Ilkar was momentarily stunned by Eiravyne's response, his eyes widening as he struggled to understand the depth of her emotions.
"Then why are you crying?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion and concern.
Eiravyne looked down, her face flushed with the intensity of her feelings. "I—I... it felt—"
Ilkar waited, his silence a gentle nudge for her to find her words. He wanted to understand, to grasp the reason behind her tears, and he was patient, though visibly anxious.
"How did it feel?" he encouraged softly, though he didn't reach out to her.
Gathering her courage, Eiravyne finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper, "Too s-sweet."
Ilkar's reaction was immediate and dramatic. He stood abruptly, his face a mask of astonishment.
His palms came up to cover his mouth, a futile attempt to hide the mixture of surprise and tenderness that colored his cheeks a faint pink.