Am I the Villainess of this Story?

Interlude 10: A Headmaster's Headache

My name is Marius Engelbert Aster, Lord of House Aster under the banner of Duke Einhart. I am the current headmaster of St. Regulus Magic Academy. I was supposed to be retired already. However, my chosen successor denied my request for him to teach in my school. He said that he wanted to give back to his benefactor by teaching his children. What a pity. I had always believed that Shaine has the ability to make St. Regulus better. However, I can't do anything since he has already made up his mind.

So, things remained much the same. However, almost three years ago, things had become troublesome. A previous alumni of the school learned about my failed recruitment of Shaine. He, then, decided to insert himself into the faculty. I would have rejected him outright since I know that his abilities are just so-so. But, I didn't realize that he had some pull over one of the overseers of the school. It wouldn't have mattered much if it weren't for the fact that the said overseer wasn't in charge with the school's general funds. He insinuated that the school's budget would be cut if I didn't accept said alumni.

Thus, I was forced to accept the man despite him not having any qualifications to teach. I'd have given him a subject that wouldn't cause much damage to the students' education even if taught wrongly like the subject on art but the arrogant brat insisted on being given the post that should've belonged to Shaine had he accepted my offer. Unfortunately, said subject, Magical Theory, is a very important foundation subject. I was prepared to deny him his demand but his sponsor blatantly said that he would cut the school's budget by half if I did not acquiesce. So, without a choice, I had to accept the moron as a member of my faculty.

Of course, I wasn't planning to suffer the fool for long. As soon as those bastards left my office, I immediately sent for the most skilled servants under my employ. Contrary to what some may think, I have no intention of being passive towards those two who dare coerce me to do their bidding. St. Regulus is my school which makes it under my protection. I may not be able to go against them outright but I have the patience to deal with them by playing the long game.

I could have informed Duke Einhart since I am one of his vassal lords. However, that would result to the duke getting involved in the resolution of the matter. And, I couldn't do something like that. If Duke Einhart interferes with the way the school is run, his enemies would make use of said interference to find faults with him in his capacity as the Prime Minister. I can't allow that to happen.

That's why all I could do right now is have my subordinates investigate all the dealings of those two and collect every incriminating evidence against them. It may take me years to do it, but I will utterly destroy them for daring to touch my school.

xxxxx

More than two years have passed since that incident. In that time, my people managed to collect various evidence of that overseer's under-the-table dealings with the Gatrean representative. Apparently, said overseer was unhappy with his current lot in life. So, when he was offered a high position in the Gatrean government in exchange for information about talented children of Mirrae, the man hadn't hesitated to accept. Hence, when he learned of Shaine's self-proclaimed rival's desire to teach in St. Regulus, he offered his aid and in return, the overseer would receive notice on which students have high chances of becoming part of the various offices of our nation.

Of course, this stupid teacher failed to be suspicious of such an offer and merely accepted the help at face value. The man was really a first grade moron. It makes me wonder how he got the confidence to compare himself to Shaine.

However, although I have managed to gather evidence against the overseer, I still haven't found a good reason to fire the man he sponsored. After all, I couldn't prove that the man was an incompetent teacher when the students haven't really complained about his lessons. I don't know if these current lot of students truly believed what he is teaching or they were just too afraid to speak out in fear of retribution. I couldn't even make as much of a hint as I want to because outsiders might say that I have unduly influenced my students in unjustly removing one of the school's personnel. As such, I have no choice but to retain him as a teacher despite fully knowing about his incompetence. This is the reason why I really hate politics.