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.  Though it was night, the scene caused quite a stir Many people gathered along the way to watch as the procession moved along. Several officials were shoved into a carriage, while the others who had been caught had cloths wrapped around their faces.  From the way the cloths were torn, it was clear they had been ripped from tablecloths and used to cover their faces.  The Sandorian spies were escorted separately, heading for the Supreme Court. Carissa had already made arrangements with Matthew to have them transferred to Randall’s custody for  Chapter 1229  questioning, with further decisions to be made afterward.  The rest of those detained were locked away in the Capital Guard headquarters‘ prison.  +25 BONUS  The prison was simple–just four walls with an entrance so low one had to bend down to get in. It hadn’t been used in a long time and hadn’t been cleaned. As soon as they entered, a musty smell hit their noses.  After the stench, there was a bone–chilling cold. The walls were cracked, with small holes letting in the wind.  All the so–called guests looked terrified. This was a fear beyond the usual dread. It was a fear that outstripped even the cold embrace of death.  In their circle, having a preference for male companionship was normal. But in the eyes of society, having such a preference meant facing harsh condemnation.  Carissa didn’t have anyone remove the cloth covering their faces. They could take them off themselves if they wanted or keep them on.  No one removed their cloths, even those who had been drinking and having fun in groups. It didn’t matter if their faces were covered now, since they had already seen each other when they were caught. The cloths were only put on when they were being taken out, so they could cover their faces if they wanted. It didn’t make a difference.  As for Gerald, he still had a cloth covering his head, sitting stiffly in the corner like a wooden statue. While others‘ eyes were visible, his entire head and upper body were covered by the cloth. Even his lower clothes and shoes were hidden, especially when he curled up.  Besides Gerald, there were a few officials and more than a dozen noble family sons present. One figure quietly approached Gerald–it was his personal guard, Cody Langley. He had fought with Carissa and had also been caught. Now, his face was covered by a cloth, leaving only his eyes visible. After searching the room, he found Gerald and settled beside him.  “Do you think we can fight our way out?” Gerald’s voice was low, trembling with panic.  “I can’t beat any of them,” Cody whispered.  Gerald’s face turned ashen. He didn’t know what awaited him, and the uncertainty was the most terrifying part.