To clarify:

There was no premeditated effort to establish a romantic connection. It was a mutual thing that came about spontaneously. And by the time I realized I was seriously in love, the only way out was essentially to abandon the friendship at a time when she was sorely in need of emotional support.

Incest isn't ideal, but conditionally it can be beneficial. Depending on the situation, the answer isn't always as simple as "best avoided".

I can control my behaviour to some extent. I can't decide what to feel or what she feels. For my part, I did my absolute best to prevent anything illegal from happening while still maintaining the base connection.

To summarize: I didn't romantically pursue my niece. In fact, I did quite the opposite.

I certainly did not dive head first into it.

But, on some level, it's just chemistry. When the feelings are so powerful as to be subconsciously transmitted both ways... there isn't much to be done in the way of preventative action.

If I'm going to ignore young girls because there is a potential of some mutual adoration eventually taking on some romantic context which may be socially inappropriate, I might as well just become a VirPed.

(No.)

She was my niece. I wasn't trying to fall in love with her, and I certainly wasn't trying to start a romantic relationship with her. I didn't predict this, and I don't think anyone could have reasonably predicted it.

Sometimes the path takes me by surprise. My intentions are true, but I can't predict the future.

~ Rbl