Return of the Crowned Heiress (Felicia)
Return of the Crowned Heiress Chapter 489

Chapter 489

The mountain was steep, and climbing it at noon during the hottest part of the day was exhausting.

Felicia knew better than to rush to the top all at once. She paused periodically to rest, buying water from vending machines along the way and taking a few sips before continuing.

She had to admit that those who were well–trained were definitely different. Stanley was doing remarkably well. Despite the grueling climb, he wasn’t even out of breath. At one point, he found a sturdy tree branch and offered it to Felicia as a hiking stick.

She declined the offer.

She had never stopped training and strengthening her physical abilities. Her endurance had improved greatly, and climbing a mountain like this posed no real challenge.

By the time they reached the summit, a refreshing breeze swept over them.

Felicia first headed to the location of the old tower. The towering structure stood silently, its surface marked by the passage of time yet still majestic regardless.

A little further ahead stood the ancient tree, lush and full of life. Its branches were adorned with countless red ribbons and small wooden plaques, their varying shades a testament to how long they had been there. The plaques swayed in the wind, producing a crisp, melodious sound.

She stood beneath the tree, gazing upward for a while before speaking, “Do you see that plaque at the very top? Help me take it down.”

Stanley was momentarily stunned. This was the first time Felicia had asked him to do something specific. Without hesitation, he leaped up, using the tree branch in his hand to dislodge the plaque, which he then caught with one hand and passed to her.

Felicia flipped it over. As expected, it was the plaque she had helped Carmen hang all those years ago. The handwriting, delicate and neat, had faded slightly but was still legible, filling the entire surface with tiny words.

She remembered how Carmen had carefully shielded the plaque with her hand as she wrote with a serious expression. Felicia had teased her then, calling her greedy.

However, none of the wishes on the plaque were for Carmen herself.

Every single wish was for Felicia.

“I wish for Felicia to be happy every day and that she’ll stay safe.

“I wish for Felicia to face less hardship and that someone will cherish her more.

“I hope that everything will always go smoothly for Felicia.”

When she read the last row of words, tears welled up in Felicia’s eyes.

“Why didn’t you make a wish for yourself, you silly girl?” she asked wordlessly.

She ran her fingers over the faded handwriting, a mix of sorrow and guilt washing over her. These emotions churned within her, leaving her heart aching unbearably each time she thought about them.

Felicia closed her eyes briefly, then pulled out a small knife and carved a line of words on the back of the wooden plaque. With a quick toss, the plaque landed firmly on the highest and most visible branch of the tree.

“Let’s go,” she said, folding the knife and tucking it back into her pocket before turning to Stanley. She started walking ahead.

Stanley, curious about what Felicia had just carved, wanted to ask but didn’t dare to. Instead, he silently followed her.

On the other side of the summit was the chapel the shop owner had mentioned.

The chapel was a small one, its white walls and black tiled roof worn by the elements. The paint on the walls was peeling in places, leaving bare patches. The overall appearance was dilapidated and weathered.

Felicia ascended the steps leading to the chapel. As she reached the top, a gust of mountain wind carried with it the sound of a bell.

Simultaneously, her phone rang. Someone was calling her at that exact moment. She didn’t even glance at the screen before silencing the call.

She scanned her surroundings, trying to locate the source of the bell. The chapel, though shabby, was clean, and its surroundings were open and unobstructed. Yet she couldn’t see any bell nearby.

Unwilling to give up, she circled the area thoroughly, even rushing inside the chapel, but she found no sign of a bell.

Stanley followed closely behind her, growing increasingly bewildered as he trailed her around the chapel. Finally, he asked in confusion, “Ma’am, what exactly are you looking for?”