Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1229

Inside, heavy breathing could be heard—panicked and unsteady.

Perhaps Gerald had never experienced such chaos in his entire life.

No matter how big the problem, he had always been able to handle it with ease.

But this? This was beyond his control.

The thought of dying here was mortifying enough, but the idea of his body being found in such a place was even worse—especially since, on the eve of the New Year, he had sternly scolded Carissa before leaving the palace.

"Come out!" Carissa shouted again, her voice sharp and commanding.

Two barefoot courtesans stepped out. The room was warm, heated by silver charcoal. Carpets cover the floor, making it easy to walk barefoot.

"Will you leave on your own, or must I escort you?" Carissa asked calmly.

The two courtesans hurried out, leaving Gerald behind the screen, trembling faintly.

Carissa grabbed the embroidered tablecloth from the tabletop and moved behind the screen, draping it over Gerald. Then, she seized his arm and said, "Let's go!"

With the tablecloth obscuring his face, Gerald stumbled as Carissa led him down the stairs. Though his head was lowered, he kept it high enough to see the path.

He was confused. Carissa couldn't have seen him, as he had hidden behind the screen beforehand and hadn't made any contact with her. But it seemed as though Carissa knew who he was, and she allowed him some dignity. As she pulled him downstairs, she didn't use much force. Instead, she was careful to support him as he stumbled.

Gerald was bundled into a carriage, separate from the others, who were all being dragged away.

His mind raced, looking for any means of escape. If he revealed his true identity, perhaps he could strike a deal with Carissa. Surely, with enough incentive, she would let him go.

But he couldn't be sure that Carissa knew who he was. With his disguise, most people wouldn't recognize him.