The Baron opened his mouth to reply. "It is—" he began, but stopped.
His brow furrowed. The words in his throat dissolved into air. "I don't get what you're saying here," he admitted finally, not being able to explain the proposal without resolving the conversation.
"Those things have been a part of noble life. We are trained to think that way. Isn't that the reason we've managed to keep our place in the Empire as it's rulers?"
The Tai Shan of House Qorhai smiled, the way an elder smiles at a student who has just asked the wrong question with earnest sincerity. "Yes," Liu said, sipping slowly from his tea. "It made us ruthless."
There was silence as the last of the sunlight poured across the curved corners of the room. Liu turned his head slightly.
"Peasants have ruthless people too. The gangs. The criminals. The Interlink Cartel. Mafias. But do you know what is the difference is between us and them?"
