He got VERY defensive at that-unusually so. His hands curled into fists
"SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
He came back downstairs a while later and saw Varian sitting on a rock, head in his hands, while Helene tried to comfort him
"...We're on different sides Helene-"
???: "But if he knew the reason-"
"It wouldn't matter. He's not going to change his mind-"
???: "You don't know that."
"Yes, I do...he's stubborn..."
???: "I...see. But-even so, you too could find a way. There's spaces outside the kingdom...places where you could just be together...you could tell him how you feel-"
"I won't. I won't....give him anymore reasons to hate me..."