#I was half crying reading Palatine Phoenix and just wanted to indulge-

[yuzu-kiku]

(FC: Angell from Path to Nowhere; art by rythron4)

Name: Ruozhen "Rozen" Baili

Fulgrim's first wife. Her clan was part of the nomadic tribes that made its home in Chemos' rundown factory-cities, one more agreeable to the coming changes in leadership. In exchange for a position of power in Fulgrim's new empire, they helped him to rebuild their territory into a city under his leadership. To ensure their alliance, they also gave the clan leader's daughter to Fulgrim as his wife in a political marriage- the first of many.

Rozen was not happy. She had not intended to marry, wanting to carve out her own path in life. As such, she treated her new husband coldly, bitter about the life she was forced into. In truth, she didn't hate Fulgrim; she respected him greatly for what he was trying to accomplish, but she simply could not bring herself to be affectionate with the man that her family forced her to marry.

She refused to be treated as some sort of trophy and requested to take on some of his work in rebuilding the city and factories. Her intellect and talent for commerce made her respected in the political sphere, as well as by Fulgrim himself. They settled into a relationship akin to business partners during their first year together.

Their relationship deepened as they inevitably spent time with each other. While Rozen was never able to admit it, her respect for her husband had turned into affection. While Fulgrim had never pushed for the same kind of love that a married couple shared, he still treated her well. She slowly opened her heart to him- though not verbally, as her pride didn't allow for admitting it outright.

Their time, however, was cut short. Only five years into their marriage, she fell sick: a hereditary disease, for which there was not yet a cure. Her traditional and superstitious family claimed it was a curse, for she hadn't borne Fulgrim's children during their marriage; it would be something spoken of with shame until it was revealed that Primarchs were unable to have children in the first place.

Before Rozen passed away, she would confess to Fulgrim that she regretted not being able to see him fulfill his dream of a better, united Chemos. She may not have said outright that she loved him, but she knew he would understand the meaning behind her words regardless.

The Baili name is still prominent in Chemos as nobility. While the clan is far removed from their roots, they would keep certain traditions of their culture, encouraged by Fulgrim as Chemos entered its cultural revolution.

Fun Facts:

Rozen was taught how to play the zither as part of her education growing up. At first, she played as a form of relaxation, but as her affection for Fulgrim grew deeper, she began to play for the both of them. It would be revealed after her death that one of her songs was a sort of lullaby that she composed to help her husband rest, when he needed it. Whether or not Fulgrim knew of her intentions, she did not know.

She has confided in Fulgrim that if she'd been born in the Chemos that he envisioned, she would have wanted to be the head of her own merchant group and establish a name for herself throughout the world.

She renamed herself "Rozen" for the Executives of Chemos, as they did not respect the nomadic tribes and looked down on her for having a name different than the norm. When Fulgrim asked why she did not insist they respect her by learning how to say her name, she scoffed and told him "the way they pronounce my name is a desecration. I would rather they keep it off their tongues."