Darath was brought to Skyrim poor and mistreated. When he found his freedom, he put his natural skills with slight of hand to good use, becoming a very highly regarded thief. Eventually he had money and power to hold over those who did him wrong in the past. Apart from moonlighting as a thief, he was a very good public figure, the epitome of cultured refinement- his own façade reinforcing a perfect cover.

He also mostly kept out of the Civil War for quite a while, though he always sided with the Empire. He finally revealed his leanings just long enough to throw the war decisively in the Empire's favor before going back to his life of thieving and settling down to accommodate his new family.