content: in this hopeless state the winter passed . the snow and frost and the cold winds gradually gave place to the gentle warmth of spring . then the summer came , and the sun burned white and scorching in the heavens above and on the earth beneath , and still these faithful knights kept watch and waited . at the end of these long months they called out to the old bamboo - cutter and entreated him to have some mercy upon them and to show them the princess , but he answered only that as he was not her real father he could not insist on her obeying him against her wishes .
answer: he was not her real father .
question: why could the old man not insist on her obeying him against her wishes ?
target: why could the old man not insist on her obeying him against her wishes ?
references: why could the old man not insist on her obeying him against her wishes ?