[Emery has also considered the possibility, but Calanthe doesn’t seem to have recognized Zel, so he’s come up with the perfect excuse for them to be chatting:]

Just pretend that I’m a very attractive stranger who decided to interfere in your business.

[Raising his voice to a bit above the murmur he’s been speaking in, Emery continues.]

So you just arrived in town too, huh? How are you finding the place so far?