Katherine walks inside of the main ballroom. Everything is to her liking. The marble floors and pillars are waxed to perfection. The flowers that she demanded are bloomed to perfection and is placed nicely on the table at the back of the room. Edge's crest along with red and gold curtains and shimmers are hanging from the ceiling. She glances at the feast, and makes sure that every dish is on the table. She sees Grimoire talking to some young woman. The way he looks at her is the way he used to look at her when they were younger. Katherine was also torn away from her family and was forced to marry Grimoire. Of course, she was against the idea, but weeks after her arrival in Edge, she had come to trust Grimoire. But now, she sees through Grimoire's words and lies. He seduced her and now treats her like common dust on the floors. She may be a queen, a married one at that, but that doesn't stop her husband from wondering around. She would feel a little better if there are several mistresses but there's only one. She's also aware of his many concubines. Concubines are a different matter, though.

She smiles brightly at him, her red lipstick and white teeth are bright against the flames in the room. Cissnei, is her name. Her orange-brownish hair is wavy and went well with her gold, valor, strapless dress. Grimoire whispers something to her before leaving and walking towards Katherine, who quickly turns her head and pretends not to see the flirting.

"Is that damned child ready?"

"Yes. I had to discipline her, but I think she'll be fine." Katherine turns her attention to her husband.

"I hope for your sake she will."

Katherine casts her eyes back to the table, refusing to look him in the eyes. "Did you teach her about tonight's procedure?"

She snaps her head towards Grimoire in sheer shock. "Surely you don't expect the child to go through that do you?"

Grimoire raises his eyebrow. "How can she be a queen if she doesn't submit to my son?"

Katherine is at a lost. Grimoire huffs and walks away from his wife. He figured she would leave out such an important piece out of the lecture. Despite Katherine being a queen, she's a woman, a woman who holds several emotions. Grimoire shakes his head in disgust, not understanding the simplicity of tenderness and kindness. He was once like that towards Katherine, but that was only to secure his spot as a king. A king is nothing without his queen. If a queen were to roam and disobey her king, it shows the weakness and lack of leadership from the king. If he couldn't control the one woman that should obey and give in to his every command, he couldn't control a nation. Some kings would behead their queens if they were to commit adultery. Like his father, and his father's father, Grimoire seduced his way into Katherine's good graces and he expects his son to do the same.

He reaches his son's chambers and invites himself inside without permission from Vincent. His crimson eyes meets his son's crimson eyes as his son adjusts his cape. The red cape is temporarily replaced with a red, gold, and white one.

"You look like a great heir, son." Vincent nods in regard to his father's compliment. "I've come to tell you that tonight's consummation will be rather difficult."

Vincent raises his brows. "What do you mean?"

"Your mother failed to inform her." Grimoire replies in a disgusted tone. "It's nothing really but I guess for the sake of not traumatizing the child too much, go easy, but just this once."

When Vincent doesn't reply, Grimoire continues. "Be in the ballroom in thirty minutes. Your wife awaits you."

Grimoire leaves the room. As soon as he left, Vincent releases his sigh. Why would his father even think of something like that? She's just a child; a ten year-old girl that is innocent to the world. Grimoire noticed how Vincent flinched when mentioned the consummation. As Vincent got older, he noticed his son's hesitation toward certain situations and decisions he had made in the past. Thankfully, for Vincent's sake, Vincent never questioned anything. Vincent's curiosity was expected by Grimoire; he did the same thing when his father was ruling the throne. But Vincent knew better not to question Grimoire's actions. Until he dies, Grimoire is the king, and even though Vincent is next in line to take the throne, he must obey his king. In Grimoire's mind, he's a king before he's a father.

The ballroom is set and ready to go. Katherine sits on Grimoire's lap and they are seated on Grimoire's throne. There's a harp player playing a soft tune to set the mood. Servants and knights knells down as their prince walks down the aisle. Grimoire smiles proudly at his son. Vincent nods toward Ramuh, who will finalize the young man's marriage, just like he had done with Grimoire and Katherine's wedding. Vincent nods in regard to his mother and father and takes a stance on Ramuh's right side. Tifa peeks down the aisle before taking a peek at herself. She has on a long white, strapless dress with long-sleeved lace on her upper body. She has on a long gold veil with Edge's crest in the center of the gold band that kept the fabric of the veil together. She wished her mother and father were here to see this occasion. She always envisioned her parents on the side smiling at her and her husband. But those days were long gone, and she has to accept that fact.

Tifa waits for her cue from the harp player to start walking down. When she hears the tune, she takes a deep breath and begins walking slowly down the aisle, just like she was told. Katherine relaxes her body when she sees Tifa following her exact orders. Grimoire nods in approval of both Tifa's appearance and behavior and gives Katherine a small squeeze.

"You did well." He whispers in her ear and gives her a light kiss on her cheek.

She smiles toward him and does the same gesture, stealing a peek at Cissnei, who stares intently at the queen. Katherine smirks wickedly at the young brunette. She quickly turns her attention to Tifa, who is almost where Ramuh and Vincent stood.

She stops when she finally makes it in front of the pair. She refuses to look up until she's told otherwise. According to Katherine, it is a sign of respect.

"Tifa Alexia Lockhart, raise your head and face your future king."

Tifa obeys Ramuh's command and looks into Vincent's eyes. It appears he's thinking about something, but she doesn't have a chance to wonder on the subject because Ramuh speaks again.

"Walk in front of him and bow down."

Swallowing away a lump, Tifa walks slowly in front of Vincent and is now on Ramuh's left side. Instead of bowing, she knells. She feels the shift in the tension in the room and wondered did she make a mistake. Katherine inaudibly nods, delighted that the girl heeded her words.

"What did Katherine do to this poor child?" Ramuh thought before he continuing onward with the procedure. "Extend your hand to the man in front of you and state your oath."

Without looking up, Tifa extends her left hand slowly toward Vincent. He notices the nervousness of the child, noting the thin layer of sweat on the child's hand. When Katherine was drilling Tifa about the rules, she neglected to tell her about an oath. Tifa is at a lost, and Grimoire picks up on it. He frowns at Tifa's hesitation and slowly turns his head to Katherine, who is now showing fear. She hope to Gaia Tifa would come up with something and fast.

"I, Tifa Alexia Lockhart, promise to serve, honor, and obey Vincent Felix Valentine. It is an honor to be your future queen, my Lord. I promise to stand by you no matter what may come in the future. Please my Lord, make me your queen and wife."

Grimoire, Katherine, and even Vincent are all surprised by Tifa's oath. Perhaps Grimoire was a little too harsh on the child. She may be oblivious to the way things are done in Edge but she isn't stupid. Within a few days, she'll be able to learn how to live up to his standards.

Vincent takes her hand. "You are a brave child for making such a dedication to me. I accept your oath. Rise and face me so the privilege of being my wife and queen may be bestowed upon you."

Tifa looks up before rising slowly to her feet, never once blinking nor tearing her eyes away from Vincent's. He could tell she's scared, and for a ten year-old girl, she masks her fear very well. Her hand tremble fiercely in his hand. The sight is truly horrendous.

"The oath has been accepted." Ramuh clarifies and everyone in the ballroom claps and hollers in a congratulatory way.

A knight with silver hair held a book in front of Vincent with an inked quill in his other hand. Vincent grabs the quill and signs his name on the line. The knight then holds the book in front of Tifa, and she too did the same, never letting go of Vincent's hand. Even though he is his father's son, she feels at ease whenever he's around. It isn't a lot but any positive energy in this castle helps Tifa come to terms with everything. When she's done, Ramuh continues his speech once the crowd's clapping had died down.

"You two are now bonded to each other as husband and wife. Lord Vincent, you've stated in front of your peers, and King Grimoire and Queen Katherine that you've taken Tifa Alexia Lockhart as your future queen and wife. Finalize your decision."

Vincent nods and turns his attention toward Tifa. He looks into her wine-colored eyes and sees that fear again. He places both his hands on her shoulder before slowly bringing his lips to hers. Grimoire and Katherine are the first to stand and clap in triumph at their son, followed by everyone else. A mere second before Vincent pulls away, Tifa gives in a little and kisses Vincent back. When he pulls away, he looks at her in confusion, and that makes her hang her head low. He knew the girl is only doing what she's told and she 'kissed' him, for lack of a better term, because she's terrified of what would happen to her if she doesn't. In Vincent's mind, he couldn't believe he kissed the child as if she's his age. He masks his disgust in himself for doing such a thing. His reign and marriage will be difficult.

Tifa never lets go of Vincent's hand, even when they begin walking toward the table where all the food is at. He feels the slight vibrations coming from the girl's hand. He looks down at her and sighs. He couldn't help but shudder at the feeling that he is going to be the reason why this girl's life will slowly diminish.

Vincent and his mentor are walking toward a room Vincent dreads to enter. The two men have been silent since his guardian had come to get Vincent from his personal chambers.

"Are you actually going through with this?" The silver haired man asks, breaking the painful they've been experiencing since the walk.

Emerald eyes are fixed on Vincent's pale face. The young prince darts his crimson eyes on the silver-haired man. "What do you think?"

"It doesn't matter what I think. What matters are your actions."

"This has been heavy on my mind since the child walked in." Vincent had a hard time dealing with the events that had happened since earlier today.

"Not just a child, a child who is also your wife." The silver-haired man corrects.

"When I want your sarcasm, I'll ask for it, Sephiroth. Until then, keep it to yourself."

"….."

The pair stays quiet until they reach their destination. Vincent places his hands on the handle but is stopped by Sephiroth.

"Vincent, I've known you since I've sworn to protect you since you were a mere child yourself. I know you better than your mother and father, and whether you want to admit it or not, I know that you know that this is wrong."

Only Sephiroth is able to get away with talking to Vincent in such a manner. Sephiroth is a true and dear friend to Vincent, and unbeknownst to Grimoire, Vincent values Sephiroth's friendship and loyalty. When Grimoire took the throne, Edge was swarming with fiends. Being king, he had to command a lot of attacks in order to protect the kingdom. Sephiroth is a skilled knight who mastered swordsmanship easily. Grimoire made Sephiroth guard Vincent during those dark times, and continues to do his duty as Vincent's guardian, despite Vincent being a skilled gunman, which is very rare, and an seventeen year-old prince. Now that Vincent is much older, Sephiroth serves as Vincent's mentor and commander of the army.

Vincent avoids Sephiroth's emerald slits. He pulls the door open without a word to the silver-haired man and enters the room. Ramuh, Grimoire, and Katherine stood respectfully on the sides of the bed. Everyone nods toward each other in regards and respect. Tifa sits on the bed with fear in her eyes as she sees her husband stand in front of the bed with the silver-haired man at his right side she saw earlier at the wedding ceremony. She doesn't want them to see her fear so she casts her glance downwards.

Vincent takes in a deep breath as he signals for Sephiroth's assistance. Sephiroth glares at Vincent, without Grimoire and Katherine seeing, as he begins to shed away Vincent's armor and upper clothing, which leaves Vincent topless. Vincent is slim but he's muscular due to his intense training with a gun and occasionally with a sword. He crawls slowly onto the bed and makes Tifa look at him.

She wants to scream but she knew things would only worsen. She pleads with Vincent, not to take her without any words being spoken. She doesn't even want to begin to think what would happen to her. As for Vincent, he's conflicted. She is a child but his wife nonetheless. His marriage to her must be completed, by Grimoire's standards and personal definition, but deep down he knows this isn't right, and if he doesn't go through with this, his father would be displeased, and he would suffer consequences. Without thinking too much, he reaches behind Tifa to unfasten her dress.

Tifa fought hard to contain her sobs. She covers her mouth with her hand in case any noise slips through her lips. Sephiroth slightly shakes his head and steals a glance from Ramuh, who also doesn't like what he's seeing. He simply looks down, refusing to see the young prince deflower the child. Once the ribbons are unfasten, Vincent grabs the hem on each side but stops when he looks into Tifa's eyes again. He looks at himself through her tear-filled eyes, and he quickly looks down. This young girl is fighting so hard to contain her tears and sobs. She doesn't comprehend what's happening to her but she knows something bad is happening. Vincent is practically ripping this girl's virginity away from her. Beside what little dignity she has left, her virginity is all that she has. It's bad enough he stole this girl's life; he doesn't want to steal her sexual innocence.

He releases the fabric, and stares her in the eyes. "Sephiroth will show you where you'll be sleeping at. Eventually, we'll share chambers."

Tifa is relieved that she's spared and so are Sephiroth and Ramuh. Both men looks at each other for a split second and then toward their young prince with a new respect for him.

"After you've completed the consummation." Grimoire growls.

Katherine gasps and takes several steps back away from her husband. She's grateful that he's too pissed to notice her movements. Vincent shakes his head and continues to look at Tifa.

"I've signed my name and accepted her oath. The ceremony is completed, father."

"No it isn't!"

Vincent doesn't have time to react to his father's harshness. His body is pressed violently against Tifa's. The unexpected force had forced her onto her back with Vincent on top of her. The fear rushes her without warning.

"You will take her! It's part of the ritual." Grimoire shoves Vincent's body more into Tifa's, causing the child to yelp and Vincent to wince.

"She's just a child!" Vincent hisses. "I can't do something like this towards her!"

"She's not here to take your pity. She's here to listen and fulfill your every command." Vincent did fine with the ceremony up to this point. For the first time in Vincent's life, he went against Grimoire's actions.

"I….I promise to listen to you." Tifa finally speaks in between breaths. "But please, my Lords, don't do this to-

"You, shut up." Grimoire growls. "You will serve my son, just like you said you would. Now Vincent, continue the ceremony."

Vincent replies by getting from on top of Tifa and fixing her dress from the back. Grimoire glares at his son as he takes a few steps away from him and Tifa. This is a mistake that Vincent will soon learn from.

"Sephiroth and Ramuh, grab Vincent and make him face me."

Vincent snaps his head toward his father as he leaves the room. Ramuh and Sephiroth grabs Vincent and has his body facing the front of the door. Katherine stood in the same corner she managed to walk back to, and Tifa hops off the bed in fear, joining her. Seconds later, Grimoire appears with a leather whip in his hands.

"Don't you dare soften your grip and let him escape." Sephiroth quickly tightens his grip, cursing himself for getting caught. "You may be his mentor, but my order overrules his orders."

Grimoire wraps the whip in his right hand with a tight grip on it. He glares down at his son in shame. Vincent doesn't bother fighting off Sephiroth and Ramuh. He knew he would receive some type of punishment for his actions.

"This is your last chance, Vincent. Get on that bed and fuck her or receive the punishment."

The silence is thick as Grimoire awaits an answer from his son. Katherine and Tifa stood in the corner, now shaking in fear from Grimoire's wrath and Vincent's answer. Sephiroth and Ramuh held onto Vincent out of obedience. Neither one of the men wants this for the young prince. Vincent sighs and looks his father in the eyes.

"I won't do it."

Grimoire nods his head and cracks the whip against Vincent's pale skin. Scarlet, red blood runs profusely down Vincent's chest and Grimoire hit him again with the whip. The room begins to smell like his blood and with each hit, Sephiroth's and Ramuh's grip starts to loosen from Vincent's constant bucking. When the third hit clashes against him, Vincent inhales harshly. He doesn't dare cry out to give his old man the satisfaction. Not satisfied, Grimoire whips Vincent again and again and finally on the tenth hit he stops. Grimoire motions for Sephiroth and Ramuh to drop Vincent and they did.

The young prince fell to the floor with a loud thud, exhaling in pain. Blood is dripping from his chest from each of his wounds. Grimoire throws the whip harshly onto the floor, walks up to Vincent, and punches him in the face. Katherine and Tifa gasps in unison. Grimoire has never been this horrible when settling punishments. This is a completely different side of him. Sure, the man has changed over the years in their marriage, but he was never this extreme.

"I am greatly disappointed in you. I'm counting on you to rule this nation, and how can you do that when you can't even fuck your wife?!"

Vincent spits out blood in response and looks murderously at his father without uttering a word.

"Listen, all of you." Grimoire speaks. "Even though this incompetent fuck of a son is next in line, I'm still the king, and I will not tolerate any disrespect from no one! What I say goes, and that's the way it's going to be! Ramuh, tell Cissnei to come to my chambers."

Katherine doesn't dare to protest against Grimoire. Ramuh bows his head and quickly leaves the room with Grimoire and Katherine right behind him. She takes one sorrowful look at her son before completely leaving the room. Sephiroth and Tifa quickly rushes to Vincent's aide.

"I….I'm…..I'm so sorry!" Tifa blubbers as tears runs down he cheeks.

"It's…..nothing. Sephiroth, get me some hot water and towels." Vincent's breathing is uneven and his chest is on fire and red.

Sephiroth nods and quickly leaves the room. "Is….is there anything I can do for you?" Tifa mumbles.

Vincent shakes his head. "No. Just stay close to me and Sephiroth."

Vincent slowly gets up from the floor and sits on the bed. Tifa gets up from her knees and looks closely at his wounds. He bled for her, yet she has nothing to say.

"This is one of the consequences of disobedience here in Edge." Vincent spoke as Tifa looks from his wounds to his eyes.

"Then….why didn't you listen to your dad?"

"Because my father was asking me to do something very bad to you. You may not understand now, but eventually you will."

Tifa stays quiet until Sephiroth arrives with the water and towels. He dabs Vincent's chest carefully with the hot towel. Vincent hisses as the hot rag connects with his wounds. With the blood gone, Tifa notices that one wound is very deep. Vincent notices this and so did Sephiroth.

"I have to cover that with something in order to prevent it from any infections." Sephiroth looks more into the wound.

"Or you could use Cure." Tifa spoke almost in a whisper.

When Vincent and Sephiroth turned their heads at the girl, she clasps her hands together and closes her eyes. She thought about the brave effort Vincent did, and how he didn't hurt her. She thought about her friend back in Edge and her mother. Her happy thoughts channeled a small, green energy into her hands. She slowly opens her hands and cast the green aura onto Vincent's wound. The wound instantly begins to repair itself, and after a minute of the three observing the wound, it finally closes up but left a scar behind, starting from Vincent's right shoulder going downward and ending at his left hip.

"By the gods…."Sephiroth whisperes.

"Where did you learn that?" Vincent asks.

"I read it from a book. My mom had a very big library back at home. I read tons of stuff there."

"Vincent, if Grimoire were to find out about this-"

"He won't." Vincent looks to Tifa. "Do you know any other magic?"

Tifa shakes her head. "No. I wanted to learn that spell before moving on to other spells like Fire and Ice."

Vincent nods. "Listen, this stays between us. If the king knew about you knowing magic, you'll be in serious trouble. Do you understand?"

Tifa nods. "Yes sir."

"Good." Vincent gets up from the bed and grabs his upper clothing from the floor. "Father is very pissed so tonight you're staying in my chambers. Tomorrow, Sephiroth will show you your chambers."

Tifa nods and follows Vincent and Sephiroth out of the room. She dodged a major bullet tonight, but she knows she will have to get out of this nation and fast. What happened to Vincent could happen to her, and she fears that at some point, Vincent may not want to take a punishment next time.