User blog comment:Doctor Ibrahim/Ask the Doc and his Family!/@comment-30441489-20161117025331/@comment-28358106-20161201045508

"Well, that's a bit of explaining. Whitemarch is the name of the realm, but it's also the name of the capital, which is an independent city-state.  The Regent Lady Adelaide Grey is the ruler of Whitemarch the city-state, and she's for all purposes a dictator.  But not in the sense you're probably thinking.  She's not a tyrant or vindictive ruler, its just that as a Demon she's been ruling Whitemarch for the last seventy years and has no intention of surrendering power.  But the people don't want her to anyway, because she represents stability and fair rule, and makes sure that everyone is represented. Her laws are harsh, but just."

"There are other provinces in the realm that are ruled by their respective holders. They're basically smaller kingdoms that are independent, but tied to the city-state through a treaty.  There is Arenesse, the forest of the Elves, Hrungnir, the Dwarven kingdom just below the capital itself, the North Ranges, which are ruled by the Centaurs, and Iveria, which is a cliffside kingdom of Harpies.  There are other provinces that aren't allied with the others, like Frossenbjan, the ice kingdom of the Ice Queen Glitrende, and others.  They aren't hostile and some are openly friendly, but they never signed the Free States Charter."