The birthday party began with a soft, slightly formal air as everyone settled into their seats.
Ryan and Seria sat up straight, occasionally exchanging respectful remarks about the food's delicious aroma.
Nearby, Soren focused on keeping Ethea's plate filled, smoothly cutting pieces into manageable sizes and assisting her with her meal.
He was careful to time his actions, only raising a small piece of food to her lips when he was absolutely certain the others were looking away or deeply engaged in their own meals. He confidently believed that his subtle movements were completely going unnoticed by everyone else at the table.
Unfortunately for him, his 'stealth' was a complete failure.
The moment Soren picked up a piece of food for Ethea, Ryan suddenly found the texture of his napkin deeply fascinating and stared down at it with intense concentration.
