he title of Marchioness is one taken by any Se'Vikoran ruler (save for the ruler of Khal'Dorpane, who goes by Marchion), no matter their gender. The suffix of "-ess" was typically used in the early days of Se'Vikoral as a term meaning "in service to" or "subservient to". This was almost exclusively bestowed upon women, though anyone could be assigned the title.
This changed when a woman named Serala, wife of the King of Khal'Dorpane, set her eyes upon power. Her husband had fallen infirm to the point where he could no longer speak, leaving Serala as regent. She quickly organized the kingdom's levees and summoned any who would fight alongside her to her aid. Over five years, she carved a path across even the most remote regions of Se'Vikoral, establishing the dominance of Khal'Dorpane over the other kingdoms. In recompense for her mistreatment, and the mistreatment of other women, she allowed the conquered rulers of Se'Vikoral to keep their thrones on the conditions that they pledged their loyalty to her and took on the title of Marchioness, accepting their servitude to the newly strengthened throne. Her husband died soon after, leaving her as the sole inheritor of the throne.
Soon after, Serala made a deal with the newly born Empire of Elysia, securing the safety of Se'Vikoral and assistance in maintaining her power in exchange for tithes of riches and resources, delivered periodically to the Elysian Fields.