An Adventurer's New Role (Maidification)

“I do hope you’ve enjoyed yourself, my dear Valena,” A woman in fine silks said, raising her wine glass in toast.

“Of course I have, Lady Lanell,” The woman’s conversation partner replied. She looked out of place, and almost uncomfortable at the table - dressed in hide and leather, with an armored plate strapped over her chest and a sword on her hip. “Really, the feast wasn’t necessary. Don’t your people need the food?”

“It wasn’t neccesary,” Odessa Lanell agreed. “I would not ask of my people what they could not afford.This sort of feast is for noble guests, not for adventurers, anyway. But I had sent a maid to purchase some food for our final dinner, and when the townsfolk heard who it was for, she had to come back for a wagon! The winter time is over and the growing season has begun again; they apparently wanted to thank you for “all you’ve done for them over the last few months” - that is, for doing your job.”

The two talked over a lavish feast that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the halls of a capital city noble; the backwater farms under the stewardship of the Lanell family might be a rather dangerous region compared to the more prosperous heartlands, but the soil was fertile and they could grow more than enough food to last them through the winter, as harsh and unforgiving as it was in that area.

In the winter, the roads were locked off by veritable mountains of snowfall and plagued by vicious beasts. It was that isolation that had led Valena the adventurer to lodge with the land’s ruler for the duration. She’d been in the area on a mission, and by the time she’d completed it, they were totally snowed in.

Being so far flung, adventurers were few and far between in Odessa’s lands - and Valena’s presence had made the difference between having one and not starkly apparent. Suddenly, it was safe to travel between villages, as Valena kept the monster population down. Suddenly the rash of food thefts in the winter were resolved as she tracked down the perpetrators and returned the stolen goods. The lands were the safest that they’d been in generations, from just a single adventurer’s presence. No wonder the locals had wanted to thank her.

And… well, Odessa liked her, even if her pride wouldn’t let her admit it. Like, a lot. She was so strong, so skilled… so pretty… she wondered what it’d be like to fall asleep in her arms and…

She downed her wine glass in order for the inebriation to give an explanation to her red face. Fine. She liked her. She really, really liked this Valena girl.

“I couldn’t really leave anyway, could I?” Valena said. “It was the least I could do to repay you for giving me a place to stay.” She said, steadily taking a drink herself. “The mountain pass should be open soon, right?”

“Of course. The snow should clear by tomorrow - it’s very reliable, in that.” Odessa said. She paused. She had to ask, especially if Valena was bringing up the pass… “Now, I normally wouldn’t ask this kind of thing - but I am a noble, and I have a responsibility to my subjects…”

Valena raised an eyebrow. Odessa felt her heart fluttering. Curse the gods for gifting a single woman this much beauty. A healthy tan, vibrant red hair like a sunset, beautiful green eyes like two glittering emeralds, soft pillowy lips that Odessa just wanted to- The noblewoman coughed, clearing her throat, before continuing. “I would ask you to consider… staying. Here, with me- uh, with these lands, as an official retainer of the ruling family. You would be quartered, fed, and so on - all your needs would be taken care of, along with a generous stipend. In exchange, you would continue to protect these lands as you have been.” she said. “It’s a very, very generous offer, so far as commoners like yourself go. Most would jump at the opportunity.” Odessa told herself she was simply making sure Valena understood the significance. Not trying to entice her. Nothing of the sort, that would be improper for a woman of standing.

Valena blinked a few times. She ate a bit more, chewing slowly and thoroughly. “I… uh… well, I’m honored to receive the offer, Lady Lanell…”

“You may call me Odessa if you wish.” Odessa said a bit too quickly. “You’ve earned that much.”

“Odessa,” Valena corrected, and the other woman felt like she could die happily, “I’m really honored by the offer. Really, it’s great.”

“I’ll have the documents brought in.” Odessa said, nodding to a maid.

“But.” Valena continued. “I… I can’t settle down like that. Sticking in one place, giving up the whole adventuring life.” Valena shook her head. “Not for me. I’d go nuts, cooped up like that!”

Odessa could have been punched in the gut with words like that. She managed to crack a smile. “Of course, an uncouth woman like yourself wouldn’t be well suited to polite society in any case.” She said. “You have as long as you wish to think about it, though, and for the sake of my people’s wishes, the offer shall remain open all the same.”

“I appreciate it. If I see some adventurer looking to retire, I’ll send them this way.” Valena said. She hurriedly finished her meal, and excused herself.

She did like Odessa, really. She put on a front of the classic snobby noble, but she cared about her people, and wanted what was best for them - odds were, she insisted on paying for the food even if it were freely given, and probably had thought to ask on her own. More than once during the winter, Valena had been assigned to guard food shipments to the outlying towns that were reporting shortages, out of the Lanell family stockpile; she didn’t keep that much food because she wanted to eat like a queen in the depths of winter, but in case of emergencies. She’d like to be friends with a lady like that.

But her wanderlust wouldn’t let her lock herself in place. She’d become an adventurer to explore the world, see different places. She wasn’t going to give that up so easily. Even settling for the winter had left her legs burning to get on the road again!

As Valena settled into her room for the night, Odessa was still fuming. She didn’t want Valena to leave. Definitely just for the sake of protecting her lands, and not at all because she wanted her to stay with her, definitely definitely. It was a bit… well, she hadn’t tried that kind of thing, but she thought she might have something that would… change her mind…

-----

Valena had just finished packing up. She didn’t have much stuff - she was an adventurer, and traveled with as little gear as she could get away with to make the road easier going. She was about to turn in for the night, but as she was settling in, there was a knock on her door.

Odessa was at the door. “Greetings. Have you changed your mind?”

Valena rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. “Nope. Sorry, Odessa. I don’t think anything could.”

Odessa nodded. “I thought as much… in that case, perhaps you’d like to partake of our hotsprings before you leave? I know a commoner such as yourself likely has little experience with such pleasures, and if you won’t take my offer, I can still offer that at least.”

Valena took a moment, before snapping her fingers. “Ah! That’s right, this region is famous for them, isn’t it? I’ve always wanted to try one.”

“The family manor was built on one.” Odessa said. “I’ll let the maids know it is open to your use.”

“That sounds great!” she said. “Thanks!”

As Valena started to walk off, however, she was stopped by Odessa again. “Before you go…” she said. She presented a pair of bottles. “...Put this in the water, and put this one on your body. It does wonders for the skin. My family’s perfected the technique to create them.”

Valena raised an eyebrow. “Hm. You want to come in and show me how to use it?”

Odessa rapidly turned scarlet. “M-Me, in the bath with… no, no thank you!” she said, shoving the bottles into Valena’s hand and turning on her heel and walking away just a bit too quickly.

Valena wasn’t sure why she’d run off, but oh well! She hummed a cheerful tune to herself as she went over to the baths - it was on the ground floor with a whole wing dedicated to it, which had been specially constructed for the purposes. She disrobed swiftly, leaving her gear neatly folded on a bench in the dressing room (which, she noted, showed signs that the nobles weren’t the only ones using it; they wouldn’t need such a big room for it if the servants couldn’t use it, and she saw a maid outfit folded up in a corner), before heading inside.

She dipped a toe into the water, swiftly pulling it back from the sudden heat. But it was a pleasant one - she took a breath, before sliding herself into the spring completely. The searing heat was soon replaced with a pleasant warmth, and she sighed as she could practically feel her muscles relaxing.

Valena let herself soak for a bit, before remembering the bottles Odessa had offered her. One seemed a bit more liquid-y, and if she remembered right that meant she should just put it into the water, which she promptly did. It smelled really good - like lavender and some other smell she couldn’t quite place. The other was a thicker liquid (or maybe more gel), which she was pretty sure meant she had to rub it on.

It felt shockingly nice as she rubbed it onto her skin. She hadn’t expected something like that to feel so nice, but it was like she could feel it’s healthy properties already. She rubbed a bit more vigorously, getting it all over her body.

As she relaxed and scrubbed, the smell of the first potion got only more intense, more dramatic. It was filling Valena’s head, lulling her into relaxation. She didn’t notice as she scrubbed how it seemed like her scars just washed right off, how it left her well muscled skin smooth and flawless. The evidence of an active life scrubbed away.

The smell grew stronger, and stronger as she scrubbed, getting it all over her body - down her arms, around her neck and chest, down her legs and between them. She was so thankful to Odessa for letting her experience this. It was far beyond what a simple commoner like her could expect.

Valena blushed, and not just from the heat. Odessa, the noble head of the region. Why did the thought suddenly inspire such burning inside her breast, why did her heart suddenly beat faster at the thought of her raven tresses, glittering blue eyes… she liked her, true. But not like that… right?

Another part of her wondered why shouldn’t she like her like that? She was an exemplar of nobility, and a truly kind woman. She put on a snooty act because she was raised like that, but a gentle and caring soul lay beneath. Differences in station aside, there were worse women to fall for - she could just see herself as her lady’s strong protector, her devoted love…

Why was she thinking that? She wasn’t about to give up adventuring for her! It would be incredibly unfair to try and start something with her only to leave, and Valena was not a heartbreaker. She splashed some water in her face, trying to cool herself off. She wasn’t going to give up adventuring! She’d started adventuring to… to…

She mentally scrambled. Why had she started to adventure? Her old self slipped further and further from her grasp, siphoned off by the heady scent of the potion in the bath. Instead, she kept thinking about Odessa. That offer… it was simply too generous. She couldn’t take it up, but… the idea of staying there was more and more appealing. She didn’t want to take advantage of her generosity - simply doing adventure work was not nearly adequate a repayment. The idea of serving her though…

Valena could feel her resistance slipping, her old self melting away. And she let it. It was so hard to worry about anything with that lavender smell in her nose, with the relaxing bath. It was all fine. She could stop worrying about things. All she needed to do was soak it in.

She wouldn’t stay there just because Valena wanted her to. She couldn’t consider an offer so lopsided in her favor. But she had started adventuring for a reason - she had needed to find a worthy mistress to serve. The very idea sent pleasant shivers down her spine. She’d looked so long, in so many places, and had finally found one; a good woman, with authority. One who wouldn’t let her power get to her head. One who she could help in good, honest and noble goals.

She loved Odessa. She loved her so much, she just had to serve her. Her memories shifted and changed, as she remembered how the moment they’d met she’d pledged herself. Leaving had never been an idea in her head - the end of winter simply meant the end of her trial, which she’d passed. She was an official servant of Odessa - Mistress Odessa - now. And she couldn’t wait.

-----

Odessa waited impatiently outside the hotspring wing, tapping her foot on the ground. When would she come out? Had she noticed that she’d been given a potion and snuck out the alternate exit? She wanted to go check, but the very idea of seeing Valena naked turned her red as a tomato.

The potion was a bit of a family recipe, if one she’d modified. The Lanell family had gained its noble title as a reward for a long line of loyal, capable royal alchemists. Even in the generations since, the practice had continued - her younger brother remained in the King’s employ, while as the oldest child she inherited the lands. Even though her duty was not to be a royal alchemist, she had learned some things from her parents.

It wasn’t a bad potion, really. It would just soothe away her cares and worries, and let her fill it in as she pleased. She was free from her old ties, and would have nothing pulling her away. Valena fidgeted. Maybe she should have used a love potion after all… she might still leave…

The door swung open, and Odessa bolted upright as Valena waltzed out. She had always looked a bit tense, in the time Odessa had known her - as tight as a spring and ready to bounce off whenever. Now she seemed really relaxed. As for her clothes…

A black dress with a white apron and frills, falling just around her hips. Tight black stockings, long gloves. Elegant shoes. She tied her hair back in a ponytail so it wouldn’t get in the way of her work, before setting the frilly cap on her head. She looked every bit the maid. And she made it look good, Odessa realized as she began to blush bright red. Where had she even gotten that? Had one of the maids forgotten her uniform in-

“Oh, Mistress~” Valena giggled, suddenly pressing very, very close. She’d closed the distance in an instant; being remolded into a maid had clearly not softened her edge even slightly. “That bath was sooo nice! Thanks so much for the potion, too, I don’t think my skin’s ever looked this good!”

Odessa flushed as Valena’s bust hung in her face. Odessa wasn’t the tallest - she was a little on the short side, but not too far from average. But Valena was, and her bust was just a bit too near eye level for comfort. And what a bust - she’d want to see what was under- no, bad thoughts! “I, um, your welcome,” Odessa stammered.

“Thank you so much for letting me serve you, Mistress.” Valena continued, and now she was pressing against her - hugging her! Odessa made a strangled noise - not from lack of oxygen, but from sensory overload of her crush suddenly being very touchy feely.

“I… uh… it is no trouble, truly. I look forward to you working with us.” She managed after a few minutes of finding where her voice was. She disengaged, and coughed. “Now, if you don’t mind… I must inspect the baths.” She had to siphon out the remains of the potion before anyone went in by accident-

“Would you like me to go with you, Mistress~?” Valena said with a grin. “I can help you wash~ Alllll over~ Every… little…. Bit~”

Yes she would like that very much, and Odessa nearly said as much. “I… no, noble business, I’m sorry.” She managed instead.

Valena pouted, and Odessa felt her heart leap. How was she so cute like this? “As you wish, Mistress…”

“But…” Odessa added. “You can attend me in my bedroom when I’m done. If you wish.” Had she really just said that? She had just said that.

But the newly employed maid didn’t seem to mind. “Oh~? I’ll prepare, Mistress~” she said, before walking off humming that same cheerful tune.

Odessa sighed with relief. That had ended better than she could have hoped. Valena seemed happy, she had a new maid (and… probably more, if said maid’s behavior towards her was anything to go by), and her lands had a skilled protector. Now if only she could stop turning into a blushing mess whenever Valena was anywhere close to her...