>>/34309/
Oh. So that Alexander. For some reason I didn't make the connection.
Realistically portraying a human bean isn't easy, it can slide from the classical good-bad setup to bad-bad. Showing the character flaws which not just lead to the acts, but makes the person understandable, and his acts maybe even pardonable, is one thing. Beside that a human - if not psychopath, and even most real psychos aren't all dark in their every action - is capable of practicing kindness and they do quite often. Most people are inherently trusting and helpful (this is what conmen exploit to their own advantage). Even those who appear intimidating or seemingly unfriendly, that's usually just a defensive mechanism of theirs because they got hurt and they just don't want to repeat it.
Yes they capable of being coldly calculating and cruel in the execution, but this is the level of politics (like inheritance struggle) and beside that they have their private lives, and they do what they do out of necessity.
I think Druon do well in the Accursed Kings series >>/29499/ He could change my feelings toward a character by standing his deeds in different lights.