XI · ISABELLE

Isabelle Baudelaire's point of view

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THE INSTANT I SAW THE COLD SWEAT IN Sir Raymond's head as he handed the letter to me, I knew something bad had happened. He was a trained Knight before being our steward. There aren't many things that can easily scare him.

So, I took him to the indoor garden.

"We are alone here," I assured him. "Now tell me, what scared you!" I held his hands in mine, noticing how shaken he was.

He gulped. "I don't know who was the person, Princess, but it was a man taller than me and with a muscle body. Around your dad's height," and dad's 184cm. "When I was looking if there was someone in the frontal garden at the entry, he came to me. All in black and the only thing I could see was his black eyes and the white line of skin around his average eyes."

Jade came closer to us and I helped him sitting down.

"He caught me totally of guard and held a dagger in my throat. Then he said that if I didn't give this letter to you, he would kill me, my family, and tell everyone about your secret!" My what?

I felt the blood being drained from my face, as I got pale. My eyes fell on the letter in my hands, with no crest on it or whatsoever. Feeling suddenly anxious, I took three steps back and opened it.

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Princess Isabelle Delannoy Baudelaire,

I confess that I was surprised to know that it was you behind all of it. But not shocked. It was a good surprised, if I'm being honest.

To think that Florea Athanasian, the writer of my favorite book series, is you of all people. It made it all easy, after all you are a woman, and seeing that you write under a male alias, it's not difficult to blackmail you at all.

After all, what can you do? You don't know me, but I know you. And I'm pretty sure you don't want everyone to learn of your secret, right, darling?

Well, I'll be straightforward with you about my reasons.

I'm your biggest fan. Of your books, I mean. I always despised you as a noble Lady. As Princess and as a Countess. That's why I know I won't feel bad for doing this later.

To put my cards right in front of you, I need you to finish your last book. I don't give a damn about the problems you may have encountered that made you not be able to publish the last volume, and neither do I care about other people not reading it. The only thing I need is for you to write the last book and give it to me.

As I'm a good person, I'll give you seven months to write a high-quality book with an amazing ending. Do whatever you need to accomplish it. Otherwise, I'll expose you to everybody, and to give you more combustible to write, I'll advise you that, if you do not do what I'm telling you, I'll kill both your siblings, your dad, and the panther you have with you.

And if you piss me off, I'll kill you as well, darling.

With anxiety,

From your reader number one!

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I felt to my knees. "You have a lighter with you?" He didn't question me, and just took it out of his pocket, then handed it to me. "Thank you," my voice was a whisper, and as I lightened it, I burned the letter to dust.

"Isabelle! What do you think you are doing?" I heard Adrien's voice but I couldn't focus on anything but the threat from the letter.

How did this person learn about my secret when I've been so careful? For Gods' sake. I'm screwed if this motherfucker leaks it to someone!

Doesn't this asshole know that he shouldn't corner a writer if he wants the book to come out already? Fuck.

Suddenly feeling nauseous, I turned around and vomited all I had eaten during the day on the grass. My body felt suddenly weak and my brother helped me get on my feet, giving me his handkerchief to clean my mouth. "What happened? What did the letter said to make you sick? You aren't one to care about those things."

I gulped. "Don't worry, Addy. I'm fine. I want to deal with this alone!"

"No. I won't let you!"

Glaring at him, I clenched my jaw, "You can't help me. I won't say a word about what was in the letter. Not even if you kneel. I'll deal with it. I'm the only one who can."

"I... Belle... Gods' damn it, don't be so stubborn. Let me help you, sister!" I could feel the urge in his voice as he held my arms, carefully, not to hurt me.

"You can't!" Or dad would put him in trouble, and I just can't let that happen. But I also can't let him know the truth, or his going to lose his mind and let my secret slip. "I'm sorry brother, but this time, I'll deal with it on my own. Trust me this time, please."

Letting go of him, I headed inside, knowing that he would probably try to get any info from our steward, but he will get nothing. After all, seeing me say this, probably made him sure that he should just shut up. Or get in trouble with me.

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After giving the warning to everyone, I got up and headed directly to my chambers, under the idea of needing to sleep. When I was actually after the secret draft of the book that I had hidden it on some tiles that were loose on the ceiling, making it a perfect place to hid whatever I wanted. Whereas, back in our territory I used to hide it inside the hidden safe behind my bedframe.

Of course, I would bring it with me. I couldn't go through the risk of any of the maids going to clean behind my bed and accidentally finding it there. Especially when they are all kin to gossip, and would absolutely spread to everyone that I'm the writer. I just can't let that happen.

Using a movable stair, I took the loose tiles out of the way and took my precious draft out of it, then I came down and sat on my bed. Making sure both my windows and doors were all closed. Only after that, I began to pass my eyes through it all.

Sigh. "I've only written about 40%, and it's not even edited yet, damn it. Now that my dad made sure to burn all of my writing tools, how the fuck am I supposed to finish this shit, edit it all, and re-write it?" I laid my back on the bed, frustrated, feeling my anger burning my eyes. "Fuck. I just can't understand how did this asshole know about this!"

On my knees, I re-read all the draft over and over again.

"How am I supposed to give the book to him? I don't know who is it, neither to whom should I give it when I'm done!" I muttered to myself. "It's a man or a woman? Royal, noble, or rich commoner? Maybe someone from the underground commerce?"

Anxiously, I passed my fingers through my hair that was already free and loose around my shoulders. Then, slowly, I put the papers back on its hidden spot. When I turned to open my windows, it was probably past midnight already.

When I looked down at myself, I realized I was still with the same dress, so I took a quick bath and changed into my night clothes. But the second I decided to sleep, my stomach growled, and I realized I was hungry because I had vomited all the food I ate when I read the threatening letter. Sighing, I jumped from my bed and put on my slippers.

Then, I headed down to the kitchen, taking advantage of the hour and the fact that everybody was sleeping now. I'll be able to eat a bunch. And drown in my bad luck.