Rereading since I don't really remember it, but the Emperor is a wingman but also what is keeping them apart. Like yeah he's rooting for them, but only because he wants control over Lombardi, which is why Perez isn't acting on his feelings because he doesn't want their (genuine) relationship to be ruined and turned into something political
Him becoming friends with Gino (I forgot his real name) in both lives (even if he didn't understand that they were friends in their first one) is so cute ☹ they're soulmates
Rereading since I don't really remember it, but the Emperor is a wingman but also what is keeping them apart. Like yeah he's rooting for them, but only because he wants control over Lombardi, which is why Perez isn't acting on his feelings because he doesn't want their (genuine) relationship to be ruined and turned into something political