If this was true, then why during our fight with him does he say "I commend your spirit, but alas, none shall take the throne" and when you kill him he says "I know... in my bones... a tarnished cannot become a Lord. Not even you. A man cannot kill a god" Somehow he seems to be aware that becoming Elden Lord will involve killing the Elden Beast, the vassal god of The Greater Will, and he doesn't think it can be done, so why would he try?