began moving forward, Katy let out a drawn-out sigh.
News of the attack spread rapidly throughout the nation. Now, not only Ecrelyn but the entire Evendale must know of the incident. As the headmistress of Glory Academy, most of the attention was set on her, not good ones. It was due to the school's lack of security that allowed demons to breach the premises and endanger numerous students' lives. If not for the quick acting of a couple of students and staff, the damages would've been detrimental.
The public's outrage is justified. The angry families are justified. The guilt and shame turmoiling in her felt justified. How? How could she not catch a single whiff of such a large-scale invasion when it happened right under her nose?!
Three deceased, 118 injured, and half of the main building was reduced to dust.
Mira shut her eyes. "How long until we arrive?"
"A dozen minutes, ma'am," Katy replied. The secretary gazed at the headmistress in concern. Their next stop was a meeting with the kingdom's board of executives alongside the king.
Soon, they arrived at the meeting place. It was decided it'll take place in a separate academy building. Mira and her secretary walked into the meeting room, instantly becoming the centre of attention.
The academy staff, the kingdom's executives, and the king were seated around a large table. After greeting His Majesty, the two found a seat and thus commenced the meeting.
The king spoke first. "I'm sure we all know the reason for this meeting."
Incredulous scoffs and whispers filled the room. The board's outrage is clear.
One member yelled viciously, "Those wretched demons dare attack our children. It is an insult to us, our family, this land, and the kingdom! The Goddess sheds tears to witness such impurity stain Ecrelyn's future!"
"The situation is clearly the result of a lack of security. We must improve our kingdom's strength, Your Majesty."
"Is it possible there was a data leak or a mole?"
"Naturally, unless a mole existed, how could such an event go unnoticed until now?! You can't just smuggle bombs and demons into human territory without backup."
"In any case, we should dismiss Headmistress Bonnes for her evident incapability."
"Silence!" The room hushed to a halt. The king leaned back, a grim shadow overcasting his face. "Headmistress Bonnes, as we're all aware, this matter mostly falls upon your inability to ensure the academy's safety. Ignoring the amount of backlash we've already gotten, dozens of Ecrelyn's future leaders are injured—some dead.
He sighed.
"How are you going to take responsibility?"
Mira's throat suddenly felt parched, an itchiness urging her to leave and seek relief. Take responsibility? How? For the loss of student lives, their pain, and their fear? How?! What can she do that won't make matters worse than they are? It's like trying to build a machine to help stabilize a building when the ground is already breaking into cracks. The woman clenched her fist.
"I..."
"Stop. It's in none of our best interests to throw around the blame like this." A man raised his voice, briefly drawing everyone's attention. "Instead of pressuring the headmistress, this meeting was opened for us to discuss how we should proceed. Of course, we aren't ignoring Ms. Bonnes' faults, but I want to remind everyone why we're here."
Mr. Clark made eye contact with Mira, his words allowing the board to calm and retract some of the hostility to her. The woman sighed in relief and quickly composed herself.
"Mr. Clark is right, I understand my failure led to this, but that is exactly why we are gathered today to figure out how to move forward." With the headmistress he knows back, Mr. Clark sat back down. Everything would go smoothly.
The meeting lasted hours. They've decided to postpone the speech on the matter as emotions are high, decided on the reimbursement funds, and the funeral fees for the three unfortunately lost. But the biggest takeaway before the meeting concluded was...
The demons are making their move, and they should begin preparations for war.
Back at her office, Mira sits hunched over her desk. A barely touched cup of tea rested beside her hand where she absently flipped through a thick, old, well-preserved book. The cover was made from rich leather, and the pages, although yellowed, were stainless.
It's the book log of Glory Academy's founding fathers and all the Headmasters before her.
Her eyes flitted past their portraits before stopping on the last page—a middle-aged man with dark ebony hair and sharp eyes. The previous headmaster and also her father: Horace Bonnes.
People have always doubted her ability, convinced she got her role only due to nepotism. Although she couldn't exactly refute that, she also knows her father.
Horace was a hard-nosed, kind, yet impartial man. He would've never given her this role if he knew she wasn't fit for it. That is exactly why she's never once doubted her position as Glory Academy's headmistress.
...until now.
"What do I do now, father..." She pressed her palm into her face.
Knock knock knock
Hearing the knocks, Mira set the book aside and tried to conceal any hints of trouble on her face. "Come in."
Soon after, the door swayed open to reveal Mr. Clark. The man was holding two mugs; how he knocked and opened the door was a mystery.
"Coffee? Night's gonna be long." He grinned.
Mira chuckled, "Do I even have a choice? You already brought it."
"Yes, well, I could use two cups right now."
"So, what brought you here? I can't imagine you came all this way just to give me coffee." Her office was, after all, several stories above the teacher's lounge.
"Just wanted to check up on you." He took a sip of the coffee. "Knowing you, you're probably holed up in here blaming yourself for everything. Not to say you're faultless. Neither of us is so naive as to believe that."
Mira didn't respond, so Mr. Clark continued.
"As a teacher, I am equally at fault for not being able to protect my students. The army failed to shield the kingdom's borders from the invasion, and His Majesty failed to ease the public and protect the school––it is royal property."
"What you just said can be seen as slander to the crown."
"Then this secret stays between us?" He added, "As thanks for the coffee."
Mira only sighed incredulously. "As thanks for the coffee." As if emphasizing her point, she drank a mouthful of the beverage (a little sweet for her taste but still good).
"So..." Mr. Clark started. "What do we do? After this, I mean." He cringed, the topic falling back to recent happenings. Mira stood up, gesturing Mr. Clark to stand beside her as she stood by the large window overseeing campus. From there, you could see the moonlit outline of the large gaping hole on the side of some buildings (steadily being rebuilt).
"Whether or not Glory Academy retains its power depends on the public, His Majesty, and the students."
"But...?" He prompted.
"But I don't believe this is the end of the academy."
Mr. Clark smiled. "Well said, headmistress. And... need I suggest something?"
"I'm all ears."
"This may just be my opinion as someone from Aleumon, but...Perhaps many of the casualties could've been circumvented had more of our students known how to protect themselves." He gestured, a wry expression on his face.
Mira's mouth opened and closed in a bit of a stupor, "You're crazy." But the idea had already convinced her.
Mr. Clark just shrugged before bringing the coffee to his lips. "You heard what the king said."
Mira sighed, placing her hand with callouses numbing her touch. Despite their age, they were a clear reminder and evidence of past battles. The chill seeped into the windowsill felt comparably more minuscule than the words from her mouth.
"War is upon us."