Stats don’t matter. Aristo or helot doesn’t matter though I think it’s easier with helot. Don’t show interest in Breden.
As far as I remember, easiest way to do it is to not start as ace, don’t slap them if you go with them to Horion, do the sheep raid after Hector attacks, pull them aside privately, be sympathetic, then decisive. I don’t know if any update has changed that.