Wow, you've hit the nail on the head TT! That's exactly it! He's bad enough to do bad things without hesitation, but when confronted with the consequences of his actions, his hidden bottom line surfaces and torments him, demanding that he take responsibility.
This contradictory and chaotic moral trait is really fascinating! He might become more corrupt, but he might also become stronger and more responsible through sheer determination.
I can totally understand where you're coming from! Many times, I feel that while the plot is reasonable, it's a bit too cruel for Aris. But he needs to go through pain to gain the determination to change! Trust me, the very end of the game is a huge transformation that gives meaning to all these struggles!! (*^▽^*)