Because of Draco Roseland's scheme, Urther was heavily injured during that time and even eliminated. And yet he had been willing to consider it as nothing more but a result of him participating in the tournament.
People ended up squabbling and fighting over the chance to become a god, so King Urther counted it as nothing more than his failure to be a proper god.
However, King Urther hadn't been ready to return back to the Merfolks realm and chose to visit countless realms first since he had already left home.
And that was how he encountered Rowena's mother.
As someone from the Merfolks realm and being a prince himself, he was able to befriend her and get close to her... she was a wonderful woman.
Unfortunately, when Draco visited the elven realm when he was invited by the elven prince who joined them to Cretea, the princess fell in love with Draco instead.