1714 Chrysean Debutantes Ball
The inaugural Chrysean Debutantes Ball was held at the High Commissioner's Residency in the city of Chryse on the evening of 14.IX.1714 AN. The event was attended by girls aged seventeen and eighteen who had recently graduated from the Bothan Institute and other finishing schools, and were formally presented to the High Commissioner of the Free City of Chryse, Ayesha al-Osman. The girls were dressed in elegant gowns and wore their hair in the traditional style of their respective institutes. The presentation marked the girls' entry into society and allowed them to be introduced to their dancing partners - graduates of the regional Humanist Institutes, officers from the local garrison, and other men selected by the Nationalist-Humanist Future Leadership Programme.
The ball featured a variety of musical performances, including a string quartet from the Benacian Philharmonic Orchestra and a harpist from the High Commissioner's personal household. The girls performed traditional dances, such as the waltz and the minuet, with their partners. The refreshments at the ball were provided by the finest caterers in the city. Guests enjoyed a variety of hors d'oeuvres, as well as a sumptuous feast of roast meats, fruits, and pastries, all accompanied a selection of fine wines, champagne, fruit punch, and spirits.
The High Commissioner's Residency, a Verionian palatial building, provided a beautiful setting for the ball. The building's architectural features included marble columns, ornate frescoes, and a grand staircase leading to the ballroom. The ballroom itself was decorated with crystal chandeliers, gold-leafed mirrors, and plush velvet curtains.
The inaugural Debutantes Ball was reported in the Chryse Chronicle to have been a successful and elegant event, marking the formal introduction of the young ladies into Chryse society. In spite of this, One of the debutantes, Sophia de Vries, the daughter of a Batavian tribune, was caught in a compromising position with a young officer from the local garrison. The couple was discovered in a secluded alcove by a chaperone, causing a scandal that threatened to ruin Sophia's reputation. Despite attempts by her family to hush up the incident, word of the scandal quickly spread, causing a flurry of gossip and speculation among the guests at the ball.
