Well, if it was just a romantic notion, why would it be that? Because the 19th century romanticism in Scotland specifically was about Highland warriors. A new idea was coming about that Highlanders were brave, romantic warriors rather than clannish, unruly savages.

Surely the romanticism about dicing would be something like 'The red/white dicing represents a Scottish warrior's love for Scotland' or something like that.

Maybe I'm overthinking it.