Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2097: Making her a supervisor (4)

Shock coursed through me upon seeing Rose looming above with worry etched across her features.

Having only just stirred from sleep, I was completely in the dark about the unfolding events.

Yet her expression and the noises echoing from beyond the room revealed the crisis at hand.

It took mere moments for me to grasp whom she meant.

Only one individual possessed the power to stir such uproar within the castle walls.

"What occurred?" I inquired evenly, hoping the steady tone would soothe Rose's nerves.

Her tension eased somewhat at my words before she replied, "The servants inspected her chambers and discovered her absence. They scoured the usual spots, yet failed to locate her anywhere."

A heavy sigh escaped me upon hearing this, prompting Rose to arch an eyebrow.

I could already deduce Dorothy's whereabouts, recalling the eager gleam in her eyes as we departed the workshop earlier. Children's passion for such pursuits made it simple to predict.

With yet another exhale, I declared, "I’ll track her down. Halt the search efforts immediately, lest word of this reaches the others and sparks complications."

Rose furrowed her brow faintly at my words but ultimately nodded.

Heading to the workshop, I found the interior illuminated as anticipated.

No one appeared to question the glow from within, suggesting this was a frequent occurrence. Still, I could discern the stark contrast between past and present reasons for the lights.

Previously, the illumination came from feigned diligence.

This time, it stemmed from genuine labor by someone who ought not to be toiling there.

Entering, I was taken aback to see Queenie awake, her gaze pleading for intervention as she regarded me.

The cause of her distress was plain: in the workshop's heart, another figure busied herself with the molds. An orb rested in her grasp, channeling drops of divine energy into them.

I shook my head in disbelief at the sight, then stated, "Time to cease. Running off from bed like this isn’t proper."

Dorothy flinched sharply at the sound of my voice.

Half the reaction stemmed from her immersion in the task, leaving her vulnerable to surprise. The rest arose from being caught in the act.

She pivoted with a sheepish expression, pulling the pitiful pout that children wield to evoke sympathy.

Such tactics held no sway over me.

Aware of the chaos she’d unleashed, I recognized the need for discipline.

As I approached, I noted insects scurrying near Dorothy too.

Far from solitary efforts, it appeared she’d coerced Queenie’s aid, deploying the bugs to fetch items for her.

Queenie knew this routine well, as it fell to her alone. She was meant to handle it during my absences, though I suspected her recent idleness.

Observing their setup, a plan crystallized in my thoughts.

Persuading Dorothy to quit wouldn’t come easily, after all.

Youngsters like her clung stubbornly to their whims, yielding only to compelling incentives.

Thus, I resolved to provide one.

"Let’s return to bed. The household’s in a frenzy searching for you across the castle."

Dorothy quivered at these words, as though envisioning the fallout.

I couldn’t shield her from it; her choices demanded accountability, and I stood among those enforcing it.

Shifting tack, I remarked, "You’ve clearly mastered wielding that orb."

Dorothy’s face brightened instantly at the praise.

Not from dodging repercussions—she’d resigned to those—but from the shift to her beloved pursuit, blotting out the looming scolding.

From her excited explanations, it was evident Dorothy had poured effort into the task.

Despite the uproar she’d ignited, her advancements were undeniable.

Most impressively, she’d rallied Queenie to contribute.

Under those circumstances, the ideal resolution emerged.

"Given your diligence, I’m appointing you as this workshop’s overseer."

Dorothy’s eyes sparkled with delight at the announcement, while Queenie’s visage fell in dismay. She shot me a desperate glance, begging to undo the choice, but I paid her no heed.

Turning to Dorothy, I added, "As overseer, though, you’ll enforce the workshop’s schedule strictly. No compelling your staff to labor late or through the night, correct?"

Dorothy nodded gradually, sensing a subtle trap yet swayed by her new role.

Ultimately, the title’s allure prevailed.

Queenie, meanwhile, appeared utterly defeated, fully aware of the implications.

Overtime aside, her workload wouldn’t diminish.

Her habitual laziness meant she’d now toil far more than before.

Queenie’s forlorn look caught me off guard; I couldn’t fathom her compliance with Dorothy. Refusal seemed effortless, with no obligation to obey the girl.

Yet if this spurred greater output and yields, I had no grounds to object.

Such productivity would appease the foreign realms, easing tensions around the affair.

They monitored these developments with keen interest, so offering positive spectacles would divert focus from Dorothy, whom they’d once collectively targeted.

While workshop issues were resolved, the night’s unfinished business lingered.

"Anything to say for yourself, miss?"

Dorothy shuddered at the query, twisting to face me.

I offered no words, simply averting my gaze.

After all, she’d sown the seeds of her own reckoning.