I choose to read Emmanellain as a closeted gay man who is pretending he likes women and it brings the humour of his character to a higher level for me
This quote from Laniaitte is my justification for this also:
"House Haillenarte and House Fortemps have always maintained good relations, and as such, those close in years often spend time together from an early age. I spent much of my youth playing together with Lord Emmanellain, but now... I fear he still clings too tightly to memories of our youth."
Literally the only reason he pursues her is because she is the one woman that he was close to as a kid. He's gay. You'll pry this interpretation from my cold dead hands.
It would also explain some of the tension between him and Sicard. I'm sure Sicard has sorted out that he's gay and that his over the top act is, at least in part, playing it up to cover up the fact. He wants him to stop, but mostly because he's got a crush on him (much to his own chagrin).
Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out everyone knows, but mostly plays along with Emmanellain's act figuring he'll come out whenever he's ready.
