Chapter 263: Gemini Project in Action
Winterfell, Stark Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
With a pop sound, Domeric appeared in the area he had previously set up in Winterfell, where he had previously placed the Notice-Me-Not and Muggle-Repelling Charms, with the Mannequin disguised as Sansa at his side.
Domeric then began casting charms and spells on himself and Mannequin, one after the other: Notice-Me-Not Charm, Muggle-Repelling Charm, Quietening Charm, Disillusionment Charm, Smell Shielding Charm.
From then on, it was pretty straightforward until he reached Sansa's chambers. Domeric, with Mannequin at his side, walked as smoothly as if he owned Winterfell.
Because it was late at night, almost everyone in the castle was asleep or in their rooms anyway.
There were guards occasionally patrolling the grounds or guarding the gates, but Domeric used a confundus charm on those he needed to pass, slipping past them without them even noticing.
There was no way they could detect Domeric in the first place. But if Domeric hadn't used the Confundus Charm on them, the guards might have abandoned their posts because of the Muggle-Repelling Charm, which might have aroused suspicion later.
Domeric and Mannequin quickly arrived at the door to Sansa's chambers. Barely ten minutes had passed since they arrived at Winterfell.
"Homenum Revelio." Domeric silently cast a Human-Presence-Revealing Spell, confirming that Sansa was alone in his room.
He then used a Finite Incantatem to remove the charms he had just cast on himself and Mannequin, then unlocked Sansa's door with an Unlocking Charm. After Mannequin entered the room, Domeric also quickly entered the room and relocked the door.
Domeric turned to face the room and saw Sansa standing beside his bed. Looked like their unannounced entry had frightened her.
But when their eyes met, Sansa saw who he was and then looked relieved.
"Sansa, this is Number 19. Your temporary replacement," Domeric said, gesturing to the Mannequin.
"Temporary? Why..." Mention of replacement had raised questions in Sansa's mind, but before she could finish speaking, the Mannequin pulled down her hood, revealing her face, leaving Sansa speechless.
Domeric could understand Sansa's surprise at what she saw. After all, who wouldn't be surprised if they encountered someone who looked exactly like themselves?
Although it was more likely that the people in this world would think that the person in front of them was a Faceless Man and be afraid.
"How.." Sansa started to speak, but Domeric interrupted her. "Explanations later. Now we must finish our business and leave."
"Okay," Sansa said softly.
"Number 19, your turn," Domeric said, and the Mannequin approached Sansa and extended his hand toward her. "May I have your hand for a moment, my lady?"
Sansa glanced tentatively at Domeric, then, seeing Domeric nod, extended her hand toward Mannequin. Mannequin took Sansa's hand and lifted it to touch her forehead.
After Sansa's hand touched Mannequin's forehead, a faint light began to emanate from her forehead, and this light continued for the next five minutes. It then slowly faded and disappeared, and Mannequin released Sansa's hand.
"Everything's in order, master," Mannequin said, turning to Domeric.
"How much did you copy?" Domeric asked.
"Everything from the last week, master," Mannequin said.
"That should be enough," Domeric nodded, then turned to Sansa and continued. "I know you have a lot of questions, but please hold them until we arrive at Dreadfort."
"I understand. But will we be able to leave Winterfell easily?" Sansa asked anxiously.
"I'm sure it'll be easier than you think," Domeric said and pulled a 30-centimeter-long silver rope from his pocket. He held one end of the rope and offered the other to Sansa.
"Hold on to the rope and don't let go," Domeric said to Sansa before turning to the Mannequin and nodding at her.
Then he said, "Lord's Chamber," and Domeric and Sansa disappeared from the room.
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Dreadfort, Bolton Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
About 15 minutes after his departure, Domeric reappeared in his room at the Dreadfort. But this time, the person standing next to him wasn't a fake Sansa, but Sansa herself.
"Welcome back, my lord," Lyra said, still standing where she had been when Domeric disappeared.
"Lyra? How did you get here? Wait, where are we?" Sansa asked. Apparently, the sudden change of location had confused her a bit.
Lucky for her, the quality of Domeric's portkeys had improved after gaining the "Book of Conqueror of Space". Otherwise, Sansa would probably be emptying her stomach in the middle of Domeric's room right now.
"We're in Dreadfort now. In my room, to be exact. Lyra will answer all your questions in a minute, but first..." Domeric said, pulling something out of his bottomless pouch.
Finally, Domeric pulled a bottle of potion containing a pale blue liquid from his bottomless pouch and held it out to Sansa, saying, "...You must drink this. There's no need to be afraid. Although it tastes unpleasant, it's not harmful."
Sansa took the bottle from Domeric's hand, uncorked it, and drank it down quickly. To Sansa, Domeric was one of the people she trusted most in the world.
"Yuck… tastes disgusting," Sansa said after drinking the potion.
But what she didn't realize was that some changes were happening to her body at that moment. Before Domeric and Lyra's eyes, Sansa's auburn hair turned black and became straighter. Her eyes, unlike the usual striking blue, turned gray like Domeric's.
Sansa must have felt the eyes of the other two people in the room on her because she asked them, "What is it?"
"Check your hair. You'll understand," Domeric said.
And Sansa did as Domeric said. She grabbed a lock of her hair from behind her shoulder and brought it in front of her.
She had already sensed that it was different from normal when she touched it, but her surprise grew even greater when she saw the black hair before her eyes.
"The potion you just drank has changed your hair and eye color. You now have the characteristics of Bolton. Lyra will introduce you to the castle as my half-sister, a bastard daughter of the former Lord Roose Bolton. I'm sorry, but this was the best way for you to join the castle folk without drawing too much attention to your identity. Lyra will explain the rest to you. I must return now. I still have work to do," Domeric said and disappeared from the room with a pop sound.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.264: System Interface
Ch.265: System Features - I
Ch.266: System Features - II