Psellos' worries over his adopted daughter troubled him whilst preparing for withdrawal to Olympos and during his time there. They recurred as soon as he returned, finding her fiance Elpidios depraved and showing clearly that he disliked her. Psellos finally decided not to proceed with the marriage. He petitioned Theodora that the dignities conferred on Elpidios be cancelled, apart from the greatest (the position of patrikios), which he would keep in reserve for use in another betrothal. Theodora received the petition sympathetically, knowing the story, and issued a binding decree that Elpidios be demoted: other details were to be settled in court