Because he has many older brothers and therefore doesn't stand to inherit anything; therefore he must make his fortune through business ventures and earn status by rising through the ranks of political groups.
Why is the Silent Guard silent? What secrets are they guarding?
If Maragaine was a queen, she had to have succeeded Uther, since he was Blackmoor's first monarch. While it's certainly not impossible for an older aunt to be his only heir, especially if Uther dies young, it seems more likely that she's his contemporary - for example, a cousin. Perhaps she's Erwin's older sister. Or perhaps his younger sister, and Erwin dies or is disinherited after attempting to use his money and shadowy "patriotic organization" to organize a coup.
Of course, it's not impossible for Uther's aunt to be younger than he is.
If you assume that Uther's cousins are nobles, then which canonical Blackmoor nobles are they likely to be? They're clearly members of House Andahar, so perhaps somewhere in the Heartlands. Could Baron be an Andahar? Perhaps Erwin is Zwenzen's son. Could Baron Zwenzen be a younger brother of Ra-All the Wise?
I'd be tempted to try to work in as one of Uther's family, too.
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