King Alfred telling Henry that he couldn't tell the princess about where he was going sounded strange, as if there was an ulterior motive to his words. However, he soon found that not to be the case.
"I can't bear the thought of my daughter worrying so much while you're away," he said. "She'll stop eating if she's upset about something but I will keep her happy while you're away."
The doting father seemed to only just realize that Henry hadn't responded yet.
"Are you surprised by this?" the king asked.
In King Alfred's life, titles were thrown around easily. Perhaps he had laid it out to someone raised as a peasant too casually.
"I-I don't know what to say, your majesty," Henry said. "I can only assure you that I will do my best to be someone you entrust with your daughter. I will never let anything bad happen to her when she's by my side."
The king stroked the greying beard on his face and he studied the knight in front of him.
