Saying nothing, Findarato began to tidy one of the shelves behind the counter, frowning slightly. A thought had occurred to him, but a thought that was probably just a fanciful idea. Nevertheless, he wondered how he would react if it were possible.
"I see why you would be reluctant…" Findarato mused, " I probably seem like I’m intruding now, but just know that I would not tell anyone - not even Artanis - if you were to confide in me."
Findekano’s words caused him to draw back slightly. “I do not think it is right for anybody to judge someone on the basis of who they love, no matter if their chosen partner was the worst person to have ever lived." He said, quietly.
"Artanis probably knows already," Findekano replied, and this time his smile was a bit more heartfelt. No one could keep secrets from Artanis; fortunately, she wasn’t the type to go around sharing the things she was able to deduce. “No, I know you wouldn’t tell. Nonetheless…"
It was easy to make these romantic claims and say no one should judge—but Findekano was willing to bet that no one believed that about a relationship between first cousins.
"He’s not the worst person to have ever lived, though. He’s smart and thoughtful and I’m happy when I’m with him." He concluded his statement with a shrug, not wanting to seem too hopelessly lovesick (even if Findarato was, with Amarie). Anyway, maybe that would be enough to appease his cousin for now.
At that, Findarato laughed aloud. "You can never keep anything from Artanis, can you? To be honest, she’d be the perfect politician; there’s barely a secret she doesn’t know!“
He had been able to tell for the last few minutes that Findekano really didn’t want to tell him, and so Findarato decided not to push the matter further. After all, he did not want to seem as though he was interrogating his cousin!
"As long as whoever he is makes you happy, I’m happy for you,” he smiled, turning to finish cleaning a coffee mug. “And if he does, you shouldn’t care what others think. If it’s love, proper love I mean, I don’t think you should let other people deprive you of it.” And that, Findarato decided, would be his last word on the subject.