Its actually a good thing to have diversity of incomes in a neighborhood rather than just “oh thats the poor neighbourhood.”

Its rumored the aldmeri dominion tries to keep the war going. Both sides are mostly made up of nords from Skyrim. The civil war helps keep the empire weak while also pitting a group known to hate elves against each other. Many stormcloaks would glady fight along with imperials if they were spilling high elf blood.

Would you rather just let the kid be at the whim of the intruder? How much sympathy should a kid be expected to give to someone who broke into his home?

This could have easily turned into a barricaded suspect with a hostage.