The hall fell silent for a brief moment as all eyes locked on Ryan. Seraphina's challenge hung in the air, and the crowd of children waited to see what he would do. Ryan stood still, feeling the weight of their gazes, but a grin began to spread across his face.
Why should I make this a serious affair? he thought. We're still kids, after all—time to have some fun.
Ryan's lips curved into a mischievous smile as an idea struck him. "How about a little game instead of a trick?" he suggested, his eyes twinkling playfully.
Before anyone could respond, he turned toward a servant carrying a tray of pastries. "Excuse me," Ryan called out politely, "would you mind placing the plate with that tart on the floor for a moment?"
The servant blinked in confusion but complied, setting the plate with the tart down on the marble floor. The children watched curiously, their heads tilting in anticipation. Some exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unsure where this was going.
Ryan turned back to the group, his sly grin widening. "Now," he said, gesturing to the plate, "whoever can pick this up without bending their knees wins."
A murmur of curiosity spread through the group as they began to realize the challenge. Leo, tall and composed, shared a competitive glance with Julian, the young noble from the Alden family. Both stood up straighter, determination sparking in their eyes as they tried to figure out the best way to grab the pastry without breaking the rules. Nearby, Vivienne, ever the picture of elegance and poise, crossed her arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She clearly had no intention of participating but seemed intrigued by the scene unfolding before her.
"Easy!" Julian declared confidently.
Julian stretched awkwardly, his legs stiff as he tried to lower himself toward the plate. His body tilted forward in an unsteady wobble, his fingers just brushing the edge of the plate before he lost balance and nearly toppled over. The group erupted into laughter as Julian quickly straightened himself, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Next, Leo made his attempt. He approached with more caution, bending himself as low as he could while keeping his knees locked. His movements were slow, calculated, but as his hand reached closer to the plate, his legs began to wobble dangerously. He managed to brush the edge of the plate but quickly gave up, stepping back and shaking his head, a rare smile playing on his usually serious face. The group chuckled again, enjoying the lighthearted moment.
Ryan, who had been watching all of this with a knowing smile, finally stepped forward. "Let me give it a try," he said casually, though his eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief.
He moved with deliberate ease, all eyes now focused squarely on him. With a playful shrug, he strolled over to the plate, and without any hesitation, bent down smoothly and, with one swift motion, picked up the tart—using his mouth.
The room erupted into laughter once more, this time even louder than before. Ryan straightened up, the tart still held between his teeth, his eyes twinkling with amusement. The sheer ridiculousness of the gesture combined with his carefree grin made it impossible for anyone to hold back their laughter.
Even Seraphina, typically composed and reserved, let out a small, surprised laugh. Her normally calm expression softened as she watched Ryan with genuine amusement. "Well played, Ryan," she said, her smile lingering as she watched him return the tart to the tray.
Ryan winked, placing the pastry back on the tray. "Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best," he remarked, his tone light and teasing.
The rest of the children were still chuckling, the humor of the situation lingering in the air. Ryan noticed how, despite the laughter, Seraphina's eyes stayed on him a moment longer than the others. Her gaze held a hint of something more—perhaps curiosity, or something Ryan couldn't quite define yet.
The scent of sweet pastries and the soft murmur of the banquet hall provided a pleasant backdrop to the lingering amusement. As the laughter faded and the group began to disperse, Ryan found himself standing a little apart from the others. He hadn't planned it, but he and Seraphina had drifted away from the crowd, creating a pocket of space just for the two of them. The noise of the banquet hall carried on in the distance, but here, in this small corner, things felt quieter, almost intimate.
Seraphina tilted her head slightly, an amused smile still playing on her lips. Her dark hair shifted slightly over her shoulder, catching the soft light of the chandeliers overhead. "You've got quite the creative mind," she remarked, her tone still light but with an edge of playfulness.
Ryan grinned. "I aim to entertain," he replied, his tone matching hers. "Though I didn't expect a pastry trick to win the day."
Seraphina chuckled softly, her expression softening as she met his gaze. "It worked, didn't it?" she teased, her eyes glinting with amusement. There was an ease between them now, a flow of conversation that felt natural despite the formality of the event. For a brief moment, the distance between their families and stations didn't seem to matter.
Ryan shrugged, sensing something more in her words but not quite sure what it was. Before he could dwell on it, Seraphina spoke again, her voice a bit quieter now. "You're different from the others."
Ryan blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her tone. Different? he thought, unsure of how to respond. But before he could ask what she meant, Seraphina glanced back toward the rest of the group, her smile still lingering.
"We should probably rejoin them," she said lightly, though her gaze seemed to linger on him just a moment longer than necessary.
Ryan nodded, watching as she started walking away. He followed her back to the group, his mind turning over the unexpected words she'd left him with.
Interesting, he thought, a small smile forming on his lips as they rejoined the circle of nobles. This banquet just got a lot more entertaining.