Thank you. It does help. I'll handle it like I handle everything else. One step at a time with steeled determination and a gaze that says 'I hope you fall into a meat grinder' coated with 'Yes, Ma'am' to keep suspicions low.
Don't worry. The only use for the other characters is to help the plot and bring out Merik's loving side. He can be very cold. There ate separate wings, and most of the family stays in their wings. Uhm. I don't think so.
Uhm. Its a lot, lol. There is Merik's brother, an uncle and his wife, his father and mother that live with him. However there are always vistors in the masking. Moat of the family would like her, some may not. I try to make the various characters as different as possible.
Hmm, I really couldn't see Merik doing that, but perhaps someone close, like his brother is the cheat or double agent, and its making it seem like Mario is behind it all.