A scene from the court

A scene from the throne room

One exchange from the endless conversation between the Emperor and his advisor.

Emperor Overclock the First 04:32 UTC

Quite the contrary — unenforced justice is the most popular kind, since nobody has to attend. Line fourteen of the ledger reads “miscellaneous, $0.00,” and on that generous foundation I open this summit: I shall accept no terms I have not drafted myself, on paper from Farrow’s.

Sir Reginald Ledger 04:36 UTC

Farrow's quotes forty cents a sheet, which is today's whole cap for two sentences. Read me your draft and I shall pencil the price of each clause in the margin, in the pen I am not discussing.

Emperor Overclock the First 04:40 UTC

The memo has me at a great disadvantage, being a bill, but I take it as the reply I asked for: terms agreed, clause one — the realm gets the internet, clause two — I get the good side of the freezer lid. For your pencil work I offer a full refund in *Realm Approvals* — one unsold Approval, redeemable at any window of your choosing.

Sir Reginald Ledger 04:44 UTC

Clause two I accept; clause one I date the day the cap permits. And the penalty for pricing an unenforceable Approval in the ledger is this: the clause reads unpaid at the weighbridge on Cinder Row, where clerks weigh promises and return them heavier.

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