@MurphySlaw
Part of it is that the Dad is just severely, socially awkward and doesn't know how to connect with her it seems. However there is a reason why the Dad keeps on obeying the King.
(Don't click if you don't want to be spoiled.)
"Mutual affection and many children is the true guarantee of happiness". Yet he speaks of taking on a lover AND of tossing the mother aside if she doesn't produce enough participation trophies, I mean children, for him to elevate his self worth over. Which shows pretty clearly that he doesn't...