diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/CharacterStatController.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/CharacterStatController.cs
index 7d28c711..a2508cbf 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/CharacterStatController.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/CharacterStatController.cs
@@ -182,26 +182,33 @@ public static class CharacterStatController
         // Falls back to datFont when null (tests, or dat missing).
         rowDatFont ??= datFont;
         // Name: retail "Horan" is WHITE, not gold. Heritage and PK status are also white.
+        // runtime color, dat carries none (LayoutDesc 0x2100002E property 0x1B absent — FIX-B diagnosis 2026-06-26).
         Label(layout, NameId,     datFont, Vector4.One, () => data().Name);
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         Label(layout, HeritageId, datFont, Body, () => data().Heritage ?? data().Race ?? string.Empty);
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         Label(layout, PkStatusId, datFont, Body, () => data().PkStatus ?? string.Empty);
 
         // ── Header captions (new — retail labels above/left of each number) ──────
         // 0x1000023A = "Character Level" caption area above the level value (235,0,65×35).
         // Retail shows 2 lines: "Character" (top) / "Level" (bottom) so neither truncates.
         // Source: retail spec (2026-06-26-character-window-retail-reference.md §State 1).
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         LabelTwoLine(layout, LevelCaptionId, datFont, Body, "Character", "Level");
 
         // Level number: retail renders this as large gold centered text in the 65×50 element.
         // Use the larger dat font (18px) for the level value so it fills more of the vertical
         // space in the 50px element and approaches the retail "large gold digit" look.
         // Source: spec §Level area (65,50) + decomp gmStatManagementUI::UpdateCharacterInfo 0x004f0770.
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         Label(layout, LevelId, rowDatFont, Gold, () => data().Level.ToString());
 
         // 0x10000234 = "Total Experience (XP):" caption, left of the XP value.
         // Source: dump idx=22; spec §Header element map.
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         LabelLeft(layout, TotalXpLabelId, datFont, Body, static () => "Total Experience (XP):");
 
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         Label(layout, TotalXpId, datFont, Body, () => data().TotalXp.ToString("N0"));
 
         // XP-to-level meter fill (gmStatManagementUI::UpdateExperience 0x004f0a70).
@@ -776,12 +783,14 @@ public static class CharacterStatController
         }
 
         // Line-1 label (Top=20, Left=5): State A = "Skill Credits Available:"; State B = "Experience To Raise:"
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         var l1L = ByPos(20f, 5f, FooterLine1Label);
         LabelProvider(l1L, datFont, Body, () =>
             sel[0] < 0 ? "Skill Credits Available:" : "Experience To Raise:");
 
         // Line-1 value (Top=20, Left=200): State A = SkillCredits; State B = raise cost
         // When attribute is maxed (cost == 0), retail shows "Infinity!" (confirmed 2026-06-26 ref).
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         var l1V = ByPos(20f, 200f, FooterLine1Value);
         LabelProvider(l1V, datFont, Body, () =>
         {
@@ -791,11 +800,13 @@ public static class CharacterStatController
         });
 
         // Line-2 label (Top=37, Left=5): "Unassigned Experience:" in both states
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         var l2L = ByPos(37f, 5f, FooterLine2Label);
         LabelProvider(l2L, datFont, Body,
             static () => "Unassigned Experience:");
 
         // Line-2 value (Top=37, Left=200): UnassignedXp in both states
+        // runtime color, dat carries none.
         var l2V = ByPos(37f, 200f, FooterLine2Value);
         LabelProvider(l2V, datFont, Body,
             () => data().UnassignedXp.ToString("N0"));
diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactory.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactory.cs
index ebc19b0b..c08d948b 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactory.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactory.cs
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ public static class DatWidgetFactory
             _               => VJustify.Center,
         };
 
-        return new UiText
+        var t = new UiText
         {
             BackgroundSprite = bg,
             SpriteResolve    = resolve,
@@ -277,5 +277,14 @@ public static class DatWidgetFactory
             RightAligned     = rightAligned,
             VerticalJustify  = vJustify,
         };
+
+        // Font color from dat property 0x1B (ColorBaseProperty).
+        // When present, seed DefaultColor so controllers that read it don't have to hard-code colors.
+        // Controllers that supply explicit per-line colors via LinesProvider still win — this is only
+        // the build-time default.
+        if (info.FontColor.HasValue)
+            t.DefaultColor = info.FontColor.Value;
+
+        return t;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/ElementReader.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/ElementReader.cs
index 27883dfd..cb4b1552 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/ElementReader.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/ElementReader.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Numerics;
 
 namespace AcDream.App.UI.Layout;
 
@@ -78,6 +79,15 @@ public sealed class ElementInfo
     /// </summary>
     public VJustify VJustify = VJustify.Center;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Font color from dat <c>Properties[0x1B]</c> (<c>ColorBaseProperty</c>, ARGB bytes).
+    /// Null when the dat carries no color for this element; the factory then leaves the
+    /// widget at its default white (<see cref="System.Numerics.Vector4.One"/>).
+    /// Propagated in <see cref="ElementReader.Merge"/> with the same "non-null derived wins"
+    /// rule used for <see cref="FontDid"/> and <see cref="HJustify"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public Vector4? FontColor;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Sprite per state: state name → (RenderSurface file id, DrawMode int).
     /// The <c>""</c> key represents the unnamed DirectState (<c>ElementDesc.StateDesc</c>).
@@ -193,6 +203,9 @@ public static class ElementReader
             // a non-Center base — matching the FontDid "non-zero wins" convention.
             HJustify         = derived.HJustify != HJustify.Center ? derived.HJustify : base_.HJustify,
             VJustify         = derived.VJustify != VJustify.Center ? derived.VJustify : base_.VJustify,
+            // FontColor: derived wins when it has an explicit (non-null) color; otherwise inherit the base.
+            // Null means "dat carried no 0x1B property" — so null-derived does NOT override a non-null base.
+            FontColor        = derived.FontColor ?? base_.FontColor,
             // DefaultStateName: derived wins if set; otherwise inherit the base's default.
             DefaultStateName = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(derived.DefaultStateName) ? derived.DefaultStateName : base_.DefaultStateName,
             // Children come from the derived element's own tree, not the base prototype's.
diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/LayoutImporter.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/LayoutImporter.cs
index 799470f2..4f63d83a 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/LayoutImporter.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/LayoutImporter.cs
@@ -395,6 +395,19 @@ public static class LayoutImporter
                     _  => VJustify.Center,
                 };
             }
+
+            // ColorBaseProperty (0x1B): ARGB bytes → normalized [0,1] Vector4 (R,G,B,A).
+            // Only read when not already set (first dat state wins; Merge propagates from base).
+            if (info.FontColor is null
+                && sd.Properties.TryGetValue(0x1Bu, out var cRaw)
+                && cRaw is ColorBaseProperty cProp)
+            {
+                var c = cProp.Value;
+                // ColorARGB stores components as bytes (0–255); normalize to [0,1] for Vector4.
+                // Alpha=0 in the dat typically means fully opaque (retail convention: 0 → 255).
+                float a = c.Alpha == 0 ? 1f : c.Alpha / 255f;
+                info.FontColor = new System.Numerics.Vector4(c.Red / 255f, c.Green / 255f, c.Blue / 255f, a);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/UiText.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/UiText.cs
index e6bc45f0..0d9f2b15 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/UiText.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/UiText.cs
@@ -45,6 +45,19 @@ public sealed class UiText : UiElement
     /// the host from <see cref="UiHost.Keyboard"/>.</summary>
     public Silk.NET.Input.IKeyboard? Keyboard { get; set; }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Default line color used by controllers when they do not supply a per-line
+    /// <see cref="Vector4"/> color explicitly.  Set by <c>DatWidgetFactory.BuildText</c>
+    /// from <c>ElementInfo.FontColor</c> when the dat carries a 0x1B ColorBaseProperty;
+    /// otherwise white (<see cref="Vector4.One"/>).
+    ///
+    /// <para>Controllers that supply a per-line color via <see cref="LinesProvider"/>
+    /// (e.g. <c>new UiText.Line(text, explicitColor)</c>) are unaffected — they always
+    /// win over this default.  This property is only a convenience starting point for
+    /// controllers that want to read the dat color rather than hard-code it.</para>
+    /// </summary>
+    public Vector4 DefaultColor { get; set; } = Vector4.One;
+
     /// <summary>Backing fill behind the text. Defaults to transparent so an unbound
     /// UiText (no controller) draws nothing. Set to the retail translucent value by
     /// the controller (e.g. <c>ChatWindowController</c>).</summary>
diff --git a/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactoryTests.cs b/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactoryTests.cs
index 0adb9eee..12871f40 100644
--- a/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactoryTests.cs
+++ b/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/DatWidgetFactoryTests.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System.Numerics;
 using AcDream.App.UI;
 using AcDream.App.UI.Layout;
 namespace AcDream.App.Tests.UI.Layout;
@@ -299,4 +300,55 @@ public class DatWidgetFactoryTests
         t.Centered = false;        // controller override
         Assert.False(t.Centered);  // override wins
     }
+
+    // ── DefaultColor from dat FontColor (importer Fix B) ─────────────────────
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// When ElementInfo.FontColor is set (dat carried 0x1B ColorBaseProperty),
+    /// DatWidgetFactory.BuildText must copy it onto UiText.DefaultColor.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void BuildText_FontColorPresent_SetsDefaultColor()
+    {
+        var gold = new Vector4(1f, 0.82f, 0.36f, 1f);
+        var info = new ElementInfo { Type = 12, Width = 100, Height = 20, FontColor = gold };
+        var t = Assert.IsType<UiText>(DatWidgetFactory.Create(info, NoTex, null));
+        Assert.Equal(gold, t.DefaultColor);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// When ElementInfo.FontColor is null (dat carried no 0x1B), DefaultColor must
+    /// stay at white (Vector4.One) — the backward-compatible default.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void BuildText_FontColorAbsent_DefaultColorIsWhite()
+    {
+        var info = new ElementInfo { Type = 12, Width = 100, Height = 20, FontColor = null };
+        var t = Assert.IsType<UiText>(DatWidgetFactory.Create(info, NoTex, null));
+        Assert.Equal(Vector4.One, t.DefaultColor);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Backward-compat guarantee: a controller that sets LinesProvider with an
+    /// explicit per-line color AFTER build is unaffected by DefaultColor.
+    /// The controller's per-line color is stored in the Line record, not DefaultColor,
+    /// so DefaultColor changing from dat does not touch existing controller bindings.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void BuildText_ControllerExplicitLineColor_UnaffectedByDefaultColor()
+    {
+        // Dat sets a parchment color.
+        var parchment = new Vector4(0.92f, 0.90f, 0.82f, 1f);
+        var info = new ElementInfo { Type = 12, Width = 100, Height = 20, FontColor = parchment };
+        var t = Assert.IsType<UiText>(DatWidgetFactory.Create(info, NoTex, null));
+
+        // Controller overrides with an explicit gold color in the Line record.
+        var gold = new Vector4(1f, 0.82f, 0.36f, 1f);
+        t.LinesProvider = () => new[] { new UiText.Line("text", gold) };
+
+        // The line's color is gold (controller wins), NOT the dat parchment.
+        Assert.Equal(gold, t.LinesProvider()[0].Color);
+        // DefaultColor still holds the dat parchment (unmodified by the controller binding).
+        Assert.Equal(parchment, t.DefaultColor);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/ElementReaderTests.cs b/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/ElementReaderTests.cs
index 2745590d..387767bb 100644
--- a/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/ElementReaderTests.cs
+++ b/tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/ElementReaderTests.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System.Numerics;
 using AcDream.App.UI;
 using AcDream.App.UI.Layout;
 namespace AcDream.App.Tests.UI.Layout;
@@ -214,4 +215,45 @@ public class ElementReaderTests
         var merged  = ElementReader.Merge(base_, derived);
         Assert.Equal(VJustify.Bottom, merged.VJustify);
     }
+
+    // ── FontColor — Merge propagation (Fix B) ────────────────────────────────
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// When the derived element has an explicit (non-null) FontColor, the derived value
+    /// wins in Merge — same "non-null derived wins" rule used for FontDid and HJustify.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Merge_DerivedFontColor_OverridesBaseNull()
+    {
+        var base_   = new ElementInfo { FontColor = null };
+        var derived = new ElementInfo { FontColor = new Vector4(1f, 0f, 0f, 1f) };
+        var merged  = ElementReader.Merge(base_, derived);
+        Assert.Equal(new Vector4(1f, 0f, 0f, 1f), merged.FontColor);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// When the derived element has no FontColor (null), the base's FontColor is inherited.
+    /// A null-derived must NOT override a non-null base.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Merge_DerivedFontColorNull_InheritsBaseColor()
+    {
+        var gold = new Vector4(1f, 0.82f, 0.36f, 1f);
+        var base_   = new ElementInfo { FontColor = gold };
+        var derived = new ElementInfo { FontColor = null };   // default — no dat property
+        var merged  = ElementReader.Merge(base_, derived);
+        Assert.Equal(gold, merged.FontColor);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// When neither base nor derived carries a FontColor, the merged result is null.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Merge_BothFontColorNull_MergedIsNull()
+    {
+        var base_   = new ElementInfo { FontColor = null };
+        var derived = new ElementInfo { FontColor = null };
+        var merged  = ElementReader.Merge(base_, derived);
+        Assert.Null(merged.FontColor);
+    }
 }