Tintentaucher

I don't get the emporer. Was he always evil? He always drowned in self pity without seeing that he did all of this to himself but he could have easily had the FL friendship and gratitude, if he had accepted that he could not make her love him. Also how can he seriously think that torturing her, killing her people and what not would make her turn to him and love him. Is he stupid? I mean he used to be bullied so he should know that only grows hate and resentment. He wasn't this unhinged in the beginning was he? I mean him killing the child successor was a red flag, since he tried to paint himself in a positiv light afterwards, but other than that he wasn't too dumb. Was it the ex empresses insense that made him crazy? Or was he always such a turd, that was corruped by finally having power? I though he was weak from the beginning but not totally insane, and actually tried to make an effort and judged his Situation pretty accurately at the beginning . I don't like characters whose actions make no sense. His logic doesnt even work for himself. If he just wanted to possess her why did he wait for her to change her mind pretty much till the end of the drama when her ever falling for him was completely out of the question given how he treated her. It would have made more sense if he just tied her to his bed and made her have his heir or something. Why this weird possesiveness and at the same time keeping a distance from the object of his desires? Like he does every horrible thing in the book but draws the line at rape? I find that hard to believe. Please somebody explain, if I missed something.