"Sir, you cannot be serious! Xavier is only 5 years old!" exclaimed Nina, as she stood before Charles in the throne room.
"I am very serious Nina. If Xavier is as talented as I suspect, then he is in grave danger from being exploited by adults, even myself. He needs to understand how to deal with insubordination, and how to defend himself from unscrupulous adults." said Charles coldly as he sat on his throne.
The entire Blackthorn staff had been gathered for a meeting, and were eyeing Charles warily. Nina was the only one whom Charles tolerated speaking out of turn, and even then, only when she had a valid point.
"I understand that sir, but Xavier is still an innocent child. Why test him like this?" asked Nina, her voice trembling.
"If my suspicions are correct, then Xavier himself will surprise you. You only need to follow through with what he asks of you." said Charles, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Very well sir. I have no further objections." said Nina, genuflecting before returning to her place.
"Good. Now, Jacques, I trust you agree to the test conditions?" asked Charles, as he turned to the chef.
"Oui, Monsieur Blackthorn. I am prepared to see if Monsieur Xavier can handle insubordination, and I am willing to accept that he may order me disciplined." said Jacques, bowing.
"Excellent. Now, I shall be leaving for about a month to set up the required infrastructure and recruit the required personnel for Xavier's enterprise. I expect daily reports." said Charles, as he stood up.
The staff bowed, and Charles left the room.
Nina turned to Jacques. "I have to warn you, Jacques that if worse comes to worst, I won't be able to hold back." she said.
"Oui, don't worry Mademoiselle Nina. I am prepared for the consequences. I'm quite fascinated to see what Xavier will do." reassured Jacques.
"I feel like we might just be Frankenstein unleashing a monster upon the world." muttered Nina as she left the throne room.
----
"You really are speed running through learning things." grumbled Nina, as she watched me model turbine blades in a CAD program.
It had been a week since Father had left, and in that time, I had managed to learn the basics of CAD software from Nina, and had unfortunately given her a headache from both the speed at which I had picked up the software, and the insistence on acquiring a ridiculously powerful computer to run the software, as well as CFD simulations.
"Father is putting a great deal of trust in my abilities, Nina. I need to prove that his investment is not in vain." I said, as I finished the design for a 16-stage high-pressure compressor.
Nina sighed, and rubbed her temples. "It's almost lunchtime, Master Xavier, and I'm not about to let you eat in front of the computer like some uncivilized simpleton. Up you get." she said, pulling my chair away from the computer.
"Fine, fine. Let's go to the dining room." I said, grabbing Nina's hand.
She chuckled, and led me to the dining room. "Xavier is still a child after all." she thought, revelling in the fact that I still liked clinging onto her hand.
We sat down at the table, and Maria brought in two plates of Fillet-Mignon with a side of mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.
"Maria, I believe I requested my vegetables to be sautéed in butter or lard, and not steamed." I said coldly, looking at the steamed vegetables with disgust.
"My apologies, Master Xavier. I'll have them sautéed for you." she quavered, surprised by my uncharacteristically harsh tone, and made to take my plate away, but I held up my hand.
"Get Jacques over here. This is the fourth time this week that my vegetables have been steamed instead of sautéed. I want to know why." I commanded, as Nina watched the exchange curiously.
Maria nodded, and left the room.
"Something amusing Nina?" I asked, seeing the smile on her face.
"You're acting like a little lord, Master Xavier. It's amusing yet gratifying to see you act like a little lord." she said, as she took a bite of her steak.
"Yes, Monsieur Xavier, what is the problem?" asked Jacques, as he entered the room.
"My vegetables are steamed, Jacques. I requested them to be sautéed." I said, as I pointed to the vegetables.
Jacques looked at the vegetables, and then at me.
"But Monsieur Xavier, steamed vegetables are very tasty and exquisitely tender! Give them a try!" he urged.
"I ate them once, four days ago Jacques. And I told you that I wanted them sautéed. Why do you insist on serving me these steamed abominations?" I asked coldly.
"Abominations?! Mon Dieu! I have been cooking for 25 years! I have a Michelin star! My vegetables have always been praised for their tenderness and flavour! I will not stand my culinary creations being insulted by some little garçon!" he said, his voice rising.
"Be mindful about your tone, Jacques. I'm not some little garçon. I am the heir to the Blackthorn family, and I expect my requests to be followed." I said, my voice as cold and hard as I could make it.
Jacques swallowed hard. "Very well, Monsieur Xavier. I will sauté your vegetables from now on." he said, his voice trembling.
I tipped the steamed vegetables into a saucer and pushed it towards him.
He muttered something furiously in French, as he snatched away the saucer.
"Stop, right, there, Jacques!" I said icily, as he turned to leave the room.
He turned back to face me, his face red with anger.
I turned to Nina, who was watching the exchange in almost a daze.
"Nina, you are in charge of the staff in Father's absence, correct?" I asked her.
"Y-yes, Master Xavier. I am in charge of the staff." she replied, snapping out of her daze.
"I expect Jacques to be chastised for his insubordination. To the fullest extent." I said coldly, as colour drained from Jacques' face.
"Now, now, Monsieur Xavier. I am sorry for my outburst. I will sauté your vegetables from now on." said Jacques, his voice trembling as he slowly backed away.
"Now, Nina." I commanded, as I turned back to her.
With surprising speed and strength, Nina sprang from her chair, grabbed Jacques by the arm, and dragged him to the dining table.
"Non! Non! Si'l vous plait! Je suis désolé!" he begged, as Nina forced him over the table, the saucer of steamed vegetables clattering to the floor.
"Maria. Fetch my cane." said Nina, as she held Jacques down.
Maria nodded, and left the room.
"Master Xavier, I will need you to leave the room. This is not something that you should see." said Nina.
I folded my arms and sat back in my chair, a strange feeling washing over me.
"Master Xavier, please. This is not something that you should see." said Nina, as Maria returned with a long black cane.
I sat silently, staring into Nina's eyes. She finally nodded, and raised the cane.
The first strike was met with a yelp from Jacques, and the second with a cry.
By the twentieth strike, Jacques was a sobbing mess, and Nina stopped.
"Our steaks have gone cold, Jacques. Reheat them and sauté my vegetables if you know what's good for you." I said coldly, as Jacques slowly straightened up, still sobbing pathetically.
"Oui, Monsieur Xavier. I will do as you say." he sniffled, picking up Nina's and my plates with trembling hands and shuffling out of the room.
"Why did you not leave the room Master Xavier?" asked Nina, as she sat back down.
"Because I needed to see it through, Nina. I can't afford to be seen as weak, or as a child, if I am to lead a company by myself and without Father's help." I said, with firm conviction.
Nina slowly rubbed her temples. "Lord Blackthorn was right. I have to start treating you like an adult, I'd hoped I'd get at least a few more years of childhood innocence from you." she said softly.
I got up from my chair, walked over to her and pulled myself onto her lap, surprising her.
"Until I grow too old, I'm still going to sit on your lap, Nina. I still like it." I said, as I leaned back into her.
She chuckled, and wrapped her arms around me, as I settled into her lap.
"Well, in that case. You passed the test with flying colours, Master Xavier. Except for the wanting my lap part I suppose." she laughed as she hugged me.
"A test?" I asked, as I looked up at her.
"Your father wanted to see if you were capable of handling insubordination, and not blindly defer to adults. I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing in the long run, but if you are going to step into the world that your father operates in, you will need to be firm, like how you were." said Nina.
At this point, Jacques returned with our steaks, he walked gingerly, and winced as he set the plates down in front of us.
"An excellent showing of firmness, Monsieur Xavier. I could have done without the punishment, but my pride in you was worth the pain." he chuckled, ruffling my hair before he left the room.
I hopped down from Nina's lap, took my seat and began to eat my steak, careful not to spoil the cravat and blazer that I had taken to wearing, and with a mixture of pleasure and satisfaction that I had met Father's expectations.