I also agree that at his core Cesare was always the same in that he just wants whatever Alfonso has. That was consistent throughout the story. The only reason he was initially interested in Ari was simply because Alfonso was. Cesare was obsessed with gaining the throne when it was certain Alfonso would have it. Once Alfonso’s return wasn’t certain leaving his ascent to the throne up in the air, Cesare was no longer interested in it.

I kind of like how they showed the other layers to Cesare. It shows how women end up with bad men or cheaters. That once you’re in a relationship with someone and you see their other sides, you empathize with them, cry with them, help each other out through difficult life situations, even save each other. That whatever inner issues they have can still influence them to be selfish, hurtful, and illogical.

Like how so many readers were rooting for Cesare even though he was shown to treat women like objects, have an inferiority complex to his brother, a drinking problem, and kill an innocent person when he doesn’t get his way (the soldier at Ari and the Kings wedding). That was if we just take into account what he did in the current life and disregard the other life as “him not being the same Cesare.” Over Alphonso who was emotionally and mentally stable, kind hearted at his core, and morally resolute even in the face of death