Really. [with genuine interest in his tone] I was curious, because you see, this month is the Moon festival, in which my people also set lanterns afloat on the water. But our reason isn't to honor the dead, but rather to help a goddess find her way to her lover.

[it's so dumb, generally speaking, but there's a spark of romance deep down in there somewhere that appeals to him. Or maybe he's just homesick]