New Maid (Yelan Maid TF)

The flickering gas lamps of The Serpent’s Coil threw long, dancing shadows across the bar. The light barely showed the thick haze of pipe smoke and the low voices of quiet conversations. Yelan, dressed in dark blue and full of quiet strength, sat in a dim corner booth. Her purple eyes, sharp and clear, noticed everything – the shaky hand of the bartender, the sneaky looks between hidden patrons, and the faint smell of strange herbs in the air.

This bar, in the rough part of Liyue Harbor, was known as a place where people traded secret information and made hidden deals. Yelan was looking for a smuggler, and her careful instincts had led her here. She moved smoothly through the low light, almost blending into the shadows. A sip of strong tea, brought by a cautious waiter, was all she took from the bar’s offerings.

Then she saw a table where two men whispered in low, urgent voices, their hands moving as if they hid something under the table. Perfect. Yelan left her booth silently and walked over to listen closely.

Suddenly, a man stepped out from the dark with a friendly smile and bright eyes that sparkled oddly. He held a small, fancy glass in his hand.

"My dear lady," he said in a soft, smooth voice, "Please, allow me to offer you a drink. It is called 'The Serpent’s Kiss' – our most charming drink."

Yelan’s instincts warned her, but her confidence, built over many years of clever work, pushed her to ignore it. She was Yelan, a master at hiding and spying. What harm could a simple drink do? She accepted the glass, a slight smile on her face.

"How kind," she murmured, raising the glass in a small toast. "To secrets revealed."

As the sweet, flowery drink touched her tongue, a warm feeling spread inside her. At first, it was nice. Then, a strange tingle started at her chest and spread all over her. The sounds in the bar began to fade, and the room felt like it was spinning. Her vision blurred, and she felt very dizzy. Soon, she dropped the glass, which shattered on the floor. She grabbed onto a nearby table to keep from falling.

When she looked down, she was shocked. Her clothes were changing. Her usual smart outfit was gone, replaced by a neat white and blue dress. A pretty apron with simple embroidery now wrapped around her waist. Even her sturdy boots were gone, replaced by small, practical shoes.

The man who gave her the drink laughed softly.

"Ah, the change is coming along nicely," he said, stepping closer with a sly smile. "Enjoying your 'Serpent’s Kiss', dear maid?"

"Maid?" Yelan tried to speak, but her voice came out soft and unsure.

"E-excuse me?" she managed to say.

Her strong, smart mind felt fuzzy. Thoughts of her work and mission vanished. Instead, she only felt a sudden urge to clean, dust, and serve.

The man snapped his fingers, and suddenly Yelan found a tray of drinks in her hands.

"Now, be a good maid and serve these gentlemen their drinks. And try not to spill a drop."

Her eyes, once full of clear intelligence, now looked wide and timid. She glanced at the tray, her hands trembling.

"Y-yes, sir," she whispered. She walked slowly toward the table of smugglers, her proud walk replaced by a soft, shy step.

The men at the table, who had been whispering, now looked at her and laughed.

"Well, well," one of them said, grinning. "Looks like our luck has turned for the better."

Yelan, her mind completely changed, barely heard their rude words. Her only focus was on serving the drinks without making a mess. She carefully placed each glass on the table, her head lowered and her cheeks bright red.

"Here you go, sirs. Can I get you anything else?"

The smugglers, now happy with her new look, started asking for more.

"Fill our glasses, dear," one said. "And maybe tidy up the table. It's a bit messy, isn't it?"

Her new, maid-like side took over.

"Of course, sir! Right away!" she replied, quickly grabbing a cloth and hurrying to clean the table.

The man who had changed her watched from the shadows with a satisfied smile.

"Excellent," he murmured. "The perfect disguise. Completely obedient."

He had changed Yelan's mind, wiping away her clever spirit and replacing it with a gentle, subservient nature. Yelan, was now a shy barmaid who only wanted to please, completely unaware of her old self and totally devoted to her new role.

The Serpent’s Coil had gained a new, very efficient employee, and the smugglers' secrets stayed hidden—for now—behind the quiet, flustered smile of the bar’s newest maid.