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[SeriousConcentrate]

"...If there is a way. Maybe we'll stumble across it."

[Haspen]

"Hopefully."

Oscar let out a sigh.

"I hope we will leave soon. This castle gives me... unpleasant shivers."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"I agree. But it will be a better place one day."

[Haspen]

"When you return as Queen of Durhiel and Conqueror of Exsten, hm?"

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Hopefully that day comes soon... but I understand things of this nature take time. It could take years before I reclaim my family's throne."

Diana sighed.

[Peach]

Well, now's as good as any time to bring it up. Still, for now he'd just act concerned, which wasn't far from the truth anyways.

"Why do you want to conquer Exsten? I mean, I get that they took over Durhiel and all, but two wrongs don't make a right. After Osngaria was countered in the last war, we just forgave and forgot and everything worked out fine didn't it?"

[Haspen]

Oscar looked at Kale from above. For a moment, he wanted to say something, but instead he crossed his arms on his chest and let the Princess talk.

[SeriousConcentrate]

"I suppose you haven't heard, then. Osngaria was also destroyed by Exsten, same as Durhiel. I'm certain they'll march on Uljifan soon, too, from what their king told me - assuming they haven't already started their march toward it. Our only choice is to get rid of Exsten before it takes over all the lands."

[Peach]

Kale was trying to stay calm, but this was getting a little harder.

"No, I haven't heard. In fact, I was quite unaware that a mass of land could consciously destroy another."

The man gave a sigh with closed eyes to calm himself before speaking again.

"Forgive me. This topic is a little sensitive to me. Still, the way you speak is as though the whole country has made this decision while fully aware of the facts, while in reality the only one we can be certain this holds true for is the king himself. I'm not suggesting all the armies are completely blind to their cause, but when one of your military enters battle, all they surely know is this is what your father wished. They cannot always be sure what exactly they gain from the victory or what his plans were. All the Exstens know for sure is they are doing what their king wishes of them, and they have little reason to believe  the man doesn't mean well, even if that is the truth."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"You are forgiven, but King Ansel is still a fool and I will still do whatever it takes to regain my home."

"I speak of crushing Exsten because that's what I believe it will take. The King made the mistake of sparing me for his own use; I'll not repeat it lest one of his loyalists swear revenge on Durhiel when they themselves started this war."

"And don't dare bring my father into this! He was a good man who did what he must to defend his land. He didn't raise his armies and declare war on the world just because some shady stammering 'prophet' told him that he was destined to rule it like Ansel Exsten did."

[Peach]

"I did not mean to insult your father."

"With that in mind, assuming he is the good man you claim he is, do you think he would plan as you do? Do you suppose he would kill one yet to be guilty simply to prevent the chance they decide to kill him, no matter how likely that is?"

[SeriousConcentrate]

Diana was still bristling, but closed her eyes and calmed down.

"...I don't know. No. But what else can I do? Once I end the line of Exsten - and I'll have to because I doubt their prince would not try to get his own revenge for his father's death... tell me there is no one loyal in that country to their king, that my life is assured."

[Peach]

"Unfortunately, that is the one thing I am yet to find an answer for. I do know this though. If you slay the Exsten line simply out of fear that one of that line may decide to slay you, history will see you as a tyrant, and you very well may cause yet another war. Whatever you do, you will need to trust that the people of Exsten will understand what it is you stand for, and act only when you know for sure if they don't."

[Furtuka]

After some time digging searching in the guardhouse, Tyrn eventually settled for Zayn's spare helmet, that had been tucked away in the bottom of a chest. Cradling it under his arms, he walked outside to a clear area, tranquil enough that it was hard to believe that the castle had been the site of a battle so recently.

After finding a spot he thought appropriate, Tyrn went over to a nearby tree and snapped off a piece of a branch a bit longer than a meter. It gave way easily since it appeared to have been nicked by something in the storming of the castle. After examining it for a moment he nodded with approval and planted it in the ground. Tyrn then placed the helmet atop the stick. There wasn't enough time to locate any body if it was left, so this would have to suffice.

He then kneeled in front of it, placing one hand on the ground to steady himself, and rested the other over his heart.

"Our lord in heaven, may you guide the souls of thy flock to paradise and away from those that would seek to devour them..."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"...I don't know if I care how history sees me. I just want to stop King Ansel. He's already torn apart two countries and I won't allow him to have his way with the remaining one. And helping Uljifan gives me a chance to avenge my family."

Diana sighed.

"...Even if I didn't want to see him die by my hand, I couldn't stay out of this war. His men will continue to pursue me, and either try to recapture me and force me into marriage to his son to cement his conquest of Durhiel, or they'll kill me. I have to fight. Even if you can't agree with me, you can at least understand my position."