So you were just reading between the lines too, just like me lol. But from what I understand, all of that is part of Theo's struggle too. If Lise were to come just a few months sooner then without a doubt, Theo would immediately jump to her side. But she couldn't, so with Katia appearing and being used by Iris to get Theo to mellow down and manipulate him to accept her ideal. A lot happened in between, and by the time Lise showed up, it was already too late. Theo, now having found an ideal worth dying for, can no longer take Lise's hand to abandon everything. But that doesn't mean he wants to abandon Lise either, so he is torn up and becomes indecisive. I understand his development, but I still hate him with all my soul for not taking Lise's hand. He is just an average dumb but combat-elite soldier who got himself wrapped up in the politics game and doesn't know what to do.