(Dawn before Winter Ball)

*November 30th, 1941*

*9:52 pm*

*Wright Manor*

It was the night before the Winter Ball and Anya was sitting on the couch in the living room area when she saw Calvin coming in with some tea.

"Thank you for coming over. Tomorrow is a big day for us and I just wanted you to at least spend the night with me so you could get a feel of the event or something like that," Calvin spoke to Anya with a small blush on his face while placing the two cups of tea on the table before sitting across from his friend.

"Of course, you're my friend so I'm always willing to come over if I'm not busy with school and other stuff but moving on to more important things, do you think Judith is going to have a good time? I know Emily and her grandmother are coming so things might get stressful for her.." Anya asked Calvin before blowing the small smoke from her tea and sipping it while waiting for an answer from her friend.

"Well, I don't have an honest answer. Things might go well, or things might go south but the important advice I'll give is simply not to encourage anything that might piss off Judith and especially since her grandmother will be attending. You see, her grandmother is the matriarch of the family meaning she is strict and oversees the entire family. If she felt like it, she'll disown you with nobody opposing it.." Calvin explained to Anya while gently stirring his tea with a spoon before looking up at his friend who had an intrigued yet serious expression on her face before speaking once more.

"Not surprised. I saw a portrait of her when I was with Judith and she seemed quite strict and Judith even described her as such" Anya spoke to her friend once more before sipping her tea once more while Calvin nodded in agreement, letting out a sigh in the process.

"Judith's grandmother is indeed strict. She also forced Edith, her daughter to marry Robert Miller when she was only sixteen while he was twenty, just so their families' bonds could be strengthened but it's crazy to know this, right?" Calvin explained to his friend and this revelation surprised Anya greatly as her eyes widened in surprise.

"R-Really?! That's insane. Judith's mother got married at such a young age and it was to a man clearly out of her age range as well.." Anya spoke to Calvin once more in response to what she heard while putting her hands over her mouth in surprise while Calvin nodded his head, sipping on some tea in the process.

"It is. Edith hails from the Hamilton Family. One of the most richest and powerful families in the world in terms of wealth and other such things. She was only sixteen but despite that, her mother only saw her daughter as a way to strengthen relations with the Miller Family and she achieved it by forcing Edith to marry Robert Miller.." Calvin explained to his friend even further while Anya nodded with great interest, sipping on her tea while doing so as she was intrigued to know more.

"That's honestly terrible. I would never want to force my future daughter or any of my future children into marriage, especially with someone half their age, it's disgusting, no matter how you spin the story.." Anya spoke once more to Calvin with a hint of disgust in her voice while Calvin nodded in agreement.

"It is, I'm just glad Edith and Robert are more lenient on Judith when it comes to marriage and other such things but it's just Judith's grandmother can be a bit unbearable at times and that's where you can see Judith kinda picking up on her social cues" Calvin spoke to his friend once more before chucking to himself as he got up from the couch.

"Sorry for the information dump I just wanted to let you know how things go down for Judith and her family but luckily, me and Louise's family are more relaxed so that's a good thing" Calvin spoke to his friend yet again while stretching before sitting back down, Anya on the other hand had a look of surprise after what she just heard.

"It's okay. It's really surprising to know all of this. It goes to show how much expectations are placed on Judith by some of her family and grandmother.." Anya responded once more while sipping on her tea and for a few seconds there was silence before it was interrupted by Louise entering the living room.

"Good Evening, Dear Brother and Anya. What are you two discussing about?" Louise asked her brother and friend while walking over to sit on one of the chairs located across the couch, waiting for an answer.

"Hey, we're just discussing Judith and her family, nothing too big or anything but what brings you here? I thought you were going to bed early or something" Calvin responded, turning his direction over to his sister while Anya did the same thing.

"Well, I couldn't sleep so I decided to spend some time with you and Anya before I eventually get sleepy for the night.." Louise responded while making herself comfortable on the chair while Anya and Calvin smiled back.

"That sucks but at least you're spending time with your brother and friend so that's the good thing that came out of it" Anya responded while Calvin nodded his head in agreement.

"She's right; however, I've been asking you, are you sure mom and dad are going to allow you to wear your ball dress? It's rather gothic for the event and I don't want you getting scolded by our parents or Judith's grandmother in that case" Calvin asked his sister curiously while staring at her, of course, this was met with Louise nodding in confirmation much to his surprise.

"Of course, It's not too strange as you will call it but still enough for the dress to be passable without the need of being scolded but someday, my sense of fashion will be accepted by those alike" Louise responded while placing her hand over her head and doing an overdramatic fall much to Calvin's annoyance.

"Well, I don't want you to get scolded or anything and tomorrow is going to be important for us but that's how I feel" Calvin spoke to Louise once more with a mixture of concern and annoyance while Anya began to chime in the conversation.

"I'm sure Louise is going to be okay and what's more important is if she's having a good time or not but that's my personal opinion" Anya spoke to Calvin while Lousie nodded in agreement which of course made the boy loosened up a bit.

"I guess you're right but Emily is also going to come and she can be rather passive-aggressive when it comes to things and hides it behind her little facade, at least that's what I think but I also shouldn't worry too much like you said, Anya." Calvin responded to Anya before letting out a small smile which in return, made Anya and Louise smile back.

"Oh, Emily is coming to the party. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be eventful. I can feel it in my lovely bones…" Louise spoke out before yawning to herself indicating she was tired which was followed by Anya and Calvin doing the same thing.

"Indeed, I hope that things don't turn out for the worst but I have faith that things might go well tomorrow, that I can ensure but man, I'm also getting tired for the night so who wants to call it a night?" Calvin had spoken back to his sister and Anya once more as his question was met with both girls nodding their heads in confirmation.

"I'm with you, Calvin, and I'm sure things are going to be alright. Judith knows things won't go her way with her grandmother watching so we won't have to worry about her, although Emily might be an issue if she's troublesome as Judith described her to be.." Anya responded while Calvin nodded in agreement before speaking once more.

"Yeah, Emily is just rough around the edges but she can be a sweet girl, just like Judith can be but it's just how they were raised.." Calvin spoke to Anya for the final time as the girl began to speak.

"I guess you can say that, I just hope Judith and Emily can settle their differences.." Anya responded for the final time to Calvin before she and Calvin both walked up the stairs toward their rooms.

"Who knows what tomorrow might hold but I'm just gonna allow myself to have a good time and that's what matters the most.." Anya thought to herself while waving Calvin goodnight and entering her guest room, where she remained for the rest of the night.

Tomorrow, the Winter Ball finally commences!