{SPOILERS} So, how did you feel about...

[Cilia]

A faction of the Dravanians (Nidhogg's brood) were trying to kill the Warrior of Light. The others encouraged peace or were apathetic to the conflict. The Ishgardians, while skeptical, did encourage seeking a peaceful solution.

We have yet to encounter a Garlean faction who prefers diplomacy to aggressive negotiations. There may be (probably are) reasonable individuals in the Empire who can be negotiated with, but we have not yet met one (who still lives). Until then, criticizing the protagonists for not engaging in diplomacy with the Empire is rather unfair.

We are also no longer at war with the Empire - for the time being, at least.

We also do not yet know if the Alliance and Scions intend to further pursue aggression against the Empire. My bet is on no. Until such a time as this happens, this is also unfair criticism.

"Selfish vengeance" should not be used when your main defense of Garlemald's blind aggression against nearly everyone they encounter is "they were pushed around before developing their magitek, so now they're getting revenge for it and improving their living conditions." If you would criticize the Alliance for hypocrisy, you would do well to avoid it yourself. We ended the fights with minimal casualties and even personally helped a Garlean soldier who had been wounded when Fordola fired on Specula Imperatoris. I don't know what more you want.

Side note: we do not have any proof that Zenos was actively working against Garlemald's interests - only that he did not care about them. It's entirely possible that he was playing into Garlemald's (Varis') plans without being aware of it. Power politics, man!