[BUG?]Combat - ordered by who?

So I move my sovie to what I think is an empty spot.  Then I get a dialog box asking if I really want to attack the Sovereign.  I say NO.  Combat happens anyway.

If he's is attacking me, why ask me if I want to attack?

If you ask, why not pay attention to my answer?

If he attacked me, why?  I'm minding my business, outside his territory, not at war.  Its a win for me because I've leveled up and he hasn't.  So in that case his AI needs some tweaking.