The party hours had passed quite quickly. Suddenly, his thoughts reminded himself that he had to see Yingtai. He then snuck out the door that led to the back courtyard.
After that, he found the window that led to Yingtai’s bedroom. Yingtai walked out to the veranda and put her hand on her chin.
“Ay, me!” she said as she stretched out her arms all the way.
“Damian, Damian. Why are you called Damian? There has to be another name that you bear! If you choose not to tell me, then I’ll figure another name for you…besides the fact you are a darling.”
“O, speak again, fair angel!” Damian shouted, nearly.
But then, Yingtai heard his words. She saw Damian standing near the bottom of the balcony. And she was anguished.
I am happy he is here, but I am not, since I am going to be married off tomorrow!
“Anon, good gentleman!” she said.
Damian was confused.
“But must you turn me down? I am here, just as you asked.”
Yingtai ran closer to Damian, down the stairs to the near bottom of the veranda.
“But, why have you come now?! It is all too late! My father has arranged my marriage and it is soon about to take place!”
All of this time, Damian thought he was betrothed to Yingtai, or better yet, the princess Elizabeth. But he soon realized that she was marrying off with someone else!
Yingtai, already bursting into tears, grabbed hold of Damian’s hand.
“What shall I do?! I want to marry, yet I’m frightened!”
Damian, also bursting into tears, Yingtai’s hand close to his right cheek.
“I’m afraid this means…we can never see each other again!” he whimpered, while whispering.
“I’m afraid not!” replied Yingtai.
They then sobbed into each other’s arms. And then, Damian had thought of something.
“Why don’t we just run away?”
“What?! We can not do that! We will get into severe trouble for it! You may actually be executed that time!”
There was a moment of silence.
“I have no choice but to accept the marriage. But…if it makes you happy…you may attend the ceremony, before we can part our ways. And if I don’t see you again…then my greatest wish was to be with you for all eternity. Till death do us part, let’s meet again, in the next life!”
Damian reluctantly agreed.