Why did the soldier leave on the 99th day?

[RSK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSK

Once upon a time a king gave a feast and there were all the most beautiful princesses of the realm. Basta, one of the guards, saw the king's daughter: she was the loveliest of all! And he immediately fell in love with her. But what could a poor soldier do compared with a king's daughter?!...One day he managed to meet her and told her he couldn't live without her. The princess was so struck by the depth of his feeling that she said to the soldier 'If you will wait a hundred days and a hundred nights beneath my balcony, then in the end I'll be yours.' Christ, the soldier ran off there and waited! One day, two days, ten, twenty...Every night she looked out of her window, but he never budged. Come rain, wind, snow, never budged! The birds shat on him and the bees ate him alive! After ninety nights he was gaunt and pale and tears streamed from his eyes but he couldn't hold them back. He didn't even have the strength to sleep any more. The princess kept watch...And on the ninety-ninth night, the soldier got up, picked up his chair and left!

Why did the soldier leave on the 99th day?

I posted this thread months ago in the Love Story section. I've read responses, and was never satisfied with any answer.

Yesterday, someone posted what I think is the BEST answer. Here it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUSEicOfTheSoul

because he has proved his love for her, but now the ball is in her court.... see, loving someone is one thing, but being loved by them is another. She now knew he loved her. He needed to know she loved him. If he stayed one more day, she might have married him out of obligation. and that wasn't what he wanted.

LOVING SOMEONE IS ONE THING, BUT BEING LOVED BY THEM IS ANOTHER