Laws and Rules

Any person is required to follow the orders of a member of a higher social status. The ranking from highest authority to lowest is as follows:
 * King
 * Royal Family
 * Archdukes
 * Archduke Candidates and family members
 * Sovereignty Archnobles
 * Duchy Archnobles
 * Sovereignty Mednobles
 * Duchy Mednobles
 * Sovereignty Laynobles
 * Duchy Laynobles
 * Commoners

Punishment depends on the difference in rank and the severity of the infraciton, but can very often mean death.

This should not be mistaken for the respective ranking of the duchies, since that is a matter of social norms and politics, rather than one dictated by law. An archnoble from a minor duchy disobeying an archnoble from a greater duchy will likely suffer negative consequences, but is not technically breaking the law. A Mednoble disobeying the order of an Archnoble however is and can even result in the execution of the offender, as evidenced by the medknight Shikikoza being sentenced to death for disobeying a direct order by Ferdinand.

An exception to this ranking structure are professors at the Royal Academy who always count as ranking above their current students for the duration of the term, regardless of respective ranks.

Attacks on Ivory buildings constructed from creation magic are treated in the same way as an attack directly on a member of the archduke's family.

Spoiler from Part 4 Volume 4

By decree of the Archduke, for every new book created in Ehrenfest two copies have to be delivered to the archduke's castle.

Entry into the City of Ehrenfest is only permitted to people holding citizenship in the city, children of citizens, non-conspicious commoners who can provide identification and who can write their own name and nobles with a letter of invitation from a local noble or Blue Priest.

Suspicious looking people without any identification can be turned away by the gate-guards at their own discretion.

At times this rule can be further restricted if the need arises, like when the Aub forbid entry into the city without a permit from him personally for the duration of an archduke's conference.

Any and all nobles are forbidden from entering the Ivory Tower without express permission of the archduke himself. This includes members of the archducal family. To enter without permission is considered treason.

Commoners are only permitted to enter the Noble's Quarter when acompanying a noble or when summoned by a noble and are obligated to use the commoner's entrance on the western side of the city.

Only people with a membership in or a permit from the Merchant's Guild are allowed to do business within the city-walls.

As a societal norm it is expected for women to wear their hair up once they come of age. Girls that have not yet come of age are expected to not have hairstyles with all of their hair up. Hairstyles that leave at least some of the hair hanging down freely or in braids are accepted.

This societal norm is practiced in noble and commoner society alike.

To decline or simply ignore a letter of invitation from someone with a higher status within the same profession, while not breaking any law, can still often lead to losing one's job and can even extend to family members.

For example when Myne got a letter of invitation from Corinna, a very important person within the field of fabric workers, not going could easily have resulted in Myne's mother and sister losing their job, despite all involved parties being commoners and neither Effa nor Tuuli working directly for Corinna or even being part of the invitation.