I'm ok with the emperor. I think it works better than "Daisy". The way I interpret it is that the emperor put the tadpole in you. Then, takes care of you while posting you to fight against the brain. But also has a conversation with you about how he used to be an adventurer before turning and about his independence from the brain is important to him. And at some point Ommelum question if his race is evolving. That for me is the key. The emperor is an evolution and, in a way, the illithid that you are becoming, the tadpole, is his "child". Or at least another like him. It is an attempt to create more independent Illithids like him. The illithid you might become won't be YOU, but the tadpole with your memories and part of your personality. A new being. I think that for the emperor, romance included, what he sees is the illithid you are supposed to become. Someone like him. In that sense, many things he says are "not lies" from his perspective. But of course he is not saying that you would be absorbed by the tadpole and no longer be you.
For me, they should have show that by taking away some choices (showing them in grey but not allowing to pick them) the more tadpoles you consume and the more illithid you have become. Since you are no longer you. But it is just my take.
emperor does hide and mislead the issue things. and, emperor does want the tadpole replace your will finally, just as his tadpole replace balduran.
but i read dnd official setting, a very few hosts can conquer their tadpoles' will and gain the control after they transfor to an illithid.
ommelum is one of the very few examples, but balduran isn't.
i think our player character can keep his will well via proper will saving throw, since our player character holds the prism and will gain the stones, which can much reduce the DC of will saving throw.
so, your player character's dialog options won't be limited, just you have to dice proper for the options.
in this light, i think emperor is too mild, since our player character don't have the reason give him the 3 stones.
and emperor ought to try hard to cheat your stones when you gain the first one.
but the embarrassed thing is -- if you counterattack him, you will loose the protection from the prism.
this is why some players suggest the protection is from the prism itself nature, we neen't and best don't have emperor as a meduim.
they suggest the original daicy -- the tadpole replaces emperor.
daicy will be much nastier and more aggressive to try dominate you if you reject her.
and your player character can counterattack/control her once you gain the first nerther stone.
