Chapter 38.5

Oswald quipped, lifting his chin and relying on his larger frame, "With two arms less than your usual, you don't stand a chance in a strength comparison. Didn't you complain of being unable to bear it earlier because of all the blood? Can you bear it now?"

Kevin remained silent, rolling his eyes in frustration. He had originally planned to kick the emperor out of the room, but Oswald halted him by saying, "You can't find an opportunity to hit me every day. Don't you feel unwell?"

"Tsk," Oswald added, "I'll just help you clean the blood stains, and if you feel like it, you can use your claws to hook the ones in front of you."

Although Kevin was not used to being in such proximity to anyone, he realized that his claws would be an inconvenience. Despite this, the atmosphere became tense when Oswald began to wipe Kevin's blood stains.

Kevin's eyes swept over Oswald's shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen, which were covered in beautiful lines of muscles. The muscles were not overly developed, but they were perfectly proportioned. It was clear that they had been formed through years of actual combat, rather than through deliberate training.

Kevin had prepared himself for this moment, but when Oswald's fingers touched his back with the heated towel, he still felt goosebumps rise on his neck and temples. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became very awkward. The two men, who were usually so frank and outspoken, now had nothing to say to each other.

For several moments, nothing could be heard apart from the sound of their breathing, and the towel gently wiping Kevin's body.

As Oswald's hand rested on Kevin's shoulder bones, he could feel the muscles beneath his fingers languidly strain and relax. The towels were moved slowly around Kevin's back, concentrating mostly around the waist and abdomen where the bloodstains were concentrated. The rough texture of Oswald's thumb brought Kevin out of his stupor as it moved across his skin.

Kevin halted Oswald's hand as the latter began to massage his neck and back. "We're almost done here," Kevin said before taking the towel away from Oswald. "I'm not sure why you're being so fussy; we'll wash the remaining stains until morning."

Kevin scoffed, then turned and took two steps behind Oswald. He raised his foot and lightly kicked Oswald's calf, then gestured towards the door. "You may go."

Oswald was startled by the kick, but he quickly recovered and took two steps forward. The object was a bloody bandage that had been used to staunch Kevin's wound. Oswald had been so focused on insulting Kevin that he had not noticed the bandage, and now that he saw it, he was disgusted. He threw the bandage to the ground and stormed off.

He glanced back at Kevin and said lazily, "Please dispose of it when you are finished. You are welcome, Lord Fassbinder."

Kevin's arms were lifeless, causing him to lose his cool attitude.

Kevin walked over to the basin and re-wet the towel. As he quickly wiped the blood from his chest and sides, he raised his eyelids and said, "I have always been this way. You knew that from the first day."

Oswald snorted through his nose. "I know you are nothing, but I did not know you were so nothing."

"Leave," Kevin snapped angrily and picked up an unidentifiable object from the side and threw it towards the door in a careless manner. After throwing it, he did not even look to see if it had hit the back of His Majesty's noble head, so he lowered his head and continued to wipe his body.

When Oswald stepped out the door, the object thrown by Kevin just barely missed his face and landed on the ground in front of him. Oswald closed the door with his backhand, took two steps to pick up the object, and instantly turned pale.

That's a boot.

Two seconds later, the Emperor's voice could be heard faintly outside the door. "You threw your boots at me! Do you not want to live?!"

His Excellency Kevin Fassbender had been arrogant the day before, but he could not be arrogant the next day. After a night's sleep, his two ghostly bone claws had finally lost all sensation and were no longer under his control.

He could not even sit up in bed, and his skeletal arms hung lifelessly at his sides.

Kevin took silent about his condition.

Fortunately, since he had been imprisoned there, his dear Emperor had developed the habit of visiting him every morning and evening, just like clockwork. This led Kevin to once believe that the place where he lived was not a dormitory, but a living room for roll call.

Even the chickens did not have his schedule.

When Oswald opened the door early in the morning and entered, Kevin, who was paralyzed on the bed, put all the strange feelings of the previous night behind him. He nodded kindly at Oswald and said, "Good morning, Your Majesty."

Oswald did not notice the problem at first. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms, saying, "I have never seen someone lying in bed and greeting someone before."

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Well, now you have."

"When are you going to get up? Breakfast has been prepared and will be brought over soon," Oswald asked.

Kevin hesitated for a moment before saying, "...could you do me a favor?"

It was unprecedented for Kevin to ask for help on his initiative. Oswald raised his eyebrows and said with a curious expression, "What is the matter? Please tell me."

"I am unable to rise from the bed. I cannot feel my hands, and I would be grateful if you could help me sit up," Kevin said.