Chapter 1041

Yuder quietly maintained his brisk pace while folding the medicine wrappers. Fortunately, Inon finally lifted his head before Yuder could fold every last one.

“...Hah. Birthday. Birthday. A birthday, huh.”

“......”

Each time he repeated the word birthday, the fingertips poking out from between his crossed arms tapped against his forearm. Though he was scowling miserably, Yuder saw it as a surprisingly positive sign that Inon hadn’t told him to get lost.

“From what I’ve seen, people usually... remember what someone wants and give them that. Or they cook a nice meal.”

“I already had a meal at the Imperial Palace. As for what he might want... I’m not really sure.”

From everything Yuder had observed, what Kishiar la Orr wanted was rarely material. It was partly because he held a position where he could easily obtain anything money could buy, but it was also simply his nature—fundamentally detached from worldly desires.

Just earlier, he’d sincerely said that sharing a meal was enough to make him happy. Yuder was convinced that no material gift could please him more than that. When Yuder said so, Inon cursed again—this time muttering under his breath with twice the length as earlier—then opened his mouth again.

“Then the simplest thing would be... to think back on what you’ve received and use that as reference. Is there anything that stuck in your memory? Any birthday gift someone gave you?”

“If there was, I wouldn’t have come here.”

“...You’re seriously... You know what? No. You’re just gonna make my blood pressure spike again! Forget it. Just keep folding that crap!”

Inon ran a hand through his hair in frustration, tapping his forehead with his index finger as he fell into thought. Yuder continued steadily folding the remaining wrappers as ordered. Then, still glaring at him, Inon suddenly threw out a question.

“What if you don’t limit it to birthday gifts? Think about everything you’ve ever received from someone else—material or not. Wasn’t there anything you found particularly useful?”

“...Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of food from people around me.”

That definitely counted as useful. But something about that answer clearly didn’t sit right with Inon—his reaction exploded like a firework.

“Not stuff like that!”

“...Then I guess the first thing that comes to mind is the signet ring I was granted at the palace today. It’s engraved with my family crest.”

“That’s...!”

Inon had been about to retort with another grimace, but he suddenly tilted his head, movement halting.

“...Hmm. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever heard exactly what you were granted today. A signet ring with your family crest? Didn’t you skip creating a crest in the first place because it was a hassle? That caused quite a stir for a while in the medical unit.”

Was it really such a big deal when he’d skipped registering a crest after receiving his title? He hadn’t realized the other members had cared that much, but seeing that even Inon remembered it was a bit unexpected.

“Yeah. But apparently, the Commander went and had a crest made without telling me, then handed it over to His Majesty.”

Then the Emperor had used that crest to craft a signet ring and presented it to Yuder, announcing that his noble title would be changed to a hereditary one. Aside from Kishiar’s birthday, it had been the most memorable event of the day—a gift that felt truly special. It seemed unlikely he’d ever receive anything like it again in his life.

Yuder’s expression shifted slightly as he recalled the crest, clearly designed with careful thought and attention to his abilities.

After hearing the explanation, Inon snapped his fingers.

“There. That’s it.”

“What is? The signet ring?”

“No, you dumbass. Not that! Who told you to go make a ring?”

“Then what?”

“The first time you wanted to do something for someone else’s birthday, it was because of your damn Commander, right? So instead of thinking about others, just focus on him. He’s given you a bunch of things over the years, hasn’t he? Isn’t there something you especially liked? Even just returning one of those could count as decent payback, you know?”

Yuder wanted to say it wasn’t anything like a debt, but he held his tongue.

The things Kishiar has given me over the years...

Thinking about it, Kishiar had given him a tremendous amount since the moment Yuder joined the Cavalry. Starting with the forced appointment as his aide, the expensive jewelry when they were pretending to be lovers, and later, the luxurious outfits seamlessly offered before every party. And beyond that, there were countless furnishings that filled his room.

But what had truly stayed with Yuder weren’t the expensive gifts or the honorable position.

There were other, quieter things.

The paper flower folded for him when he was blind in the West, and the brief phrase of promise hidden within. The real flower petals that had filled his room on the day they returned to the capital—proof that Kishiar had remembered that promise.

The new scabbard crafted from a precious material that would never break, given to replace the one shattered in battle.

The handkerchief he’d smiled and handed over after Yuder beat Meghna in a duel before they left the South. The cake they’d shared while lounging in bed after everything was over.

And... though not given by the current Kishiar, there was still the most precious gift Yudrain Aile had ever received in his past life—his name.

“......”

If he didn’t limit it to visible things, the scope only widened.

He’d been taught how to live among others.

How to fight.

How to play the game.

How to be with friends and comrades.

And even deeper than that... all the sensations that seemed destined to remain with him forever were tied to Kishiar.

The sky above the Eastern region, where they once walked hand in hand.

The sound of wind like a song from atop the towering trees of the Grand Forest.

The salty, frigid scent of the sea in the South, shared between the two of them.

The whispered words exchanged in those moments.

The electric thrill of pressing their backs together and aiming at an enemy.

And the blazing, overwhelming desire that scorched his entire body.

The deep lust—deeper than he had ever believed someone could direct toward him.

All of it, things that only Kishiar could have given him.

Come to think of it... I really have received a lot.

For someone like ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ himself, who had never easily accepted anything... Kishiar had never once hesitated, always giving everything he could.

And yet...

The thought of giving even one of those things back left his mind frozen, paralyzed.

How could he possibly return even one of those profound gifts to Kishiar?

Was it even possible?

“What’s with that face? Don’t tell me there wasn’t anything he gave you that you liked?”

Inon looked at him, suspicious, almost accusing. If Yuder had said yes, Inon looked ready to storm the Commander’s office.

“No... It’s more like... there’s too much. I honestly don’t know.”

“...Really? Well, good for you, then. Damn it.”

Even though he’d said no, Inon didn’t look satisfied at all. His expression twisted like he’d just sniffed a rotting lemon.

“Then just pick one. Anything!”

“......”

“Don’t you dare ask me to pick it for you, too. I’m already way past my limit just helping you this far. If you really can’t decide, draw lots or something! Or just ask him which one meant the most to him!”

“I wasn’t planning to go that far.”

“Well, at least you’ve got some decency left.”

Inon spoke firmly, then waved his hand—dismissal. Just then, Yuder had finished folding the last of the wrappers, so he rose silently from his seat.

“Thanks for the help.”

“Ha, you better be thankful. Seriously, what would you even do without me?”

Honestly, Yuder agreed. Inon let out a long sigh and ruffled his hair roughly, looking a bit more relaxed.

“Anyway, don’t think folding medicine wrappers clears your debt. Bring me, like, ten lemons later.”

“I will.”

“Don’t be late tomorrow!”

“Got it.”

Inon followed him to the door, hand on the knob—but then stopped, struck by a thought.

“...Hey. Just saying—this whole dilemma is probably pointless. No matter what you do, that guy’s gonna clap his hands and cry with joy. Maybe the best thing to do is just go and tell him what you did here.”

Before Yuder could ask what that meant, the door slammed shut.

He was left alone in the hallway.