Mayfly Marriage

'Mayfly marriage' is a term used in the Scarlet Empire to refer to marriages between the long-lived Dragonblooded and mortals of much shorter lifespan, most typically a wedding between an Exalted member of the Scarlet Dynasty and a mortal from the Patrician Clans. Though such unions are not temporary to the mortal, often lasting a half-century before they perish, the fact their presence shall never last more than a portion of their spouse's life leads to comparisons with the single-day lifespan of the Mayfly.

Such marriages bring advantages to both sides: the Exalt's family gaining resources and connections within institutions dominated by mortals such as the Thousand Scales, the mortal's gaining entry into the highest echelons of Realm society. But they also attract some scorn, particularly from those concerned with breeding: after all the ideal pairing is a well-bred Exalt with a well-bred Exalt, to weaken the blood for jade or politics is crass. The term 'mayfly marriage' is thus a slur of sorts, most often appearing in private gossip rather than openly deployed, for such would be a most direct insult.