Thiiis like I feel maybe in the past previous generations when they were cursed and unloved it was because they rushed the process and forced the love instead of slowly allowing.
Tbh all he had to do was read the letter to the duke instead of burning it, he jumped to conclusions that she would refuse and if the duke heard that it would break him and he would die suffering. Or let her see that he truly is unwell, Emperor acted in his best interest just in the wrong way.
imagine if the red hair wasn’t rushing things and let it all flow, i mean both of them liked it each other already :((