In the dim, tense atmosphere of the interrogation room, the air was thick with the unspoken. Roboute Guiliman, the resurrected Primarch of the Ultramarines, sat across the woman as an attempt to be on equal footing. He wanted to regard the woman across from him with a measure of understanding and patience that seemed at odds with his legendary status as a warrior without peer. If one had no context, it would seem a silly sight having this massive and imposing authority sitting in such a low and awkward position.

He had looked through all the documents they had of her along with all the tests they did, and it was clear that she is a primarch. Only his father was able to craft this which begged the question of when. The data also showed that her daughter was hers by blood, but the other parent wasn't just some random guardsmen, it was a sister of battle. A sister who was martyred around 16 years ago fighting against a chaos cult on the world of Iax in the Ultramar Sector. This begged the question, was this daughter created? Who helped her? Regardless, she loves her daughter dearly and whatever the history, she loved that Sister.

"Your fear is understandable," Guilliman began, his voice a deep, resonant timbre that seemed to fill the room, "but we seek only truth and understanding. Cooperation can bring protection, not just for you, but your daughter as well."

The woman, whose eyes had been darting between the three figures looming over her, finally settled her gaze on Guilliman. Her posture, though still guarded, seemed to relax ever so slightly under his earnest assurances. However, before she could respond, Inquisitor Greyfax, her expression as hard and unyielding as the ceramite of her armor, stepped forward.

"Promises of protection are well and good, Primarch," Greyfax interjected, her voice sharp like a whip crack, "but let us not forget the stakes. Should she harbor heresy within her heart, no measure of clemency will shield her—or her offspring—from the Emperor's justice."

Celestine, the Living Saint, her aura a palpable presence of warmth and light in the cold room, gently laid a hand on Greyfax's arm, a silent reprimand. Turning to the woman, Celestine's voice was soft yet carried a strength that belied its gentle timbre. "Fear not, for the Emperor's mercy is vast. Tell us the truth, and I assure you, your daughter will be safeguarded… on my word."

This was shocking to everyone in the room. For the living saint herself to stake her own honor on this was palpable. The woman's eyes flicked between the three, weighing her options–a Primarch who wielded unimaginable power, an Inquisitor whose very presence spoke of death to the enemies of the Imperium, and a Saint, a beacon of the Emperor's divine will.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a "I…I will tell you everything. But you must promise me, my daughter—"

"Your daughter will be under the protection of the Adepta Sororitas," Celestine interrupted gently, her promise as binding as any oath. "She will be safe, far from the reach of those who might wish to use her against you."

Greyfax looked like she wanted to protest, her belief in the absolute authority of the Inquisition clashing with the unusual circumstances they found themselves in. Yet, under the unwavering gaze of Guilliman and the assured promise of Celestine, she remained silent, though her eyes spoke volumes of her reservations. The woman nodded, taking a deep, shuddering breath before beginning her tale.

Her tale began tentatively, her voice a low murmur that gradually grew in strength as she delved into her past, a narrative so incredible it could reshape the very fabric of the Imperium.

"My true name is Kanstance," she started, her gaze fixed on the ground, as if the act of recounting her story required her to gather every ounce of her will. "I... I was a secret project of the Emperor, a creation meant for a future that never came to pass. A future of peace, of unity... beyond the endless wars and bloodlust of crusades."

Guilliman's expression was unreadable, his eyes betraying no emotion, yet his attention was entirely fixed on Konstance. Greyfax shifted uncomfortably, her skepticism palpable, while Celestine watched Konstance with a serene, almost knowing gaze.

"The Emperor foresaw the end of the Great Crusade, a time when the galaxy would need not just warriors, but diplomats, heaters… leaders of peace. I was to be that leader, a Primarch not forged for war, but for the reconstruction that would follow, to guide humanity into a new era."

Konstance paused, her eyes finally lifting to meet Guilliman. "But then came the Horus Heresy, a nightmare that tore apart everything the Emperor had envisioned. In the chaos, he confided in me, a plan B of sorts. If the worst should happen to him, and to Lion El'Jonson, whom he saw as his true successor in the wars that would follow, I was to continue his work, to carry out his vision for the Imperium."

"The Heresy ended, but not as any of us had hoped. With the Emperor entombed upon the Golden Throne, the fledgling Inquisition saw me not as a beacon of hope, but a threat. A secret that could undermine their burgeoning power. They came to me with an ultimatum—silence or death."

Konstance's voice broke, a mixture of anger and sadness. "The Custodians, those closest to the Emperor, did nothing to protect me. Their grief over the Emperor's state... it blinded them to everything else. I had no choice but to hide, to obscure my past and my identity for my own safety and to live in the undercity of Terra in secret."

Greyfax's hand went to rest on her boltgun, her expression hardening. "This is a grave claim, Konstance. To suggest that the Emperor had plans unknown to us, that you were to be a successor of sorts... It challenges everything we believe, everything we fight for."

Guilliman raised a hand, silencing Greyfax. "Let her speak, Inquisitor. This is a matter of profound significance. We must consider every word, every possibility before acting." Secretly, Guilliman sees the truth of her story. His father has many secrets, him keeping the existence of chaos still a sore point between them.

Celestine's voice, when she spoke, was filled with a weighty sadness. "The Emperor works in ways beyond our understanding. If Konstance speaks true, then her existence, her purpose, is a part of His divine will."

Konstance looked between them, her plea silent but desperate. "All I want is to protect my daughter, to keep her safe." she pauses a moment taking in their stares. "I only care for my daughter now." Konstance's shoulders, tense with years of fear and secrecy, almost feels more tense.

The room fell silent, the weight of Konstance's revelation hanging heavy in the air. Guilliman, Greyfax, and Celestine exchanged glances, each lost in their own thoughts, considering the implications.

"I need to know more," Guilliman demanded. "I need to know what happened between the events of Horus' uprising and you living here in Ultramar."

Konstance's voice, once steady, now trembled as she delved deeper into the shadows of her past, a time marked by betrayal and bloodshed. "The Age of Apostasy... a time of madness and tyranny under the rule of Goge Vandire. It was then my existence became a threat once more, not just to the powers that be, but to the very fabric of the Imperium."

She paused, gathering her strength before continuing, "Vandire, in his paranoia and desperation to cling to power, discovered and declared me an agent of Chaos. A lie, but one that fueled a witch hunt unlike any before. Alicia Dominica and her Battle Sisters, they were... relentless."

Celestine's eyes widened at the mention of Dominica, a figure of legend, revered and venerated. "Alicia Dominica was a paragon of loyalty and faith. That she would hunt you, under Vandire's orders..." she trailed off, the implications unsettling. At the time the sisters of battle were the brides of the emperor and didn't know of Vandire's heretical nature, but if this is true then there is even more for the Sororitas to redeem.

Konstance nodded solemnly. "Yes, it was Vandire's manipulation that turned them against me. My legion, those who had sworn to protect me and what few I had, they... they died for me. For a chance that I might escape and live on. They bled with their sacrifice, and the skies black with their pyres."

Greyfax interjected, her voice hard as iron, "And the Custodians? They stood by even as this transpired? As your protectors fell?"

A bitter laugh escaped Konstance, devoid of any humor. "The Custodians... they were lost in their grief, their duty to the Golden Throne overriding all else. They believed their place was by the Emperor's side, not intervening in the machinations of madmen and the plight of those they deemed under them."

Celestine's expression was one of deep sorrow, her eyes reflecting a pain that was almost palpable. "It was a dark time for the Imperium, one where light seemed to falter. But you survived, Konstance. Your purpose, it seems, is yet to be fulfilled."

Konstance met Celestine's gaze, a flicker of resolve lighting her eyes. "Survive I did, but at great cost. Hiding, always hiding, fearing that the next dawn might bring death to my doorstep. It's no life for a child, for my daughter. I dream of a day when she can walk freely, unburdened by the shadows of my past. That's why I handed her over to the Sororitas Monastery."

Guilliman stood, his stature commanding the room. "Your story, Konstance, is a testament to the resilience of hope, even in the face of overwhelming darkness. The Age of Apostasy was a blight upon our history, a period of division and despair. Yet, here you are…"

Greyfax could read emotions well, even see into people's minds. The more Konstances' tale was told the more worried she became as all she could sense was truth. The path forward would be even more fraught with challenges, there was already much infighting in the inquisition and she knew some would already plot against Guilliman if they felt their power threatened.

"The child," Guilliman stated "Tell us how you came to Ultramar and how the child came to be."

Konstance's tale continued, her voice growing softer, more personal as she recounted the years spent evading her relentless pursuers, a life marked by solitude and the constant shadow of fear. "I traveled from world to world, never staying long enough to form attachments or raise suspicions. My existence was a lonely one, until I met her…Elivia."

She paused, a fond yet painful smile touching her lips at the memory. "Elivia was a Battle Sister, fierce and devout, but with a heart that saw beyond my secrets, beyond the fugitive I had become. Our bond was unexpected, a rarity in a galaxy filled with conflict and suspicion. Over time, our connection deepened, transcending mere companionship…and…my power as a primarch along with her faith in miracles I...I…"

The room remained silent, each listener captivated by Konstance's recounting of a love that had flourished against all odds. Guilliman's stoic expression softened, reflecting a rare glimpse of empathy. Greyfax's usual stern demeanor seemed to relax, albeit slightly, acknowledging that the more this conversation continued, the more it seemed that everything she said was true. Celestine's gaze was gentle, understanding the divine intricacies of faith and love.

"...I was with child. It was a joy we never anticipated, a beacon of hope in our transient, shadowed existence," Konstance continued, her voice tinged with the sorrow of memories too precious and painful to bear. "But with Alicia's conception, my unique nature became a beacon for those who hunted me. My existence, once hidden in the shadows, now drew danger like that of cultists."

Her voice faltered as she approached the darkest chapter of her story. "Elivia... She paid the ultimate price for our love, for our child. A Chaos cult, drawn to the anomaly of my being, attacked. Elivia fought with the fury of the righteous, her faith unyielding even in the face of overwhelming darkness. She sacrificed herself so that I could escape... escape to Macragge."

Tears streamed down Konstance's face, each one a testament to the cost of her survival. "I felt like I had failed her, failed in the promise of a future we had dared to dream of for Alicia. In my grief, I made the decision to place Alicia in the care of the local Sororitas monastery. I thought she would be safe there, away from the dangers my existence invited. I've watched over her from afar, ensuring her safety, all the while feeling the weight of my failures."

Celestine reached out, her touch light on Konstance's arm, offering silent comfort. "Your sacrifices, your love, and your losses are known to the Emperor. You have not failed, Konstance. Your faith, your hope, has brought you here, guided by His light."

Guilliman always twitched at the religious fervor surrounding his father. He spoke, his voice resolute. "Alicia will be protected, Konstance. Her lineage, her destiny, is intertwined with all of us now. We shall ensure her safety, and nurture her potential."

Greyfax, ever the pragmatist, added, "We will need to take measures to secure both your and Alicia's safety. The knowledge of your existence, your story, it changes much. There are those who will see this as a threat, others as an opportunity. We must be vigilant."

Konstance wiped away her tears, bolstered by the support and understanding of those before her. "Thank you, for believing in me, for offering hope where I saw none. All I've ever wanted was for Alicia to live a life free from the shadows of my past, to have the chance to forge her own path."

After ensuring Konstance's comfort and safety, Guilliman, Greyfax, and Celestine excused themselves, their expressions a mix of resolve and contemplation as they made their ways to Guillimans' Office for a private meeting. Once there, Guilliman orders one of his Ultramarines to Order Osiris to his office. If anyone can verify her identity, it would be him.