He nods. He'll agree to the surface notion in there. "I see. Too simple and too complex all at once. There's a certain imagery conjured with 'romance'." A break where he stares at the attention poured into the instrument, as though he intends to weigh its aura and power through sight alone.

"But." He keeps considering only the lute, and Cynric's hands on it. "I suppose I'm a large believer of unconventional relationships. It is possible to have a romance outside the...norm, and to still call it such." His eyes and mouth both crinkle at their corners in what looks like amusement. "Why allow others' assumptions to dictate something you'll likely only discuss inside your own head?" Perhaps it's his own detachment that moves him to think of it as romantic. Perhaps his own feelings don't actually enter into it, and he's being contrary just for contrariness's sake.

Either or, he looks a particular subdued shade of pleased. "And to avoid being rude - shall I buy you a drink?"