Well technically the explanation lies in two out of three of the above, though no gambling was involved as far as Ienzo knows. His plan to go stand in the kitchen by himself until Bertie is close by enough to ask what exactly he's supposed to do about this thoroughly shot, he takes a seat in the chair furthest away from the chesterfield. Mostly because he's fairly certain that maintaining a respectful distance is polite in most cultures and more distance means more respect, but also because he might be a little more terrified than one of the most powerful mages in his native reality should be when faced with a decidedly nonmagical old woman.

"He's less a fool than most seem to think," he says, because experiencing the sort of fear reserved for the newly engaged upon meeting their significant other's family or not, there's only so long he can go before he feels the need to start being contrary in any given conversation.