The third point of view:

"Isabella, calm down," Reina said to her fuming daughter.

"No, there's no calming down about this matter, this wasn't what we bargained for," Isabella told her.

"You two had a deal or something?" Niklaus asked, confused. He never knew his wife and daughter were now having secret meetings behind his back.

Reina sighed, rubbing her temple, "It's just girls talk,"

"Well, if you say so," Niklaus said.

"I don't like it here. It's suffocating, restricting," Isabella went on with her complaint, "It's driving me crazy. I can't even leave the palace. What do you expect me to do?"

"Survive?" Niklaus offered.

"Ugh!" Isabella growled at him, "That is not helpful at all, Niklaus,"

Ever since Niklaus shot Jean, Isabella has refused him the privilege of hearing "father" from her lips. It was her punishment for trying to go back on their deal. Hence, It was now "Niklaus" instead of "Father" till God knows when.

"No, your father is right," Reina supported her husband.

"Really?" Isabella shot her a look of disapproval.

"This is a battle of survival. You've rested in your comfort zone for too damn long, perhaps it's not entirely bad to adapt to a new element?" Reina hoped that encourages her.

Isabella glared at her, "This is not the fucking hunger games!" She worked hard at controlling her temper. Her parents were driving her crazy, who else has this kind of parents!

"Why are you even blaming me for this? I gave you an option of leaving or staying," Reina reminded her.

Isabella gasped in horror, "You wanted to leave me back home, all by myself,"

"Of course not," Reina threw her hands up, "Your daughter is impossible,"

Niklaus chuckled, "Oh, she's my daughter now?"

"Fine, our daughter," Reina conceded with a sigh, looking to Niklaus for help on how to wrap this up. Even though both father and daughter fought like cat and dog, there was still this inexplicable understanding between them.

"Behave," Niklaus told Isabella, "And I will grant you a wish once we're back?"

At once, Isabella's expression lit up nor did anyone see the sly glint in her eyes, "You will?" she asked innocently.

"Yes, I give you my word," Niklaus promised her," Now leave me and my wife alone, "

"The pleasure is mine," Isabella gladly left their room. Who even wanted to be here and watch them stare lovey-dovey at each other. Yolk! She didn't even dare to imagine it.

However, a clever smirk tugged Isabella's mouth to the side, she got what she wanted. There was no way on earth she was going to sacrifice her freedom here without gaining something in return - which she just did.

"Where have you been?" Anabelle asked as soon as she made it back into their room.

"Doing something productive," was Isabella's cryptic answer.

Isabella couldn't help but stare at her cousin lounging on her bed and shook her head sympathetically. How could she live comfortably in such a place? The palace was crawling with guards and she couldn't even leave without constant stares and questioning. Isabella hated it.

She was someone who loved freedom and naturally disliked orders. But here, she had to follow a set of rules that didn't make sense at all. Why suffer yourself to such binding ways in the name of royalty. Were humans masochists or what?

"You missed supper, it was quite a delicacy," Anabelle informed her, relishing the taste of the heavenly dish.

"I don't care, I'm not hungry," Isabella said in a dismissive tone and her cousin knew better than to press her.

Since it was night already, Isabella climbed into her bed and chatted Pedro up.

Isabella: Hi babe

Pedro: Where have you been, you missed dinner?

Isabella: Getting my compensation fee

Pedro:????

Isabella: Don't worry, it's nothing.

Pedro: If you say so then.

There was a moment of silence between them before Isabella resumed her typing

Isabella: I hate it here

Pedro: Why? It doesn't seem that bad to me. I mean, the food here is to die for.

Isabella: Ugh! You and Anabelle are the same. I mean, can't you sense it? The oppressive feeling in the air? We are all like puppets played by the puppet master.

Pedro: * sends laughing emoji *

Isabella: That is not funny at all.

Pedro: You should chill, you're just overreacting. Moreover, this is a monarchy, and please don't say these words to someone else before they think you're plotting treason against the…

A knock sounded on the door, drawing her attention.

"Come in," Anabelle said before Isabella could even react.

At once, the door opened and Mrs. Jacqueline came in.

Isabella's eyes widened with accusation, what is that woman doing here.

"Excuse me, ladies, but lights out at ten,"

"What?!!" Anabelle even shouted alongside her stunned cousin, Isabella.

"You have a lot to do tomorrow and for that, you have to rest your body on time to be efficient,"

"No, no, no," Isabella couldn't take it anymore, "Don't you dare touch that light switch…" She was still saying when darkness descended on them.

"Oh no, you didn't!" Isabella fumed and was about to climb down her bed to give that woman a piece of her angry mind when the door closed, Jacqueline left.

Isabella began to laugh, like laugh hysterically to the point Anabelle became scared that Jacqueline's actions might have broken her dear cousin.

"Isabella, you're scaring me," Anabelle pleaded.

"You should be scared because I'm pissed! Pissed beyond my fucking mind!" her chest heaved.

At once, Isabella called Pedro and he picked at the first ring.

"Calm me down!" she ordered.

Isabella was losing count of the many reasons she shouldn't let loose her inner beast.

"Look out the window," Pedro said.

Isabella rolled her eyes, "That is not helping me at all,"

"Just look out the window, drama queen,"

Isabella's brows furrowed, her senses beginning to function once again amid the cloud of anger. Could it be…..

At once, Isabella went over to the window area and opened the large casement window only to sight Pedro outside. Her heart leaped for joy and a smile crossed her face, she forgot all about the incident instantly.

"What are you-!" Isabella was about to say to him when Pedro made a silencing gesture and she understood the situation instantly. They might get discovered.

So they just stared at each other, communicating their feelings for each other through their loving tender gazes.

Suddenly, Pedro made a circular gesture around his heart and then used his palm to form the shape of love, before sending it to her.

Isabella giggled at his foolishness yet found herself returning the gesture.

"Hey, who's there?!" a guard suddenly shone a torchlight in Pedro's way.

"Got to go. Love you. Sleep tight," Pedro hurriedly blew a kiss to her before fleeing while Isabella shut the window, leaned against it, and began to giggle to herself. She has finally lost her mind.

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