Psellos, having years before adopted a daughter (Euphemia?), began to feel a true parental bond with her, having now no other child; in view of the unpredictability of life, he wanted to set her up well in the present and for the future. Thus before she reached puberty and marriageable age, he betrothed her to Elpidios, son of Ioannes Kenchres, protospatharios, a teenager twice her age [e.g. 16-8]; this was a common practice. He betrothed her not only out of general forethought, but because he was close to the emperor Konstantinos IX, and wanted to use his position to help her before a change in circumstances made this impossible. He chose Elpidios as son-in-law after researching many other aristocratic sons