1)
Yes, marriage to produce heirs and keep the line going, with (publicly known and accepted) lovers on the side is the way in the Realms. Same-sex unions for "third and below" sons and daughters are fairly common, but they are almost never formal marriages UNTIL...
#Realmslore
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2)
...whoever in the family will inherit first has had three or four healthy children who've made it alive out of infancy. (Lineage is far less important to folk in society who don't own lots of land.)
#Realmslore
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