Jesika's coronation
Jesika felt like she was going to throw up. And she had never been known to have a weak stomach. She could barely contain her nerves as her handmaiden prepared her makeup.
Aquila sat behind her on her large bed. Jesika had requested for her to be with her while they prepped her, hoping it would help.
It didn't.
"Aren't you excited, Jes!? You're going to be a queen!" Aquila exclaimed.
Jesika shook her head, at which her handmaiden promptly scolded her. "It's just great, Aquila," Jesika responded sarcastically.
"I don't see what you're so worried about—"
"YOU DON'T SEE WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT?!" Jesika shouted, turning to look at her, once again ticking off her handmaiden.
Aquila winced. "Alright, alright. I suppose, if I was in your place, I would be freaking out just as much... Probably more," Aquila paused, leaning forward, putting her elbows on her knees, "but trust me, Jes. If there's ANYONE who can do this, it's you."
Jesika sighed, feeling some of the stress lift as she turned back to her handmaiden. "And if I can't?" Jesika asked quietly. "This is my home, Aqui. And if I was responsible for destroying home—"
"Hey. You're not doing this alone. And if you can't handle it, your Uncle Audric could always step back in. He's done it for this long."
Jesika grunted. "No. I've put this burden on him long enough. It's my kingdom to rule. And so, I will," Jesika said with a sense of finality.
Aquila grinned. "That's more like it. And don't forget. Queens need confidantes too. Darryn and I are always there to talk to."
Jesika smiled as the handmaiden stepped away. "I know. Thank you," she said.
She admired herself in the mirror, then thanked the handmaiden. The handmaiden grinned in reply.
The handmaiden moved onto her hair. She stood behind her and prepared her hands.
"What would you like me to do with your hair, Your Highness?"
Jesika cleared her throat, straightening in her chair. "Do you have a razor?"
The handmaiden frowned. "No, but I could get the royal barber in here."
Jesika stroked her hair on the right side of her head. It was long and wavy, going to her chest, silky and pitch black. Her parents used to always fawn over her hair, and it was just like her mother's.
Emotion rising up in her, she swallowed and looked up at the handmaiden through the mirror.
"I want half of my head shaved."
***
Jesika stood in the private room connected to the throne room, where all of the royal guard and staff and council members eagerly awaited her arrival. She self-consciously touched her newly shaved side of her head, feeling the coarseness of the hair that was left. She scolded herself, dropping her hand. She had made the decision and it was final.
Just as it was if she went through those doors. Suddenly a knock sounded on the door. Jesika opened it to see Audric. She smiled, quickly hugging him tight.
"Audric!"
"Jesika, honey, what are you doing? They're waiting for you!" Jesika moved away, looking into his kind eyes.
