Attempts at redemption require a lot more than just half-hearted apologies, and he really needs to know how low he went for someone that's supposed to become a future Emperor. Just because Melissa was full of crap as her old self doesn't mean what he did would be justified in anything other than the Korean "woman was always wrong" relationship attitude, and that was from the new-Melissa's view point which makes it clear it was still wrong as hell. Plus, you know, trying to court her new best friend right in front of her after the whole previous debacle too.
Ian has to learn that his reputation and power are a vast responsibility, and not just a standard - and that the support of the Podebrats should not be some absolute guarantee when he himself has admitted it was to be a marriage of convenience and power.