He wasn’t sure what to think of that little kiss to the back of his hand.  It was almost enough to draw a faint smile of amusement from him… almost, but he wasn’t intending to lose the little wager they had going.  So the stern expression stayed, Kethaias watching as the young prince took off to fetch his enchanted bird.<br/><br/>There was the question of what to do while he waited.  What should have been the obvious answer, to fully dress, was not something that occurred to him.  Although they intended to practice this dancing, Keth didn’t plan on venturing out any further into the castle, so there was no need.  He just went over some parchments that had been drawn up concerning the treaty, using his time wisely, even if he did so hate reading all that specialized, flowery jargon.<br/><br/>Keth was actually glad when the prince returned with his musical bird, because at least that was interesting.  He watched how to make the thing work, finding it fascinating.  He immediately wanted one.  Perhaps he could find one to purchase and take back home?  Sweet little Zephryn would love such a fanciful contraption, and he did so love to see the elf smile.<br/><br/>Knowing he needed new boots was a little annoying; he’d have to have softer ones made.  He had some that would have been perfect for the marble floor, but they had been left at home.  The thought had never crossed his mind that he’d need anything like that for negotiations.<br/><br/>But the irritation soon faded, his attention going into learning the waltz, his focus on Ryland’s teachings.  And the prince was a very helpful instructor.  Of course, Ryland had probably attended many events, danced with just about everyone he could, his carefree nature and open personality making him quite the social butterfly.  But Kethaias was looking deeper than just that, and he found the way that the prince moved very nice indeed.  He was a pompous little shit, but he was also poised, graceful, and really quite handsome.<br/><br/>And also devious and a little underhanded, the tickling catching him off guard.  Not that he laughed, or even cracked a smile, because Kethaias was hardly the ticklish sort.  He just grunted at the sudden offense, his brow tensing slightly.<br/><br/>“You find that hard to believe?” he asked.  “Hmm…  I understand.  Your time is swiftly running out.  You must be getting nervous.  I have a feeling you’ve never lost one of these little wagers before.”  He let his gaze take in Ryland’s form in one brief sweep, then turned toward the magical bird to further examine it.  “This really is a miraculous device.  I would ask for it as my prize, but I’m afraid I already have my sights set on something else.”