He reminds her of her childhood friend who died.
Her real name is similar to his childhood friend who died.
My guess is that he is her childhood friend, and Nick lied to her about him dying. But I don't know how that fits with his nightmares about his childhood friend dying, unless it's another girl, and he named Isabella after her.
She discovered a temple in the palace, and the concubine is conspiring with the priest to reveal her true identity.
The White Lion's Secret Bride