[There's a moment's pause as she considers the question... before nodding with a shrug.]

In part, yes. ... He made a promise to me, once. Told me I was not allowed to think that returning to my kingdom was an impossibility, because he was going to make sure that I would be able to, once he found a way.

[That familiar, sad smile crosses her features then, as she looks down and fiddles with her fingers a bit rather than make eye contact.]

I cannot be sure he even remembers that he made it, anymore - so much has happened since then. [Like the whole... aging backwards thing.] But when he made that promise I also saw that he is capable of being better than he acts, even outside of my own benefit of such a thing. He just... does not want to be, for reasons I do not know.

[why is your child so difficult jakob she doesn't understand]