How has the land of Empis changed since Charlie's parents were overthrown in the book, Fairy Tale: A Novel?

Since Elden overthrew his parents’ reign, the land has turned gray with no sunshine. The people are cursed with a progressive disease in which their skin turns gray and hardens. Their faces, hands, and feet are deformed as a result of the disease. The people have abandoned most of the cities in this land in an attempt to avoid becoming sick.