He had to consider this carefully. His answer would actually be truth, at least legally, considering he had the authority to declare that sort of thing binding. He walked along the long corridor, took a few more turns, a short staircase of winding steps, and let her ask questions the entire way.
Saying yes would probably ruin her life, and anyway, he was drunk. And now he was the type of sad drunk where he realized just how intoxicated he was, how much it would hurt tomorrow, and how many different ways he'd have to apologize to everyone.
"You're joking, aren't you Ithacles?"
"Yes," he stopped walking suddenly. And then he set her down on her feet. They were right beside her door, which he knocked open with the back of a hand. "Of course I was. Good evening, Captain."
And with that he turned, stumbled square into a potted plant, twisted round it, and walked off to his chamber.