A few days after Selena and Cesare's wedding.
"Miss, I've put all the things you'll need in the carriage," Aunt Grace said to Selena as she stood looking out the window.
"Auntie," Selena said as she ran to hug Aunt Grace, the maid who had taken care of Selena since she was a child.
"It's going to be alright, Miss," Aunt Grace said soothingly to Selena.
"Really, Auntie?" asked Selena reassuringly.
"Of course, you're a strong woman," Aunt Grace explained as she stroked Selena's hair.
Selena also left the Dyke residence, and Phel, who accompanied her dear sister on her way out, could not hold back her tears.
"Sister, I'll be fine, take care of yourself, sister, and have a marchioness soon," Selena said, teasing her sister.
"Take it easy, I'll catch up with you soon," Phel replied, wiping away her tears.
"My wife," Cesare said, holding out his hand for Selena to shake.
"Thank you," Selena replied, taking her husband's hand warmly.
Phel was getting happier and happier, sure that Selena would fit in well with the Grand Duke's family. Now all Phel had to do was carry out her plan so that Cesare could ascend the throne as Crown Prince.
In a horse-drawn carriage.
"The journey will be long if you get bored, sleep during the trip so you don't get bored," Cesare told Selena.
Selena closed her eyes and enjoyed the breeze that hit her beautiful face. The sunlight made Selena's face even more radiant. Cesare's cheeks flushed as he watched his wife.
"What is wrong with me?" Cesare asked himself.
While Cesare was confused by the feelings he felt in the Crown Prince's palace, Helio looked at a gold necklace with an orange gem in the center.
"Taison, send this necklace to Isabella and tell her she must wear it to the ball!" Helio ordered his servant. "Oh yes, also tell her that this necklace has magical powers to protect her from harm," Helio continued.
"Yes, Your Highness," Taison replied, and then left for the Poli residence.
....
At the Poli residence, Isabella was seen receiving the necklace Helio had given her.
"Is it really Taison?" asked Isabella, not believing what Taison had explained.
"It is true, noble Crown Princess, the Crown Prince himself said that this object is very valuable because it has magic power," Taison explained.
Isabella's eyes lit up, she looked very happy and also felt that she had won the battle between her and Selena.
"Look at Selena, with this necklace I will shine at the party," Isabella said in her heart.
Two days before the ball at the Crown Prince's palace.
"Miss Selena, Mr. Cesare is waiting for you in the carriage," said Mili, Selena's personal maid at the Grand Duke's residence.
"Thank you, Mili," said Selena, who had just finished getting ready.
In the front yard of the Grand Duke's residence.
"Cesare, where are we going?" asked Selena as she took Cesare's hand.
"Just follow me," replied Cesare, who seemed to want to surprise Selena.
Some time later, the two of them arrived at a fashion store that was quite famous in the kingdom of Aperto.
"Cesare, this is Madame Harmonia's boutique, right?" asked Selena, confirming her view.
"That's right Selena, we're going to buy some clothes here," Cesare replied casually.
"But Cesare, I don't fit into clothes that are too fancy, you know I'd rather swing a sword than dance?" Selena wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to wear the clothes Cesare would buy her.
"Come in first," Cesare invited as he held Selena's hand. Inevitably, Selena finally obeyed Cesare and went to buy some clothes.
After shopping, the two returned to the Grand Duke's villa. On the way home, Cesare kept staring at Selena, who was looking out the window. With courage, Cesare struck up a conversation.
"Um, were you bothered by the ladies in the boutique earlier?" asked Cesare.
"Well, a little," Selena replied without looking at Cesare.
(What actually happened in the boutique.)
"Uh, isn't that Mr. Cesare? The Crown Prince's noble cousin," whispered one lady to another.
"Ah, yes, he's with his wife, Selena Van Dyke, the cold girl," replied the other.
The three ladies then began a conversation aimed at insulting Selena.
"Ahh, I heard that there is a newlywed who has a bad relationship with her husband, do you know about that rumor?" asked the lady in pink, her red lips looking tacky.
"Oh, of course, the rumor has spread everywhere, it's not someone else who said it, but someone in the family," the other lady replied.
"You're right, I'm sure that woman is just marrying the man's treasure, well who wouldn't want to marry into the royal family right? Ahh sorry, is it too obvious from my language? Ha ha ha," the red-lipped lady teased.
Cesare, who heard her, was sure that she was talking about his wife, Selena. Cesare walked slowly towards the ladies, but Selena stopped him. Selena gave a code by shaking her head so that Cesare would not respond to the ladies' rude treatment.
However, Selena unexpectedly grabbed a teapot, which was always available on the waiting table in the boutique, and spilled its contents all over the red-lipped lady.
"Ahh, sorry I didn't see you there, and again, my name is Selena Hennel Tropium, don't get me wrong again!" said Selena, who then left the lady.
Meanwhile, Cesare was stunned by Selena's unexpected behavior. "Is it okay if I deceive Helio again?" said Cesare in his heart.
(Back in the carriage)
"I wonder who is behind all these rumors," Selena asked suddenly.
"True, if you think about it, you've always been hit by bad rumors, right? But do you ever suspect anyone?" asked Cesare.
"Always? What do you mean, always? Have you been prying into my life, Mr. Cesare?" asked Selena suspiciously.
"No, I mean well... Yes, it's true that I'm looking at you, but you're my future wife first, so there's nothing wrong with that, right?" Cesare replied, stuttering.
"Pfft." Selena smiled a little.
In this moment Cesare really saw another side of Selena, he who always saw Selena as gloomy and never laughing was now finally experiencing it first hand.
"Cesare, I'm just kidding," Selena explained, who was happy to tease Cesare.
"Ha ha, of course I know you see that I can also act," Cesare replied originally.
Selena smiled at Cesare, she knew very well that Cesare had been frightened by Selena's question earlier.
And finally, both of them went home feeling relieved, relieved because they could hit back at the opponent who was gossiping about them, and relieved because they could see something beautiful (seeing Selena smile for the first time).