[She gives him a long look. It's neither upset nor irate, just... thoughtful. He's an interesting person, truly. It surprises her just how much he must've been thinking about the nature of humans and merfolk and the world - maybe the universe - at large. Isn't that usually a burden for rulers and philosophers? But clearly, he enjoys this sort of debate... and a part of her does, too, a part that she wasn't born with.

Throughout their argument, she's been holding on to her personhood, not wanting to let the opinions of her ancestors mix in with hers - but she feels that that's already happened regardless, so she loosens her mental hold on attempting to keep herself centered.]

You're right. By judging the merfolk by separate standards, I'm putting them apart from humanity. But what other option is there if one kind operates on morals and the other kind on the laws of nature?

[Of course, Jade keeps gently insisting that the latter really applies for both species, but Frieda will keep pushing back against that.]

Going by what you said, a merperson would inevitably steal to survive, and a merperson would inevitably kill the one who stole from them to protect what's theirs, right? Humans always have a choice. The one who is starving can choose to steal, but also choose to ask the ones who have food or money to share - and if they are merciful, they will. The one who catches the thief can choose to kill them, but also choose to forgive them. I we continuously choose mercy, we will achieve our best nature.