Why does he want to be an emperor so bad? Does it have anything to do with his mother? Was he abused by the previous one? Did the other kingdoms killed his mother? Is it just his job? What's going on inside his head? I'm really curious. Or it was already explained and I just forgot.
His ways are scummy, but it is logical if you want to conquer, and I applaud that he doesn't make himself an exception at his "feelings-don't-matter-if-it's-for-the-empire" thing. Usually, a lot of characters (and people) like him are hypocrites and won't look at anyone's heart but their own. They'd spout how their cruel ways are logical then, suddenly do something so stupid that they could not do as there is another option while they scream "but I love her". (That makes them amusing at their own rights though.)
Still, this is too early to say since, who is to say that he wouldn't as well once he meets our heroine right? But if that day comes, I wish he'd start listening to the feelings of the people, and his own, more, take it to consideration as much as possible, and do it if the situation lets them.