Dianthus knew what Asterius intended to say to her, despite how he was being so terribly shy about it.

When he came to her seemingly out of the blue to ask for help finding a book he already knew the location of as an excuse to spend time together, she knew it was because he wanted to say I need you, but hadn’t quite mustered the courage yet.

Or when they would draw together, and he would idly doodle her face not even realizing his focus had again turned towards his lady. It was his way of saying I cherish you.

And when it was dark within Elysium, and he would hold her close to his chest and press his snout against her ear, the cool metal of his nose ring creating a chill against the heat of her body. She would listen to the way his steady breathing became hot and labored, and how his hands tightly squeezed the circumference of her thighs, she knew this was his way of saying I want to spend the rest of my afterlife with you.

And yet, she wanted to hear it from his mouth as well! She wanted to know just how much her reserved and thoughtful bull-man loved her from his own lips. She did not want to push him; even if it wasn’t inappropriate, such an approach would never work with someone like Asterius who was at once stubborn and oblivious.

Perhaps, there was some way she could make things easier for her sweet bull…

As Dianthus pondered this question, idly laid within her home chambers, a sudden knock at her front door awoke her from her thoughts. Hurriedly she scrambled upwards; she hadn’t been expecting anyone. Perhaps it was an urgent message, or even…

“…Oh, Asterius! I was just thinking about you!”

“Ah…” Asterius’ cute ears twitched in the way they always did when he felt flustered. Such a small thing, but it was something Dia loved about him. “May I come in?”

“Of course! I’m not busy with anything right now- just watch your head! My home isn’t quite as large as the king’s, you know.”

Asterius nodded, and squeezed himself through the doorway. As he entered, Dianthus realized he was holding onto something, but she could not for the life of her identify what it was supposed to be.

She led him into her living quarters, where nearly every item was as pink and bright as she was. Asterius opted for sitting on the floor, worried about damaging any of her smaller furniture, and Dianthus, just to be polite, did much the same.

“Lady Dianthus…” Asterius seemed not to look directly at her, which was very easy for him to do with his tall height, even whilst seated.

“Sir Asterius…?” Dianthus leaned in closer, thinking, perhaps, that the bull would not notice. But he was always perceptive, and quick to place a gentle grip on her shoulder to keep her in place. Dianthus pouted.

“I, ahem. Have something I wish to ask of you.”

“Oh yes?”

Despite the fact that Asterius was not directly looking at his lady, he could still feel her gaze trained intensely on him. He tried at first to ignore it, but it wasn’t long before his cheeks became so reddened that it was visible even underneath his dark fur.

“I… can’t do this if you are looking at me.” Asterius gave a hard sigh, causing his nose ring to sway. “Close your eyes.”

“Hmph! Fine then!"

The bull’s hand reached out to cup her head, his thumb brushing against his cheek. Dianthus did try to open her eyes then, causing Asterius to make a grunt of displeasure. His other hand rose to greet the other side of her face, and soon Dia felt a soft pressure around herself. When she opened her eyes, she could see something but vague splotches of light through a mulberry coloured fabric; she’d been blindfolded.

”…Ah! This is what you were carrying, isn’t it? Is it really necessary…?“

"Yes. You’ll try to peek.” A snort. “You already tried to peek.”

“Well… you’re not wrong.” And yet, despite knowing Asterius was completely justified in this decision, she pouted all the same. “You know, this is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to me! Just how do you intend to make up for it, hmm?”

Asterius gave a snort in faux-apathy, clearly sensing the complete lack of malice in her voice.
“Silly,” he said, while pulling the nymph closer until she sat on his leg. His snout pressed against her neck, making her laugh sweetly. “Much too silly.”

They sat like this for some time, Asterius curled up over his lady, to the point where it was a struggle not to doze off. It was as her head finally nodded that Asterius spoke, realizing that he may be taking far longer than necessary as it was.

“Dianthus… ahem.” Asterius’ free hand reached to take one of Dia’s, thumbing over her smaller hand and the elaborate ring that she’d received from Theseus. “I am… very lucky to have met you.”

“I once wondered why the fates decided I should be placed here within Elysium after my death. I was suspicious of the king, suspicious of pleasure itself. Now I think such questions do not need an answer. Because when I am beside the king, and beside my lady Dianthus… I feel that I am where I belong. Which is why I…”

Talking so much at once was unfamiliar to Asterius, who preferred to say what he needed to in the bluntest terms and be done with it. But that would not work for the question he wanted to ask. Dianthus felt Asterius shift beneath her, as if trying (and failing) to make himself more comfortable.

Dia appreciated Asterius doing all he could to get the words out… and yet some devilish idea crept into her mind, all the same, being that she was fully aware of what he intended to ask of her. It would make things easier for him, at least.

“Lady Dianthus, will… er…”

“Asterius!” she said just a touch too loudly, making the bull jostle as if alarmed, “You really want to marry me? Really and truly?”

“Ah. Ahem. Y…yes.”

“Then I accept.”

“O-oh.”

While Asterius attempted to recover from the sudden turn of events, Dianthus leaned forward to wrap her arms around his neck.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it? It’s cute to me when you get all shy like this, though…”

“I am not cute…” Asterius huffed in response, fussy and yet unwilling to push his lady away. He reached up to untie the fabric he’d wrapped around her face, letting it fall. Dianthus blinked blearily at him before burying her face against him, finding comfort in his soft fur.

“I love you, sweet bull… did you know that?” her voice was muffled against him, but Asterius understood her all the same.

“I know. I love you as well…” As he spoke, Dianthus felt the bull slipping something onto her ring finger. An unorthodox way of going about it, she supposed, but nothing about their relationship was particularly orthodox to begin with.

“Hmph… you could say that just fine, but were so timid about proposing to me. I see how it is!” Dianthus huffed, feigning offense.

“Only because I use those words often with you…” Asterius’ snout pressed to the top of her head, then her forehead when she pulled away to look up at him. Soon she was laid against his chest, eyes closed in contentment as sleepiness once again crept over her. And Asterius, once feared for his ruthlessness, held his lady with as much gentleness as he could muster while watching her fall asleep.