She ran with incredible speed. It looked like she was heading for the dining hall, but after a series of twists and turns, she ended up in the garden. By the most incredible coincidence, Dorothy was wide awake in the middle of the night, sitting on a pillar along the corridor, lost in thought.
"Dorothy," she called out softly.
Dorothy immediately scrambled down and ran toward her on her chubby little legs. "Mama!"
"Shh! Be quiet. Papa is trying to catch Mama. Don't say a word. Come with Mama."
Dorothy Bancroft nodded and followed her mother to the largest river in the Imperial Palace.
The two of them sat down under the bridge, and Chloe Marshall finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Mama, I missed you so, so much," she whispered, resting her head on Chloe Marshall's shoulder.
"Mama missed you too." She hugged her daughter, her voice choked with emotion.
