If Alcuin's appearance was such that it affected every interaction he had... he was at one extreme end or the other of beauty versus ugliness. His tendency towards casual unthinking touch was certainly a habit of beauty - with that, a touch to the hand or a kiss on the cheek would carry more weight than otherwise. A clever person would use that, get used to it, account for it in all their dealings.

Even if reason hadn't backed it, just by his voice Ignis would have been willing to believe that Alcuin was very beautiful indeed. But saying so was unlikely to go over particularly well. "I understand. I apologize for throwing you off, however unintentionally."