Rhys Laval's father died of illness when he was still a child. Due to his age at the time, he was handed over to his noble uncle to be raised since his father's title of Baron could only be inherited when he came of age. His uncle was a typical and successful noble: while maintaining a decent façade, he was, in fact, shameless and corrupt. He lived by the aristocratic rules of the game while using various methods to win more benefits for himself.
For example, political marriage. The young Rhys Laval was engaged to a noblewoman and was brought to live in her castle; it was a dark period of time for him, after which the noblewoman died in what was said to be an accident.
In accordance with their marriage agreement, the noblewoman's fortune was transferred to Rhys, or rather, his uncle. And as he grew older and older, the 'accidents' that happened around him became more frequent.
