Estinien isn't precisely a master of reading people, but he isn't hopeless at it, either. Himeka's reaction is weird - he would have expected more earnest curiosity about why it happened if she really had no substantial ideas. Beyond a curiosity about a topic so banal it's hard to imagine it would survive the trip to the Horizon.

He gives her a look that suggests he isn't convinced by that, but that he's hesitating over whether to confront her on it. There aren't many people he would just allow to lie to him if they truly preferred, but she is definitely one of them. All the same, the only reasons he can imagine for her to do that are grim.

"You haven't been made to feel... insecure about your heritage, have you?" Maybe being in a place that's mostly Hyur has harmed her somehow? Had someone said something to her?

As far as he knows, she's very proud of being an Au Ra. Had he misread her so badly, all this time?