Private The Man Behind The Mask

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

DEE'JA PEAK
Abrantes Estate | Nightfall

Interacting with: Cassian Abrantes Elian Abrantes Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla told herself she was composed.

She was lying, of course.

Hours later, the young woman stood before the tall hall mirror, giving herself yet another once over like a woman pretending her world hadn't been upended by one infuriating, devastating man. She adjusted the fall of her slate grey dress for the fifth time, smoothed the filigree collar for the sixth, and tried very hard not to think about anything that had transpired in the pianoforte room.

Which meant she thought of nothing but that.

Shiraya preserve her… the man was brazen.

Aurelian's parting quip still echoed in her mind, sinful and smug and designed precisely to detonate inside her imagination like a coxasium charge. He knew exactly what he was doing. He had left her flustered, breathless, and so thoroughly undone that he lingered in her memory exactly as intended; even her piano room was imprinted by him forever. She would never be able to sit at those keys without blushing in fond and wicked remembrance.

Truly, how did someone inspire love, desire, exasperation, and yearning all at the same time? How was one man allowed to be both a menace and a marvel, both tender and outrageous, both sincere and entirely too aware of his effect on her?

He was a paradox, wrapped in an oxymoron and smothered in contradiction.

And she loved him for every single impossible part of it.

Right. Think calmly, Sibylla told herself as she caught her breath, nerves fluttering anew as she thought of what came next.

Dinner.

The formal introduction to her family. Not as the Chancellor. Not as the King. Not even to the Patriarch of House Veruna.

But as Aurelian.

Her Aurelian.

Shiraya, no wonder she was nervous. No wonder excitement and dread and affection tangled in her chest like a nest of fire sparklers. It was to no surprise that her hands flew instinctively to her braids, checking the plaits she'd woven earlier. The soft braided waves fell down her back in elegant lines, framing her face without fuss. The dress was simple, floral, comfortable, far removed from her usual regalia. Tonight she wanted her family to see her. The real her. The woman Aurelian knew.

Her father and mother would be down any moment. Cassian and Elian, too. And Caleb --

Caleb, whom she had absolutely not seen since that incident, and whom she absolutely would not make eye contact with lest she combust on the spot. There would be no blushing. No flustering. No recalling the piano keys clang as she --

No.

Absolutely not.

Sibylla drew in a breath, giving her reflection a sharp, regal nod.

She could do this.

She would do this.

Sibylla lifted her hand to smooth the ends of her braid one last time, gazing into the mirror with painstaking focus… so focused in fact, that she didn't hear the soft approaching footsteps behind her.

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Sibylla Abrantes Aurelian Veruna ​

Cassian Abrantes stood at the tall window of the family sitting room, hands loosely clasped behind his back, gaze angled out over the estate grounds where the last of the evening light slipped between the trees. He wore none of his formal security regalia, no polished insignia, no ceremonial jacket, only a well-cut dark shirt and trousers, sleeves rolled to his forearms. Modest. Intentional. Tonight was not about making a show, it was about support and acceptance.

Behind him, Elian's voice carried on, animated and bright as ever.

".....and then the pressure differential finally stabilized, but only after I rerouted the power through the auxiliary coupling, which everyone said wouldn't work....."

Cassian hummed in acknowledgment at the right moments, the corner of his mouth lifting faintly. He was listening. He always listened. But his thoughts were elsewhere, orbiting a quieter, more complex gravity.

"Cassian, are you even listening to me?" Elian asked as he waved a hand in front of his brother.

"Yes, I am." Cassian said with a small smirk but it was only half true. His thoughts were in different places.

Dinner.

Aurelian was neither simple nor careless. That alone had always made Cassian cautious.

For Sibylla's sake, he hoped, truly hoped, this would go well.

There was a part of him, quieter and far more tender than most gave him credit for, that believed it would. He had seen the change in his sister. The steadiness beneath the fire. The way her laughter had softened, deepened. Sibylla did not give her heart lightly, and she did not lose herself when she gave it. What Aurelian was to her, he had met her as an equal.

That counted for something.

Cassian's reflection caught faintly in the glass, broad shoulders at ease, posture relaxed but ready, the habitual watchfulness never fully absent. He kept faith, as he always did. In his family. In Sibylla's judgment. In the hope that some battles did not need to be fought.

"Elian," he said at last, turning slightly, voice warm but grounding, "save the rest for dinner. I think you'll have an audience."

Cassian returned his gaze to the window, drawing a slow breath as footsteps sounded somewhere down the hall.

For Sibylla, he would trust. For tonight, that would be enough.

**********************

Lord Alistair Abrantes fastened the final cuff at his wrist with practiced ease, the soft gleam of silver catching the lamplight as he lowered his hands. His attire was formal without excess, deep burgundy fabric cut clean and traditional, silver threading worked subtly along the seams, and pin bearing the sigil of House Abrantes set at his collar. It was not the armor of politics nor the splendor of court.

It was family.

He turned as Callista stepped into view, and for a moment the weight of life, duty, and expectation eased from his shoulders. His expression softened in a way few outside their household ever witnessed.

"You look lovely," he said simply, with quiet certainty, as though the statement required no embellishment to be true. "It's time," he added, voice calm but resolute.

Together, they moved toward the door and out into the hall, their steps measured as they descended the grand staircase side by side. The bannister curved beneath Alistair's palm, the stone beneath their feet worn smooth by generations of Abrantes who had walked this same path, into duty, into uncertainty, into moments that shaped the course of their house.

Tonight was no different.

As they reached the lower floor, Alistair lifted his chin slightly, already composing himself for the evening ahead. As they would come to meet the man that Sibylla had so admirably supported, and loved.

And that, he knew, was a meeting that mattered.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Show time
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Cassian Abrantes | Elian Abrantes

Aurelian found her alone in the quiet of the hallway, framed in the tall mirror like a portrait she had stepped out of by accident. Sibylla was focused enough on her reflection that she didn't hear him arrive. Good. He preferred it that way. It let him take in the small details she never realized she wore so openly; tension in her shoulders, the flicker of nerves she tried to bury, the breath she held without meaning to.

He crossed the hall without a sound and slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her back against him. Her breath hitched. He felt it, warm and real, and smiled into the curve of her neck.

"You look beautiful," he murmured, voice low from sleep and something softer. "More than beautiful, actually." He pressed a light kiss against her temple, catching her eyes in the mirror. "I'm sorry I'm late. After that shower, I meant to sit down for only a moment. Apparently I sat down with my eyes closed."

His smile tugged helplessly upward, a little sheepish, a little pleased with himself anyway. "Cold water or not, it knocked me out. I woke up to the sun already dipping and realized I was about to earn your mother's eternal disappointment."

He eased his hands along her waist, thumbs stroking the fabric of her dress. "But I'm here. And very awake now." A small pause. "Also starving. Desperately. I'm hoping I can get at least three bites in before Elian starts his yapping. Four if he shows mercy, which he won't."

He lowered his head until their foreheads touched. The nerves she tried to hide pulsed under his palms, and he let his voice settle into something steady for her alone.

"It's going to be fine," he said quietly.

His fingers lifted to brush the end of her braid. "Ready?" he asked, though he'd follow her timing without question.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

DEE'JA PEAK
Abrantes Estate | Nightfall
Interacting with: Cassian Abrantes Elian Abrantes Aurelian Veruna
Items: x x x x x

Only the slightest hitch of her breath betrayed how startled Sibylla was, right up until she caught Aurelian's reflection in the mirror behind her with that adorable, sleepy-eyed expression that made him look younger and utterly handsome at the same time.

Warmth bloomed through her at the sight, and her smile brightened at his reflection before she even turned to face him, as though his presence alone coaxed it into being. Every word he offered washed over her with reassurance, encouragement, and affection she could feel as surely as touch.

"I am just glad you got some rest," she said honestly, even if his teasing comment about the shower tugged a soft, breathy chuckle from her. But his mention of Elian earned a real laugh.

"Bet on only getting away with two bites if Elian is feeling merciful. Which entirely depends on how much of a verbal thrashing he received after Mother discovered his antics."

Sibylla's delicate brows gave a knowing quirk at the antics of her brother.

"Which, knowing Elian… is none at all."

She shook her head fondly. Truly, her youngest brother could charm the stars from the sky and still wriggle out of consequences.

But when Aurelian leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers, the rest fell away. Sibylla closed her eyes for a few precious seconds, letting herself breathe him in, and the low tenor of his voice steadied her heartbeat. Feeling him become the anchor to the chaos of nerves she felt earlier.

"I know," she murmured, lifting her lashes to shine hazel eyes upon him once more. She leaned back just enough to trace the strong, angular lines of his face. With a soft, affectionate smile, she brought one hand to cup his jaw, her thumb brushing tenderly along his cheek.

"It will be fine. Madness… but fine." Her lips curved. "Although I apologize in advance for any embarrassing questions my family might ask, and I implore you to ignore any mortifying childhood stories."

Her expression softened with amusement as she slipped her arm through his.

"Odds are no topic is off the table tonight...though with Elian looking up at you, perhaps you may very well be spared the worst of it."

She flashed him a bright smile.

"Alright… to dinner."

Sibylla guided Aurelian down the long corridor with her arm looped through his. The quiet between them was companionable, soft in a way it had never been years ago, warmed by shared glances and small brushes of fingers, warmed even more by the comfort of his proximity.

It felt right.

They rounded the corner just as two familiar silhouettes emerged from the far end of the hall, walking side by side with the easy, purposeful rhythm Sibylla knew as intimately as her own breath.

Her parents.

Lord Alistair Abrantes carried himself with that calm, dignified bearing he had learned long before she was born, shoulders set, expression composed yet softened by something unmistakably private when he turned toward his wife. Lady Calista rested a hand gently on his arm, her presence radiant in a way Sibylla always admired. Mother was dressed in soft cream and gold, her dark curls pinned back with an understated elegance that only emphasized her natural warmth.

They were speaking quietly together when they noticed her and Aurelian approaching.

Her father's step slowed as her mother's lips lifted in a smile even as Sibylla felt her stomach give the smallest, traitorous flutter.

She inhaled once, lifted her chin, and offered a bright, warm smile, stepping forward to greet them.

"Father. Mother."

Lady Calista's face lit with delight as she drew close.

"Sibylla, you look lovely." She beamed, her hands reaching out to find Sibylla's hand, giving her a gentle squeeze before taking in the sight of Aurelian at her side with an appraising warmth that Sibylla recognized all too well.

Lord Alistair's gaze moved to Aurelian next, but it wasn't in a sharp or hard observation. It was measured, full of intent, and respectful. The gaze of a man who had weighed court and systems in his hands and knew the cost of power, leadership, and love.

Sibylla exhaled slowly and stepped slightly forward, keeping her arm linked with Aurelian's, the subtle gesture both grounding and deliberate.

"Father, Mother… may I introduce Chancellor Aurelian Veruna." As it was proper, she used Aurelian's official title, but she was leaving it up to him how he would want to be addressed after.

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Sibylla Abrantes Aurelian Veruna ​

Alistair inclined his head as Sibylla spoke, the motion unhurried and deliberate. His gaze rested on Aurelian with a depth born not of scrutiny, but of understanding, the look of a man who had sat across negotiation tables, signed orders that altered lives, and learned long ago that power revealed more in how it was carried than how loudly it was announced.

Chancellor Aurelian Veruna.

The title landed, acknowledged, respected. But Alistair's attention lingered not on the words themselves, but on the man standing beside his daughter, and on the way Sibylla remained linked with him, steady and certain. That alone told him much.

"Chancellor Veruna," Alistair said, his voice calm, even warm, as he stepped forward just enough to meet the moment without crowding it, extending his hand towards Aurelian. "It's a pleasure to meet you, you are more than welcome."

He let the silence breathe for a heartbeat, long enough to convey that this was not a formality, but an invitation weighed and given with care.

"I am Alistair Abrantes, this is my wife Calista." he continued, "Please," he said, gesturing inward toward the dining table in the next room, "Join us, we look forward to knowing the man my daughter speaks so highly about."


******

Cassian heard the cadence of it before he heard the words.

The shift in the room. The subtle hush that followed Sibylla's voice as she made the introduction, formal and careful and hers. He didn't turn right away. He stayed where he was near the sideboard, one hand resting around a cooling glass he'd long since forgotten to drink from, posture easy in the way of a man who had learned how to look relaxed even when every sense was quietly alert.

"Elian" he felt before he heard, shoulder bumping lightly into his side, familiar and unapologetic. His younger brother glanced out of the room, eyes bright with that particular brand of mischief that came from watching history unfold at close range.

"Showtime," Elian murmured, smirk firmly in place.

Cassian chuckled under his breath despite himself, the sound brief but genuine. Before he could reply, Elian slung an arm around his shoulders in a quick, one-armed hug, warm, grounding, unmistakably brotherly.

"Oh, my brooding brother," Elian said quietly, grin widening. "It won't be so bad."

Cassian shook his head, the corner of his mouth lifting as he gently disentangled himself. He looked back toward the introductions, toward Sibylla standing steady at Aurelian's side, toward their father's composed acceptance.

"I'm not worried," he said, voice low and even.

He paused, searching for the right word, not for Elian's sake, but for his own.

"I'm just…present."

And he was, watching, listening. Ready if needed, content if not. For tonight, that was enough.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Abrantes Supper Club
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Cassian Abrantes | Elian Abrantes

Aurelian felt the shift the moment Sibylla stepped forward. The flutter in her grip did not go unnoticed, nor did the way she squared her shoulders before speaking. He leaned in just enough for her to hear him, voice low and warm.

"You're doing beautifully," he murmured, thumb brushing once at her wrist. "I promise I won't let them tell any stories that involve private sparring sessions, our stroll near the docks, or any time in that piano room of yours."

The corner of his mouth lifted, playful, but his eyes were earnest. He cared far more than he let on. This mattered. She mattered. He wanted them to see that before anything else.

When Lord Alistair addressed him, Aurelian straightened without stiffness. The title registered, but he did not cling to it. He met the offered hand immediately, grip firm and respectful, his smile easy without being careless.

"Lord Abrantes," he said, voice smooth, sincere. "Lady Calista." His gaze moved to her next, dipping his head slightly. "Thank you for welcoming me. It's an honor to be here."

There was a practiced grace to him, the kind earned through long nights of rooms like this one. Still, beneath it all, there was a pulse of nerves he could not entirely quiet. He wanted their approval, not for politics or appearances, but because Sibylla's happiness rested somewhere in their regard.

"I've heard wonderful things about you both," he continued lightly. "Mostly from Sibylla, though I suspect she edits generously in your favor."

His smile softened as he glanced at her, unguarded for a beat, then returned his attention to her parents. "I hope, by the end of the evening, I'll have earned even a fraction of the confidence she places in me."

At Alistair's gesture toward the dining room, Aurelian inclined his head again. "We would not dream of keeping dinner waiting," he said, humor threading his tone. "Especially knowing I'm already at a disadvantage. I'm quite certain Elian has prepared questions."

He offered Sibylla his arm without looking, an instinct as natural as breathing. When her hand slipped into place, his posture eased, shoulders settling.

For all his charm and confidence, this was the truth of it. He would win the room if he had to. But he hoped they would see what he felt every time he looked at her.

And that, he knew, was worth everything.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

DEE'JA PEAK
Abrantes Estate | Nightfall
Interacting with: Cassian Abrantes Elian Abrantes Aurelian Veruna
Items: x x x x x

Through it all, Sibylla remained quietly nervous, though thus far everything appeared to be unfolding well. Introductions had been made without incident, and together they moved toward the family dining room, a space far more intimate and inviting than any formal hall. It was a room meant for conversation rather than ceremony.

"Ah, I am certain Elian will behave himself," Lady Abrantes remarked lightly, just as Cassian and Elian entered the room, already in mid-discussion as they approached their seats.

Sibylla let out a soft, knowing huff. "Doubtful, Mother. You know how he is."

The family dining room itself was a broad, domed chamber, its curved walls softened by warm light. A great floor-to-ceiling window stretched beneath the dome, offering a sweeping view of Dee'ja Peak and the Gallo Mountain ranges beyond, waterfalls threading silver through the verdant slopes in the fading light.

"Come sit, no need to stand by formalities." Lord Alistar added after Aurelian spoke, encouraging a more informal affair.

As they took their places, Sibylla moved toward her chair, only for Aurelian to step ahead of her and draw it out with practiced ease. She looked up at him with a grateful smile, warmth blooming at the small, thoughtful gesture. Across the table, Lord Abrantes did the same for Lady Calista, who rewarded him with a subtle lift of her brows before sitting.

Lord Abrantes took his place at the head of the table. With a quiet gesture, Lady Calista encouraged Aurelian to sit at Alistair's left, the position of guest of honor. She herself settled at her husband's right, Sibylla taking the seat beside her mother. Cassian and Elian followed suit, the familiar arrangement falling into place with ease, with Sibylla looking at them both with a faint, if nervous smile on her face -- although it was a more narrowed look of scrutiny towards Elian Abrantes and any trouble he might toss their way.

It was the perfect sister expression of -- I'm watching you!

A moment later, Caleb entered with two attendants, fresh glasses of water in hand. They moved efficiently around the table, offering drinks and inquiring after preferences before withdrawing with practiced discretion.

Sibylla did her uttermost best not to meet his gaze lest she blush. Once everyone was settled, Lord Abrantes folded his hands lightly atop the table and turned his attention to Aurelian.

"So," he began evenly, his tone conversational rather than probing, "I imagine the transition from Monarch to Chancellor has kept you rather occupied. My compliments to whoever manages your calendar...it must take a small miracle to keep it all together."

Sibylla felt her shoulders ease just a fraction.

So far… so good.

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Sibylla Abrantes Aurelian Veruna Elian Abrantes ​

Cassian took his seat with an easy, unhurried motion, the chair settling softly beneath him as the familiar rhythm of a family table reasserted itself. For all the layered politics and careful introductions, this, this room, this arrangement, was home. Grounded. Real.

His gaze flicked first to Sibylla.

She was composed on the surface, as she always was, but Cassian caught the telltale signs easily enough, the slight tension at her shoulders, the careful way she held her hands. He offered her a small, steady smile, the kind that said you're doing fine without a single word needing to pass between them. When she glanced his way, he gave a subtle nod, reassurance delivered and understood.

Then his attention shifted, briefly, deliberately, to Aurelian. Cassian inclined his head just enough to be noticed. Not formal. Not deferential. Acknowledgment and courtesy.

Only after that did he turn his head toward Elian.

His brother had already leaned back slightly in his chair, posture loose, expression bright with that maddeningly perceptive charm that suggested he was three steps ahead of everyone else and enjoying every second of it. Cassian smirked despite himself, shaking his head just a fraction.

Elian Abrantes, irrepressible, insightful, and far too amused by the unfolding scene.

Cassian reached for his glass, finally taking a sip as the conversation resumed. He listened, observed, catalogued. Protective instincts stayed quietly on standby, but there was no tension in him, only awareness.

For Sibylla's sake, for his family's, he remained exactly what he'd said he was.

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Sibylla Abrantes Aurelian Veruna Cassian Abrantes
​

"How fares your studies?" Cassian inquired leaning over towards Elian.

​

Elian had perfected the art of talking at a dinner table without appearing to talk at a dinner table. It was a survival skill, really, one honed over years of family gatherings, diplomatic functions, and long meals where saying the wrong thing at the wrong volume could earn a look from their mother sharp enough to cut glass.

He leaned just enough toward Cassian to keep the movement casual, elbow resting against the table as his fingers idly traced the rim of his glass.

"Academy's still convinced I'm going to blow something up," he murmured under his breath, lips barely moving as Lord Abrantes continued speaking to Aurelian across the table. "Not intentionally, mind you. They're more worried about… enthusiasm."

Cassian chuckled lightly as he looked over to him.

"I rerouted a thermal flow regulator last week. Fixed the overload issue they've been fighting for months. Got a commendation," he continued softly, then added with mock solemnity, "and a lecture about 'proper channels' and 'not terrifying the facilities staff.' "

He flicked his eyes sideways, catching Cassian's faint smirk, which only encouraged him.

"Also, apparently I ask too many questions during lectures. Which is ridiculous. If they didn't want questions, they shouldn't have made the equations wrong."

Elian finally took a sip of water, shoulders lifting in a small shrug.

"Still," he whispered, a touch more genuine now, "it's good. Hard. But good. I think… I'm where I'm supposed to be."

His gaze drifted briefly toward Sibylla, then Aurelian, then back to Cassian.

"And before you ask," he added quietly. "yes, I am behaving. This is me behaving."

The grin returned, bright and unapologetic, as the conversation at the table swelled just enough to cover the end of his confession.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: CASSIAN STILL SUX
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Cassian Abrantes | Elian Abrantes

Aurelian moved with instinct before anyone could prompt him, stepping around the table to draw Sibylla's chair back. It was an easy, practiced gesture, one he offered without looking for approval. When she sat, he returned the chair smoothly, his hand lingering for a breath at her shoulder before he followed Lady Calista's direction and took the seat at Lord Alistair's left.

He settled in with a quiet exhale, posture relaxed but attentive. Guest of honor. He could feel the weight of it and chose to carry it lightly.

At Alistair's question, Aurelian smiled, one corner of his mouth lifting first. "Busy is a polite word for it," he replied. "The transition has been… full. Days blur together." He took a sip of water, then added with genuine warmth, "Thankfully, I have one of the best assistants in the Southern Systems. She quietly keeps the Republic from collapsing while I take the credit. I suspect history will owe her more than it will ever admit."

His tone kept it light, respectful. He did not linger there.

His attention drifted briefly as Elian's low conversation filtered across the table. Aurelian listened without meaning to. The boy could talk. Efficiently, enthusiastically, like his thoughts moved faster than most people could track. Aurelian hid his amusement behind his glass, eyes crinkling slightly as Elian spoke of commendations and lectures.

Enthusiasm, he thought. Yes. That sounded right.

He let the conversation breathe, then gently redirected it without fanfare. Work and studies could wait. They always could.

"I have to say," Aurelian said, looking around the room, then toward the great window beyond, "your home is extraordinary." His gaze lingered on the fading light over Dee'ja Peak, the waterfalls catching gold and shadow. "That view alone feels like a promise. I can see why someone would fight for it. Why they would love it."

He glanced toward Sibylla for a brief second, then back to her parents.

"There's a sense of history here," he continued. "Not just legacy, but belonging. It's rare."

He leaned back slightly, easing the weight of the moment with a softer smile. "Which makes me curious." His eyes returned to Lord Alistair and Lady Calista together. "How did the two of you meet?"

The question was simple. Intentional. An offering.

Internally, he let out a quiet breath. This mattered. These people mattered to Sibylla, which made them matter to him. Except Cassian, sitting there with that watchful calm. Feth that guy. Best to move the conversation somewhere safer, somewhere human.

Aurelian folded his hands loosely on the table and waited, attentive, genuinely interested, letting the night turn toward something warmer than titles and expectations.

​