Hilarion, who has long loved Giselle, becomes suspicious of Albrecht. Although jealous, he is determined to protect her from being hurt. When a noble hunting party arrives, Giselle meets Bathilde and is charmed by her kindness. Neither woman realizes that they love the same man. During the village celebration, Giselle happily dances with Albrecht and the villagers. Concerned about her daughter's weak heart, Giselle's Mother stops her and tells the villagers an old legend about the Wilis — spirits of young women who died before their wedding day and now haunt the forest at night, forcing men to dance until they die. She fears that Giselle may also die young and become one of them. Unable to watch Giselle and Albrecht together any longer, Hilarion steps forward and reveals Albrecht's noble identity by showing his sword. He then calls Bathilde and her father, the Duke, back to the village. When Bathilde sees Albrecht, he kisses her hand, revealing their engagement before Giselle and the villagers. Giselle is devastated. The man she trusted has hidden the truth, and the kind young woman she has just met is his fiancée. Bathilde, equally heartbroken, leaves in sadness. Overwhelmed by the shock, Giselle struggles to understand what has happened. Her happy memories of Albrecht become confused with the painful truth. Her fragile heart can no longer bear the strain, and she dies. Albrecht and Hilarion are left in grief, each believing that his actions contributed to her death. Act II At midnight, the Wilis gather in the forest under the rule of their queen, Myrtha. These young women, whose lives and dreams ended before marriage, have turned their sorrow into anger and revenge. They force men who enter the forest to dance until they die. Giselle rises from her grave and joins the Wilis, just as her mother had feared. Hilarion visits Giselle's grave, carrying his guilt and sorrow. The Wilis discover him and force him to dance. Without begging for mercy, he is finally thrown toward the river. Albrecht arrives at Giselle's grave, filled with grief and regret. He now understands how deeply he loved her and how his hesitation led to her loss. When Giselle appears before him, she is no longer the fragile young woman of Act I. Freed from the weakness of her body, she has found the strength to follow her own will. She still loves Albrecht. When Myrtha and the Wilis condemn him to dance until death, Giselle stands against them without hesitation. She offers white lilies to Myrtha, pleading for Albrecht's life, and continues dancing with him, determined to protect him. As dawn breaks, the Wilis lose their power, and Albrecht survives. Giselle must return to her grave, leaving him with the memory of her love. As morning returns, two men from the village enter the forest and notice someone lying near the river. They rush to help and return with Hilarion. He is badly weakened, but still alive. Bathilde and the Duke then arrive and find Albrecht lying beside Giselle's grave. Remembering the charming young woman she met in the village, Bathilde chooses to reach out to Albrecht rather than turn away in anger. Giselle cannot return and her death remains a tragedy. Yet her love has changed those she leaves behind. Through what Giselle has left behind the village and the forest, once divided by fear and revenge, begin to find peace.