Social structure of the Dercian Empire

Nobility and Aristocracy

Patricians: These are the elite families of the Empire that have hereditary privileges such is The Astalles or The Ruxmer these families all have political influence, these families often also control the major provinces of the Empire.
Equestrians: This subcategory of the nobility, contains those citizens who are wealthy but dont have the privileges that the old families have, these wealthy families are typically involved in business, trade and finance, and many of them are also involved in the legal system, scholars, bureaucrats and the Imperial administration in general.

Military Elite:

Possess considerable power due to their military prowess and loyalty to the empire. Their support often plays a vital role in determining the ruling authority. The military elite have since the second Kingdom of Dercia were formed always been rising and falling in power but as the First unification war got underway and the Dercian armies both grew in size and numbers, the power the military enjoyed grew and some scholars have argued that the legions reached their highest levels when legions led by future Empress Krea Astalles proclaimed the Empire of Dercia 

Senate:

Holds advisory and legislative powers, when the second kingdom of Dercia was formed, the senate held almost all the power with Aelia Caecilia Astalles only holding a position of figurehead and tiebreaker during the debate but over time, the Astalles were able to collect more and more power around the kingdom had transformed into an absolute monarchy. from then on, the roles had reversed, the Senate were now the advisory body and some scholars consider the Senate to be a relic from the past.

Religious Figures:

Wield considerable spiritual influence and are often respected or feared by the populace. Their counsel and support can sway political decisions.  The Temple of Mara and its clergy are the most influential of the group in general but other temples hold influence in other areas.

Free Citizens:

Forms the economic backbone of the empire, contributing to trade, culture, and growth. Have some collective influence but are limited individually in terms of political power. The free citizens also form the majority of the recruits of the Imperial Navy.
A lot of people belonging to this group also own a lot of the small trade, like taverns, inns, and so on.

Commoners:

Form the bulk of the population but have limited political influence. They contribute to the economy and workforce but often lack significant societal power. They likewise also form the main recruiting grounds for the Imperial Legions as many see the Legions as the best chance for advancement in life and it gives a steady income and three meals every day.  

Indentured servitude:

The Empire of Dercia dont allow slavery but will in periods use prisoners of war to help rebuild destroyed villages or fields. Likewise, a form for a limited form of indentured servitude can be found in the Empire, but there have throughout history been made laws that protect the rights of the individuals and helps ensure their fair treatment, there have likewise also been placed a limit for how long a person can be in indentured service, but it vary between provinces in the empire, but is typically between five and ten years.
Indentured servitude helps provide a critical element of the economy, providing labour for various sectors such as agriculture, construction, or craftsmanship. Another way people can get out of indentured servitude is to enroll in the Imperial military but it requires that both parts in the labor arrangement agrees to it, for the person in debt it can be a dangerous way out of it but at the same time it can be the fastest way out of the servitude.