"There are selectively enforced laws. Though it's more elegant to do it with torts, if for some reason you absolutely have to."

"...Is there a way to do it with torts that doesn't just work out to rich people not needing to follow the law? Not that that doesn't happen sometimes anyway, but still."

"What's a tort?"

"A tort is when something is presumptively legal - you can do it right in front of law enforcement and they will not consider it their business - but it gives whoever you did it to standing to make a legal complaint. Such that you can feel quite secure doing it with anyone where you have an understanding, but exercise more caution around strangers. But if the result of a successful complaint is going to be specifically a fine then it does result in rich people having more leeway. I'm not actually sure that's necessarily bad, if it's paid as damages to whoever they offended and the fine is substantial enough."

Seelah makes a little bit of a face. "Maybe that's fine for Abadarans. But there are things I wouldn't want anyone to do to me no matter how much money they gave me afterwards."

"Would you want them to do those things if instead they were sentenced to hard labor? A fine is not obviously worse for either of you or their moral improvement than the alternatives once we already have a situation where they have committed a tort against you."

"Well, no, but if they're rich enough they might do it if the worst that'll happen is a fine and not otherwise."

"I'm not sure if it's been implemented anywhere but I've seen the idea that fines could scale with the wealth of the aggressor."

"Huh."

"No chance you ever get a bunch of rich guys to agree to that going in the laws."

"Which might be preventing its implementation, yes. But that's something of a problem with any law with teeth that applies to the powerful."

"Hey, you're not about to catch me defending the laws we have, either!"

"If you were making all the laws, would you make any?"

"Sure, sure. No murder unless they really have it coming, no rape, no hurting little kids, that kinda thing. I'll even be generous and throw in 'no being a demon cultist' as long as you don't use it to go after anyone with horns. But if it were up to me I wouldn't let a rich guy get off easy just because he has a lot of money."

"No arguments about rich guys, but I really think 'no theft' should be on the list!"

Incidentally, the Count has now arrived, trailed by a pair of retainers and one of the Queen's men.

"Alas, I was unaware that the festivities were beginning so soon."

"Hello again."

"Hello, Select. My apologies for interrupting your conversation."

"We were just talking about how rich people should still have to follow the law the same as anyone else," Lann says helpfully.

"I see."

"Are you here solely for the celebration?" There is not a ton of it in this corner.

"My dear cousin sent word that she wished to speak to me. No doubt she intends to congratulate me on my extraordinary heroism and express her support for my future endeavors identifying the finest silk pillows in all Mendev."

"That seems improbable."

"Only the silk ones in particular?"

"I hardly intend to sully my new chambers with straw."