Donovan Desmond/Synopsis

Overview

Synopsis

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History

Donovan is a native and the current patriarch of the rich noble Desmond Family, which has its roots in the early history of Ostania. In his younger years, he entered and studied at the Eden Academy and graduated as one of the Imperial Scholars. His portrait is displayed in the Eden Academy Hall of Fame alongside other Imperial alumni.

Family estrangement

At some point, Donovan became a politician and later the chairman of the National Unity Party, a far-right political party. He married a woman named Melinda, and they had two sons, Demetrius and Damian. During the war between Ostania and Westalis, Donovan succeeded Prime Minister Chapman and ruled Ostania, and he and his wife were known as the Prime Minister and the First Lady respectively. Damian once claimed that Donovan also participated in the war, fighting "all kinds of enemies." However, near the end of the war, the National Unity Party fell out of power and became the opposition party. After losing his post, Donovan closed off from other people and became a recluse. For unknown reasons, he and Melinda also became estranged from one another and appear to have even moved homes, with Donovan and their sons staying in the main manor while Melinda took to her own residence.

Donovan became increasingly paranoid and suspicious, never going anywhere without bodyguards and communicating with a very limited circle of people. One of the few events he attends to this day is the Imperial Scholars mixers at Eden Academy, where Imperial Scholar graduates and various important figures are present with the current Imperial Scholars, including Donovan's first son, Demetrius.

Over ten years after the end of the war, a Westalian diplomat was killed alongside his driver in a car accident in Ostania. This incident awakened a new conflict between the two countries, and Westalian Intelligence believed Donovan and his party were the main suspects and were attempting to instigate a war. To prevent this, they created Operation Strix.

Synopsis

Introduction Arc

A dossier on Donovan

Master spy Twilight is tasked with Operation Strix, where he must stop Donovan from harming truce efforts between the Ostanian and Westalian governments by getting close to him and probing for any seditious activities. However, since Donovan's only public appearances are at private events held by the prestigious Eden Academy, Twilight must marry and have a child who can enroll at the school. Thus, Twilight takes on the alias "Loid Forger" and creates the Forger Family.

Admissions Interview Arc

Having acquired an adopted daughter, Anya, and a fictitious wife, Yor, Loid and the Forgers diligently try to impress Eden Academy's teachers with all their might in order to ensure Anya's admission to the school that Donovan periodically appears at, which Loid reminds himself of during the admissions process.

Eden Beginnings Arc

Loid imagines his acquaintance with Donovan

After Anya secures a spot in Eden, Loid shuffles the school documents so that Anya gets into the same class with Damian Desmond, Donovan's second son. During Anya's orientation at the Academy, Loid wants her to make friends with the children of influential people, particularly Damian. He imagines that when the children become friends, it will easily provide him with contact with Donovan. However, at the orientation, Anya, angry at Damian's threats and bullying, hits him in the face and earns her first demerit. Henry informs the boy's parents about this as well, and this circumstance shocks Loid, making him think that this situation could obviously spoil his relationship with Donovan.

Stella Star Arc

Anya continues to follow her father's mission, trying to make friends with Damian. She resents him when he mentally insults her before a dodgeball game (which is rumored to be giving a Stella Star to its MVP) starts, but seems to cool down when she first hears about Donovan in Damian's thoughts. It is revealed that Damian suffers from a lack of paternal attention and believes that until he becomes an Imperial Scholar like his older brother, his father will continue to ignore him.

Anya dreams of world peace

When Anya receives her first Stella for saving a boy, Loid meets with his handler Sylvia Sherwood, who informs him that businesses linked to Donovan have recently made suspicious financial transactions and urges Loid to find a way to get closer to Donovan as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Anya's achievement only upsets Damian and further alienates them. Having received Becky's advice to ask her parents for a dog as a reward, Anya finds out that Damian also has a dog. This prompts her to come up with a new plan where she and Loid would get into the Desmond mansion through the friendship of children and dogs, thus achieving world peace.

Midterm Exams Arc

• Damian imagines his father will be proud of his work...
• ...and Anya is also going to impress Donovan

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Sometime later, when Anya's attempt to impress the second son with her new dog fails, Damian again attempts to get a Stella Star. He decides to make a griffin craft for an art contest, imagining that his father will be very proud of him if he manages to create a masterpiece. Anya reads his thoughts and simultaneously develops a plan: if she helps Damian create a griffin, then she will impress "the boss," and this will encourage him to meet with Loid so that peace will come. Despite her diligence and efforts, Anya only hinders Damian, and, as a result, they end up losing time and materials to create even decent art. Nevertheless, to their surprise, Henry informs them that their griffins won the contest, but Damian refuses to show this ugliness to his father or even tell him about it.

Damian imagines his estranged father

However, that evening he calls for his butler, Jeeves, and informs him that he will not come home for the holiday because Donovan will not be there anyway. Damian then asks Jeeves about how Donovan reacted to his incident with Anya. The butler informed the child that Donovan was very worried, although Damian thought Jeeves was lying, but did not say it out loud. Alone with himself, Damian was upset, firmly convinced that his father did not care about him.

Campbelldon Tennis Arc

For their social studies project, Henry Henderson encourages his young students to investigate an occupation that interests them. Emile asks Damian if he will interview his father, to which Damian says that only if he can get ahold of him.

Imperial Scholars Mixer Arc

Donovan meets Loid Forger

Donovan attends Eden Academy's semi-annual event, the Imperial Scholars mixer. His first son, Demetrius, informs him that Damian wishes to meet him at the library courtyard after the mixer. Donovan decides to show up and see his son, where he encounters Loid Forger, the father of Damian's classmate, Anya. Loid tries to talk to Donovan, but his bodyguards tell him to leave. However, Donovan gives him the chance to speak, prompting Loid to apologize for Anya's behavior towards Damian and introduce himself to the man.

Donovan recalls the incident at the orientation and apologizes for being too busy to respond personally. Loid offers to bring a token of regret to his manor, but Donovan brushes it off with an uncharacteristically bright smile, startling Loid. Donovan states it is just a spat among kids, but Damian yells that Anya laid hands on him, a Desmond. Loid agrees and insists on making amends, but Donovan once again smiles and says it is fine, but he does appreciate the sentiment. Loid realizes he is being blown off and withdraws, but not before thanking Donovan for his generosity.

"In the end… people will never truly be sympathetic with each other."

Damian tries expressing his humiliation to his father, who responds with a long, exasperated sigh and continues to do this until the boy apologizes, and he smiles in response. Loid speaks up, saying Damian's anger is justified. Loid then talks about how exhausting it is to deal with Anya and her bizarre behavior, the challenges of raising children, and how uncontrollable they can be. Donovan concurs, saying that despite sharing your blood, your children are essentially strangers, people impossible to understand. He says that, in the end, people will never truly be sympathetic to each other. While he says this, Damian is left stunned.

Loid agrees with the view but tells Donovan that what is important is meeting people in the middle. Loid admits that despite not understanding his daughter's actions, he acknowledges her and creates opportunities for dialogue with her, whether it works out or not. He then says it may have been why Donovan took the time out of his schedule to meet with Damian. Donovan supposes so, which surprises Damian. Loid starts praising Damian's respect for Donovan and shares his thoughts on Donovan's political views. Donovan decides to wrap up the conversation, but not before remembering Loid's name and saying he enjoyed their conversation. Loid thanks Donovan for sharing his time with him, then takes his leave after briefly chatting with Damian. As Loid leaves, he and Donovan quietly glare at each other.

Damian tells Donovan about his achievements

Donovan turns his attention to Damian, asking what his son wants from him. Damian starts getting nervous and says it is nothing. Donovan prepares to leave, but Damian shouts out to him, informing him of his Stella Star from the midterms, his 50 on his reading test, and how the griffin he made in art class won first prize. Hearing this, Donovan commends him. Damian asks why he agreed to see him, and Donovan replies that he acted on a whim and tells him to think nothing of it. As Donovan walks away, he tells Damian to continue striving not to besmirch their family name, and Damian enthusiastically agrees.

Later, Damian decides to serve his punishment for being late to the end and continue studying some more afterward, wanting his father to praise him again.

WISE Arc

Anya imagines Donovan's gratitude

When Donna Schlag began punishing Cecile Hall students with a Tonitrus Bolt due to the lack of a handkerchief, Damian is horrified that he forgot his, and he worries that if he gets at least a single demerit, he would never be able to face his father again. After reading his thoughts and fearing for the safety of her plan, Anya confidently gives Damian her handkerchief and fantasizes about how Donovan will be grateful to her for saving his son and decide to stop the war. However, Anya is punished for missing her handkerchief, and Damian does not tells anyone about his heroic gesture.

Friendship Schemes Arc

It is revealed that Donovan is not only the current chairman of the National Unity Party but also a former prime minister of Ostania. He is also mentioned as the husband of Melinda Desmond, whom Yor accidentally meets after saving her from falling down the stairs. When Yor returns home, she mentions this acquaintance to Loid and Anya, which activates a stormy activity in their heads. Loid and WISE knew about Melinda but believed she had little information value due to Melinda distancing herself from Donovan and their sons and stopping appearing in public after their party lost power. Loid also begins to suspect that the meeting at the department store could have been arranged. Recalling his only meeting with Donovan, Loid suggests that he might have aroused suspicion, but it's hard for him to imagine that Donovan would use Melinda for something like that.

Heavy suspicions and a complete lack of confidence in the Desmonds' intentions prompt Loid's desire to find out more facts, and therefore, he decides to push Yor toward friendship with Melinda. He feels that his wife could potentially be his key to learning more about the Desmond family and makes up "Plan C: The Mommy-Friends Scheme." Anya, meanwhile, begins to regard her mother as a rival because she too is trying to bring her father to the "main boss," but through Damian. While she does not voice this displeasure, this prompts her to develop her new battle plan of the friendship schemes where she is going to defeat Yor.

The next day, Yor meets with the Shopkeeper to ask for his permission to allow her friendship with Melinda. The Shopkeeper agrees, but he also warns her to prevent Loid from thinking she has one-sided political beliefs since the Desmonds are conservatives. Yor says it should not be a problem as she brings up Loid's meeting with Donovan and his interest in the National Unity Party, which piques the Shopkeeper's attention.

Red Circus Arc

Donovan is one of the motivating figures for the main characters in this arc. According to Billy Squire, the Red Circus's movement started as a student movement advocating for peace and equality and speaking out to protect the weakest members of society. However, the state in charge at the time turned violent against them and made orders to eliminate the group.

When Anya receives a fake bomb, she believes she can meet "the boss" if Damian thinks she is brave. However, she only scares everyone present, and their overwhelming thoughts give her a headache. Damian regards her clouding as an attempt to act strong. Anya's example, as well as the memory that his father was a war hero who fought with various enemies, inspires Damian to also be brave and resist the terrorists, although his attempt is unsuccessful. When Anya confronts Billy and talks with him, Billy mistakenly assumes that the upper class is struggling, thinking that even Donovan Desmond has fallen low since losing power and that Ostania's economy had collapsed with a food shortage while he was out of the country.

Anya imagines Donovan and Damian coming to her house

After the hostages get released and the parents begin to come for their children, Damian tells Anya that she would not make friends with his parents through him, as they do not care about him to pick him up. Nevertheless, Melinda arrives for her son, and their meeting appears quite sincere until Damian asks his mother not to tell his father that he cried. Remembering Donovan brings Melinda back to her outwardly cold appearance, where she asks Damian not to tell his father that she was here. When the students return to school for classes, Anya develops a new plan to impress Damian with her "strong" life as a commoner, which she believes will bring Donovan to her home when Damian comes over to learn more about commoners.

Sometime after the hijacking crisis is resolved, Loid meets with a disguised Sylvia in the dog park, and while Anya is playing with Bond and Aaron, Sylvia privately discusses with Loid that the scientists from Project Apple may still be operating and that they may somehow be connected with Donovan through the National Unity Party.

Mole Hunt Arc

Winston Wheeler, a mole from the Ostanian Intelligence, steals classified files from WISE HQ concerning agent activity in Ostania, including Operation Strix. When Loid, Fiona Frost, and the unnamed WISE Agent discuss a plan to intercept the mole, Fiona suggests cutting off all operations, to which Loid categorically disagrees, believing that, in Operation Strix's case, they would lose several years before they could try to get closer to Donovan again. Agreeing with this, everyone continues to pursue Winston in the hope of recovering the stolen documents before he hands them over to the SSS.

Term Finals Arc

When Millie Myers, Yor's co-worker, claims that Donovan is a monster who started the war to Melinda at a charity event, her superior Matthew McMahon corrects that Donovan became the prime minister after the war started. Melinda also states that Donovan served his term during much of the war, and as she apologizes to Melinda, she says that if she were to lose any of her family, including Donovan, she would also resent someone for it.

Donovan, a younger Demetrius, and Jeeves in Damian's thoughts

Later, Damian is trying to talk with his brother about their father's reaction to his recent school achievement, to which Demetrius silently looks at him and then abruptly turns around and simply leaves, saying that he does not maintain regular contact with Donovan. Looking after him, Damian himself wonders if he was wrong about the relationship between his father and brother. He remembers that when Demetrius was little, Donovan often spent time with his first son, and he tries to understand why their father does not do the same for him.

On the day of Eden Academy's end-of-class gala, Loid, disguising himself as a waiter, infiltrates the event and observes what is happening. He has doubts that the Desmond family would ever seriously consider a girl who plays with her own snot as a relationship prospect. However, seeing Anya's determined attitude and remembering their shared goal of world peace, he eventually decides to help her win the contest to become Damian's dance partner, believing that their victory in this challenge will ensure the sake of Plan B. During the last game of the contest, a trivia about Damian, Ewen and Emile ask who Damian loves the most. Anya ultimately wins the contest after correctly answering Donovan, much to everyone's surprise.