To that, Ignis held that gaze steadily for a moment before he let a faint grin, a light breath of a laugh surface.

"I'd certainly love to see them try," he declared. "I know I may not have quite your stature, Shane," which was a hell of a thing for a man standing at six foot even to say, "but I am a big boy, who can handle his own. One does not find themselves in the position of personal attendant to the crown prince of a nation at war without expecting to some day be used as a point of leverage."

Now, if they tried to get to Noctis to get to him to get to Shane, then he might have cause for concern, but he truly did not have enough confidence in Shane's enemies to be that....thorough. Underestimating them, perhaps, and a dangerous underestimation at that, but still...

"I might even look forward to it," he added, leaning back in his chair. "It would give me the chance to offer them a piece of my mind."

Or the flaming end of a dagger or the icy tip of his lance...

You know. Negotiation tactics.