That sounds like a pretty neat idea.
What if the Imperial Remnant was trying to distance itself from its dark past and forge a new way forward for itself but the Knights of Ren are hellbent on retaining its autocratic nature? The IR seeking peaceful coexistence with the New Republic but the Knights of Ren are still stuck in the conquering warlike mentality of the Empire. I would take away the focus from how the New Republic is developing but let’s be honest, conflict is what drives these kinds of stories.
A society at war with itself, one half looking to build a better future dealing with its dark legacy while the other half wants to restore the Empire to its former glory.