Nicole’s POV
The weight of the gold necklace around my neck felt heavier than it should have, a reminder that the line of queens who had come before me bore similar burdens. My heart hammered against my ribs, louder than the ceremonial drums that echoed faintly from the throne room. It felt like everything had been building up to this moment, but now that it was here, I felt like an imposter, someone unworthy of the crown waiting for me.
What if I couldn’t live up to the standards of the queens before me? What if I let everyone down? What if I was simply… not enough? The thoughts swirled like a storm in my mind, each one fueling the anxiety that constricted my chest and made it difficult to breathe. I tugged at the hem of my ceremonial robe, the richly embroidered fabric heavy and tight
