Psellos' trial to annul the engagement of Elpidios Kenchres took place before four office-holders: the protasekretis, the epi ton kriseon, the nomophylax and the skribas. Psellos wrote the hypomnema of the trial himself: though he lost the verdict, he gained what he wanted. Elpidios was advised by Ioannes Kordakas. Though unhappy discussing this in public, Psellos told the story of his own generosity and Elpidios' ingratitude and insensitivity, with four credible witnesses: Euphrosynos Xerites, mystographos and Gabriel Xerites, thesmographos testified that Elpidios disliked Psellos and his daughter, and refused to live by Psellos' instructions, choosing a very different way of life; Michael, thesmographos and exarchos of the vestopratai supported the other testimony, adding that Elpidios was ungrateful, shameless and headstrong, and unwilling to submit to Psellos; and Theodoros Myralides, hypatos testified that Elpidios was obstinate and showed loathing for Psellos and his daughter. This testimony supported the petition sent to Theodora, the basis for her decision in the case, and blackened the character of Elpidios. But Psellos had not shown the betrothal should be annulled. So the court offered a choice: either add more evidence to justify annulment, or pay a fine of 15 litrai to break the betrothal. He quickly chose the fine,having already washed too much dirty linen in public. Despite the fine, other details of the annulment satisfied everybody but Elpidios, as a result of the firmness and clarity of Theodoras initial judgement