Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-25389303-20191221164519/@comment-25389303-20191230220946

Diaboli leaned away slightly - the intensity in Zanipher's eyes catching him off-guard.

"Well...I suppose that's a valid concern. But I could say the same to you. Why should I continue to maintain your peace when you could attack me at any time? Especially now that you have the Bluthardts on my doorstep?" His gaze hardened slightly. "You know where I live. And from the sounds of it, you have allies and spies everywhere - even outside of Vale.

"And despite your recent - and dare I say it, unprecedented - expansion into Mistral, which you failed to inform me about, you question my integrity? If I had wanted to fight your allies, wouldn't I have done that a long time ago? Instead I'm sitting here, talking to you, in perhaps the most dangerous location I could possibly be."

He shifted restlessly in his seat. Zanipher may be a fan of rooftops, but he couldn't say the same. It was bland, and uncomfortable, and made him long for the soft leather chairs of his tower.

"You want to know why I didn't attack your people when I had the chance? It's because I had faith. I had faith that the peace we created would allow us to both achieve our goals, without the need for violence. That I can restore my kingdom without needing to kill everyone standing in my way."

Diaboli placed his right hand over his heart as he continued.

"I still have faith in that peace. I believe there's a future which doesn't end in one of us putting the other in the ground. And while I admit that I'm not the best friend in the world, I'm at least making an effort to keep that future alive!"

Diaboli leant forward, matching Zanipher's stare with one of his own.

"So please explain this to me, Zan. If you don't have faith in the peace you wanted, then why the hell should I?"