The Pairing

Come on, PERSON_NAME! It is time to meet your future spouse!

— An excited parent.

When a Lorlundian becomes 16, they are an adult and must do adult things. Part of adulthood is creating families and so parents gather they're young adults of 16 and above, during the Spring, for the Pairing.
The pairing is a love matching party of sorts, where the participants carry a Tablet (slab of slate) and a piece of chalk. If one like anothers, they simply swipe the chalk against the tablet of their chosen partner. If they accept, they must also swipe their chalk on the other person's Tablet; creating a match. However, if they decline, they just simply wipe their slate clean. This is a ritual which occurs during the week of SPRING_HOLIDAY.

History

The Pairing has been something the nobility of the Lorlundian Empire have been doing since the Start of Time. They would gather their children who were ready to come of age, and who were available for marriage, for a grand ball known as the Pairing Prom. However the pairing was something different then as to what it is now.
During the old Pairing Prom, both parents and their young adults would attend. They would enjoy a banquet of luxourious food and drink, which the young adults were allowed to drink wine. The young adults would also socialise with each other, whilst the parents discussed and made proposal deals. As the Pairing Prom was strictly for nobility, the Lords and Ladies of Lorlund would do their best to secure the future of their dynasties. This meant it was not the young adults who chose their partner, but it was their parents.
Eventually this tradition phased out, as the nobility would just betroth and marry their offspring themselves; without the cost of travelling and organising a Pairing Prom.
This was until the reign of the Emporer Prince PRINCE_NAME. It is said he was who reintroduced the tradition, however he controversally opened this tradition to the commoners.

Lorlundian Empire

Since what Lorlundians call the Start of Time, the empire once ruled the world. However, after many wars, the world is now divided into 6 realms with the Lorlundian Empire as one of them. The Empire is still a great power, especially in its trade.

The Emporer Prince's Letters

The Emporer Prince is a historical figure of great controversy. During his youth, he fell in love with a Serf; which even now is still a taboo, as this brings great dishonour to the one who would marry such a lowborn commoner. When his parents found out, the prince was sent to live with his uncle.

During his time at his Uncle's castle, the Prince often sent letters of affection to his beloved Serf who was to reply to him.

Read more about the Emperor Prince's Letters, here