[ Give her a moment to process it. Friends can go on dates, and that's fine..

But dates as a girlfriend and boyfriend suggest courtship— except she doesn't think it means becoming affianced. She thinks for a bit... ]

I know... I would never ask you to be solely devoted to me, Samatoki. That would be wrong. Back home, what is called being a "couple" meant that eventually the partners would be together. In a union or bond. That isn't what I want... especially not here. As nice as it would be...

[ She ponders it some more. ]

I do like you. Enough that I don't mind being more than just a friend. If... we did, then I wouldn't want you to not be with anyone else that made you happy too. What's important to me is that you're happy and safe. Seeing you smile makes me happy as well.

[ She'd only be sad if he ignored her, but considering her rank... ]

Most of my kind aren't usually very exclusive to one. They have a main partner, and concubines usually. They get treated just as lovingly, though, so perhaps...

[ She hopes this makes sense... ]

We could be as we are... and see how we feel later? Even if we did become more, I'd never be upset if you were with others. I'm sorry this became such a strange conversation...