The Rose of Segunda

I absolutely adored every character and love interest in this game, you did amazing!!

... And I will admit, my ultimate guilty pleasure is the Secret Route. I was very surprised and thrilled it existed 💕

omg it's so rare for me to fall in love with a character! You've outdone yourself haha, I love Leopold

THIS GAME IS AMAZING!!!! The protagonist's attitude, nuanced characters, and incredible pacing made this into such an enjoyable experience. You are so talented, so happy I found this. :)

I simply fell in love with Sofia! It scratched at my heart in all the right places!

Spoiler alert

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The scene where they where outside and Sofia was playing as a fairy and MC was pretending to be asleep made me frustrated to no ends! Lady Charlotte just had to come at the right time!!! *crying* Lady Charlotte, I like you, but could your timing have been any better? xD T^T

Edit: thanks for the guide!

Hello, i first purchase this game on steam where the download didn't work so i decide to purchase it on itch io but it didn't work either. i then decide to retry the download on steam where this time it work, so i was wondering if it was possible to obtain a refund for the purchase on itch io, if it's possible, i can show you the recipe of my purchase on steam. thank you and sorry for the bother.

I've been wanting to play this game for literal years and it was absolutely worth the wait! Long story short: I downloaded the OG demo (as in, side characters had no sprites yet) back when Rose was still in development, lost the file when I switched laptops, then got too busy with uni to play a lot of games. Now that I've a Real Adult Job, I can finally afford to support all the indie devs I follow online, so I've been going through everyone's back catalogue and this was the first game I thought of getting! (For transparency: I bought it on Steam.)

The best part of Rose is the writing, especially the way the characters and the world are so fleshed out. When I realized the story only takes place over 2 weeks, I wondered if the romance would develop believably, so I was pleasantly surprised when none of the routes had any pacing issues - all of the relationships felt that they grew organically, without feeling rushed or contrived for plot convenience. I think it's also the setting that makes this feel realistic - in a modern otome, I don't think I'd find it believable to elope with or marry someone after just 2 weeks. However, Rose is clearly historical, and the writing really gets across how the world of the nobility operates very differently. The story makes clear that the characters are pressured to marry young for pragmatic rather than personal reasons, grow up faster and take on responsibility earlier than we do today, and don't have great family lives. Given all of that, the decision to settle down (or even just up and leave) with a particular love interest always feels like it makes sense for the decisions you made and the way you played MC in that particular playthrough.

It's REALLY hard for me to choose a favorite (which shows you just how good Rose is, since I usually have at least one character I end up solidly disliking) - as in, I stayed up the entire night and went through everyone's routes in one sitting - so I won't go into detail about each one because gushing about everybody would make this ramble even wordier. However, I do want to compliment specific things that stood out to me about the way the F/F romances and the secret romance are handled:
♡ The depiction of the sapphic experience (e.g. the thought you'll grow out of it one day because it's just "practice" for "real" hetero relationships later) was super well done. I love how "coming out"/accepting your queerness is represented as a process that can be conflicting, and also as a personal choice that's not always easy to make in the face of others' expectations. A lot of sapphic romances in fiction tend to be written in such a way that the relationship feels "special" only because it's ~forbidden~ or tend to present coming out as a one time big time realization you're suddenly super certain of, so I'm glad that Rose falls into neither of those traps (something that probably wasn't easy because depicting queer love in historical fiction is a challenge all its own). I think that out of all the ones I've played, Rose is definitely one of the F/F romance games that feels closest to home in that regard.
♡ I love how supportive Frederique is if you're romancing Charlotte or Sofia (especially in Sofia's ending!) - in my experience, it's very relatable to have one "safe" member of your family who you're "out" to even if you're closeted to everyone else in the household, so I was happy seeing that dynamic represented here.
♡ At first I only played the secret route out of curiosity for how it would affect the story and because I liked Frederique as a character, not necessarily because I actually wanted to romance him - in fact, I usually avoid routes of this nature for obvious reasons. I was afraid it would feel shoehorned in for shock value or that it would have a last minute "one of us is actually adopted" plot twist (that second one is a pet peeve of mine since it's a very overdone trope in telenovelas where I'm from), but the devs really committed to the taboo premise, which I admire because it takes guts to really go there. I ended up loving the secret romance much more than I thought I would because the writer shows how complicated their situation is without glossing over or cheapening it. The game takes time to tell us about the unhealthy family dynamics at play here (like siblings being separated too young, discouraged from being affectionate, and growing up isolated from their peers) that led them down that path, but at the same time it never condemns them for it and makes them sympathetic enough to root for. Frederique is so unconditionally loving, and it's clear they've fallen in love because they're each other's only source of support in a very cold family. What I really liked about the portrayal of Frederique is how even if you ignore the secret route completely, and choose to interpret your relationship with him as completely platonic, he consistently looks out for you without any selfish agenda and just wants you to be happy, even if he doesn't necessarily like or agree with your choices. This is honestly the most important thing in any relationship (whether familial or romantic), and it was what led to the secret route winning me over even if I was initially uncomfortable about its implications and hesitant about how it might be executed.
♡ I'm glad the game sufficiently gates the romance (I wouldn't have known Frederique was even an option if I had gone into Rose blind without seeing reviews first) and also gives you several chances to end it very early, for the sake of folks who are uncomfortable with the route.

Something else I liked about Rose was how it doesn't demonize the characters who are meant to be your rivals (a trap lots of romance media fall into). The writing never spells this out, but it clearly shows they're catty because they've grown up in an environment that pits women against each other, and the characterization of them as mean never feels too convenient or forced to create conflict. The game goes a step further by letting you get in on the mean girl act yourself (through choices like sabotaging the tea party or instigating the fight before the concert) - I have never before played a romance game that lets you be that petty, and I loved it. (I swear I don't actually act like that irl.)

The fact that you have to get not just your love interest's approval, but also the king's, added a nice bit of a challenge to what was an otherwise relaxing game, especially if you're on Guillaume's route, because I ended up having to strategize by balancing being myself in private and keeping up the pretty idiot image in public (happy to say I managed to get both without checking the guide!). It was a big part of what made the cutthroat and tense nature of the setting feel more real (even before I played Leo's route and saw just how unstable Segunda actually is). It wasn't an extremely difficult challenge, but the fact that I was on edge constantly toeing the line made me feel that the royal court really is a very dangerous place, even if I wasn't personally at any big risk (yet...I'm pretty sure I'm going to be endangered when I play through Thorns in its entirety).

The only piece of criticism I would have had for this game was that the story could've been longer, to allow for more fleshed out endings, and to better explore and tie up the loose ends of the more complex subplots (for Leopold's route especially, that reveal made me feel like I slipped out of the romance genre and fell into a political thriller AHDPFAKUF). However, right after I finished all the routes, I saw the itch page for Thorns and just had to get the demo. I obviously haven't played the full game yet, but based on the vibe I'm getting so far, if you felt the endings in Rose were a bit rushed or that the tone was too lighthearted for the tense political climate the game hints at, Thorns might be more to your tastes if you want a game that's more plotty and serious even if it's romance-focused.

Just a few rambles...
♡ Leo's name made me giggle because right before I played his route, I was listening to a podcast on the Plantagenets (who are probably much worse than Guillaume's family). From the podcast, I learned that the guy who captured Richard the Lionheart as he was coming home from crusading then handed him over to the Holy Roman Emperor for ransom was also a duke named Leopold. Given that our Leo is canonically planning a coup, I think that's very apt (...I don't suppose we'll get to do something similar if we side with him in Thorns?)

♡ I had great fun with the changeable name. I initially set her name as Mireille not only because it's one of my real names and makes it easy to self-insert, but also because it feels period-appropriate and close enough to the Minette nickname. For that playthrough, I headcanon that the Parisis nicknamed her Minette back when she was first learning to speak and had trouble saying her name properly, so 1) that's why her mom finds it immature and inappropriate for an adult and 2) I imagined Frederique uses it in both an affectionate "I'm your man to the last, I've been here with you since we were little and I'm still here for you now" way, and also as an inside joke between them like "Ahaha, everyone thinks of you as this refined scholarly lady who's great at languages, but I remember how you couldn't even pronounce your own name as a kid uwu"

♡ Because I love chaos, I did a playthrough where I got the king to choose me, but romanced and ultimately accepted Leopold's proposal. (This also gave me my favorite ending - nothing like your fiancé interrupting your engagement announcement to someone else and giving you your ring in full view of the court.) For this run specifically, I named her Isabella and gave her the scholarly + cunning + commanding traits as a reference to a French princess who was married off to Edward II of England by her parents, but had an affair with Roger Mortimer (whose historical reputation feels quite similar to the amoral schemer image people have of Leo in-game) and planned a coup with him that successfully overthrew Edward. You can probably tell whose Thorns route I'm most excited for 👀

♡ If I really had to choose a single favorite route, it would be Leo's. (That said, I might be a bit biased here because out of all the love interests, he's the one who's most similar to my real-life boyfriend, who thankfully does not have a disgraced family and doesn't seem to be plotting to overthrow the government...at least as far as I know). I absolutely adore characters who hate how unfair and even ridiculous society's expectations are after growing up in bad circumstances, but decide to fight to gain the upper hand nonetheless. I also really enjoy romancing LIs who are ruthless and calculating and not always completely moral about achieving what they want, but who are nothing but respectful and loving when it comes to their partner. (I really enjoyed Leo's scenes, both what I saw in Rose and what I've seen so far from the Thorns demo, because that dynamic is fully on display there.) I'm also a sucker for revolutionaries (even if his motives aren't perfectly noble), I swear his route felt like the devs dug around in my brain for my favorite tropes and just got them perfectly.

♡ I know I'm probably missing out on some choices and scenes this way, but I can NEVER bring myself to leave my toothbrush behind 😭

♡ I'm prone to fainting irl so I love how there are so many fainting options - I chose them almost every time AHPFUAIDF (I know Thorns is darker than Rose, but I hope it'll still have some fainting options because they were hilarious)

♡ The art is lovely! I don't think I've ever used an otome game heroine as my profile picture on my socials before, I just loved the art style that much

Overall, I'd highly recommend The Rose of Segunda to anyone who's interested in a historical otome that's relaxing and quick but still has quite a bit of challenge and intrigue, and I'm really looking forward to playing the sequel!

Hello there! I just bought the game, but unfortunately I’m getting a “No keys available” error when trying to redeem! I understand it’s a problem on Steam’s end, so if possible, could I get a heads up when more keys are made available? Thank you so much and I’m so excited to start playing in the meantime so I can support The Thorns of War!

Hey there!

I am still playing through the game (on my third run through to complete all of the routes) and this has already made me cry twice. It is very sweet and sincere. MC's response to Charlotte wanting to be an explorer was perfect! I also loved Frederique stepping in to marry Sofia so that she and the MC could be together! Frederique is honestly my favorite character and a supportive king. Can't wait to see what else stabs my heart with sweetness in this game (and to get the secret ending)!

How would we get the secret romance. No matter how many times i play the game, i can't seem to get it. 

Hi! I'm a bit confused about the love interest POV scenes. In Thorns, they're locked in Extras but I thought there were also POV scenes for TROS, and I can't seem to find them. A little help would be appreciated <3 

I can't figure out how to get the gallery image of the top right of the second page.

I'm revisiting the game since I'm really enjoying the sequel and realized I missed that image. Can someone give me a hint or guide?

I've been paying attention to the development of The Thorns of War, but I hadn't even played The Rose yet! I finished all the romance paths and earned all the CGs, and I must say, Lady Charlotte was by far my favorite. I love historical fiction, and VN fit the genre well! I loved the use of dated language. I really enjoyed this!

Played the GxG routes and enjoyed both. Maybe Charlotte's route a tad more over Sofia, but very close. Charlotte's so sweet though. <3

Hello. I purchased the game today on itchio but I can't see any link to redeem the steam key on the download page, is it normal? Thanks

Hi, why do i get a "no keys available" message when i click on "get a steam key" ?

I've completed all of the routes and I found some of them to end very abruptly, mainly the prince and Bastian. The female routes I didn't personally care for, I only completed them to get to the secret love interest but of the two I did prefer Sofia.

 I did think the price was a little high since the replayability is low and I found all of the routes very fast to complete. That being said it certainly isn't a waste of money and I'm happy to fund projects that I finish so it isn't too big of a deal.

I personally found the font very hard to read, especially with certain words as it looked a bit like a b reak (like that) between letters at times. The music is simple but I honestly thought it fit very nicely with the story and the time setting. The choices you have are very simple and don't seem to impact much so the main character felt a little flat but I am aware that it is something that comes with the territory. I would rather have a flat main character and better love interests than the other way around.  

The sprites are nicely drawn, it would have been nice to see the characters actually change clothes since it was mentioned almost every day that the main character had to change to get ready but the only time we change is during the play.

Over all I think it's a decent game, a good 6/10. I'll honestly look into the sequel even though the price is more than doubled, just because it says to be six times as long. With that amount of time playing the game I hope the price to experience would be more worth it

I only finished Sofia's route and I can say it was really good, I loved it ! 

Now I will wait for The Thorns of War to be finiched and released in Steam to buy it ! I am eager to see the reste of Sofia's route and discover the others

Um...hello. I just wanted to ask about something as it seems you guys are more active here. I bought the game on steam recently and I absolutely love it! But for some reason, I can't get the secret route. Yes, I've played through every single route but still can't get it.

Hi, I love your game and recently I did a second playthrough to meet these amazing characters again and I left with a question. Is the MC canonically bisexual in every route, like I thought on my first playthrough, or depending on the route her sexuality changes (like, being a lesbian on the girls routes and straight on the guys routes)? Thanks for your time and really excited for the full release of the sequel!

heyy do you have any plans on making this game mac available on steam?

I just finished playing the demo and I am in love with it! Definitely gonna buy the game 💕 Eeeeek!

Omggg, this game is awesomeee, I absolutely loved all the routes but I have to say my favorite romance is the secret route, I really felt the strong connection between the MC and him, and I just love how much he cares about her always prioritizing her happiness above everything else, Im really looking forward to continuing his route in the sequel!

I love your work and Im really looking forward to your future projects :)

Definitely recommend, must-play if you enjoy historic otomes! The MC has LOTS of personality that you even get to choose (some options are pretty wild and fun! do not be scared to be wild and wreak havoc!), the story is entertaining, and the art is pretty! Oh, and the love interests all have layers/secrets to discover!
Expect to see the skeleton of the story to be the same on all routes, but depending on your route, you will see many alternate scenes, so it doesn't get boring! Or just skip (and it's super fast, not bogged down by transitions and such!). 
Some love interests/routes that stood out to me:
Leopold caught my interest first, he seemed polite and charming (and shallow of me, but his sprite is so pretty haha). His route was also full of unexpected intrigue, good job on the slow build and foreshadowing! I am most excited for his sequel! 
I was pleasantly surprised some of the ladies were love interests too! 
Sofia caught my eye quick, and I really enjoyed her connection with the MC and the dramatic turns~
With Charlotte, I didn't have very high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised, her route was sooo wholesome!
The prince, getting to know him better, he was a little unexpected, and I came to appreciate him. Also looking forward to his sequel for the plot~
Bastion... don't know why, but I didn't appreciate the slow burn in this as much as I should have. 
And the secret route. Ugh. Right in the feels. (Spoilers ahead, don't read the crossed out text!) I thought there was going to be a kiss in the play... Then again they got in trouble even without... Also, even outside the game I went on a whole emotional rollercoaster because of him haha, first thinking it's a pity the prettiest boy is the brother, then realizing he's still a love interest... I was both happy and worried. But seeing his devotion to MC from the beginning, I was looking forward to him, and he delivered!
Maybe some advice for future games. The font was a little hard to read, especially in italics, which was used in narration, that took some getting used to. 
Personally, I had some technical difficulties though. Once, Steam did not register me closing the game from within, and I had to restart my computer for it to be fixed so I can launch it again. And I had some difficulty unlocking the secret route, but I managed, and was worth the trouble! 

Is the sequel going to have the same characters? because I would love more Leopold x Mc  but then at the same time doing a sequel for all the routes may be very difficult especially with Leopold and his plans.

Excuse me, I would like to buy the game on Steam, however there is only windows version available on Steam. Is it possible to buy the mac version via steam?

Question! Is it possible to get Guillaume's romance ending AND the King's approval? I'm trying to do both, but I only manage to get one or the other...

While i love all the routes, i have to give highlight how much I love the combinations of traits that our pc could have--my favorite is the cunning, commanding hellion one! It's rare to see something like this in a vn/otome, and i must applaud the dev for the excellent execution! 

Ive never read a visual novel that was written similarly with the words from the time period of the plot. It was a unique experience and concept, it took some historical romance troupes and gave them a new perspective, while also creating a sweet and emotional story to go along with it. The art was beautiful, the choices felt like they mattered and that they weren't just put in to give the illusion that they did. I loved all the paths, its hard to pick a favorite one, and I was pleasantly surprised by the secret romance option. I felt a little guilty for pursing the secret option but I loved it nevertheless. I liked how the main character is portrayed as strong willed, independent woman and how the characters in the story react to her headstrong and intelligent traits. I also really admire the way she can approach a situation in a snappy and clever way while also being a little devious. The overall story came together really well and felt really realistic, especially given the vocabulary throughout the novel. I really enjoyed reading this :)

I haven't played this game before so I was wondering if this has a satisfying ending or if it's more cliffhanger? I was just wondering because you guys are making a second game. Thank you!!

Hi! I don't know if this is a spoilery question or if it has been asked before, but how do you get the king to choose you in the end? Or is it impossible no matter the route (I only tried with Guillaume)?

Caution: Spoilers ahead. Read at your own discretion.

Also: sorry for my bad english...(?)

I remember finding this game waay back and coments of people saying they where dissapointer with the whole premise and what not, but i said to myself, i gotta try this, so i waited and just until now i had enought spare money to afford it, and so i came here to praise this game.

It is very light, but i love the setting, is perfect if you want to play some historical, romance court drama but with less intrigues and more comedy trown at you, seriously, i adore so all the jokes i saw in this game, from the horse jokes, to the ones the mc makes when talking to the different characters, the prank in the tea party is pure gold, and i love how everyone reacts when you play the role in the play as a strong willed young lady lmao.

For the characters, i must say my favorite is going to be frederique, i am all for forbidden romances in games and more so of incest, i do not duell to much on it but i feel it has a certain charm that pulls at your heart strings and is so very beautiful, yet all the same sad. However in this game i gotta give kudos for the chemistry between him and the MC, they act like siblings in all the other routhes but even there you can see that there is something they share, like and invisible little world, and this shines through better on those little scenes when pursuing other characters frederique shows just how much he knows his sisters, and loves her just for who she is, a strong, willed, mischievous girl, who is as sharp as her mother but also, has a very kind heart.

His routhe was the more pleasant for me, specially when he would just snap near the end of it, his confession almost had me to tears and i felt so much for them, so i was happy that they got away together, but also very sad there wasn't a kiss cg, even a hug maybe, where the two of them would look into the far away sky for how the future now is of endless posibilities for them.

Stoping my praise with them for now, if not, i may be writting this far longer, and i have to praise so many characters, lets move into my second husband in this game: Leopold. I also love his chemistry with the MC, he likes her better when she is herself, and i am down by that always. I will say that in this estance i love what he says when he catches you after the mischief in the tea party, he shares part of that mischief and my heart aches for his situation, i won't say i agree with the cup, or the uncertainty of it, but i would consider it and so i will wait for the sequel to se how everything develops later. But i love his character.

Then i would say the prince is my third, and only because he is at all too nice, i liked when he left his mask slip and MC got upset because all the things he said to her, showing his more human side, and kudos for MC because the option i picked here felt so good to say, almost like something i would say myself.

Wich is another point i would like to praise, the mc characterization. I give her a name, but unlike any other games where i can do so, and much more, i didn't play this game as a way to self-insert myself in the story, because MC alone was such a strong character that i feel like she was more like a friend to me, in a way in wich you read a book and feel for the protagonist but do not wish to take her place. She was kind, brave, and sharp, she could see through others and in her kindness, help them with their ploblems like a mother would do, all she said was on point, gentle, yet firm and to the point and she spooke with such truth and wisdom that i feel like out of everyone in the game, she shone the most.

Sofia and charlotte, while i may not be very fond of GxG as i am only now easing myself slowly into this world (unless the other female character is a tomboy, wich somehow is my soft spot) i enjoyed their routhes all the same, with sofia, i was charmed by her knowledge, she was also very brave with a degree of cunning, but fragile and kind, i will say that something bitter sweet here, as mentioned before, was the fact in how frederique leaped in and made the offer so the two of them could remain together. This ending for me was very sad, as i was partialy going through this because i wanted to unlock his routhe and also, because it was not a real solution, but a temporary one.  and while i would like to say that i wish it could be similar to charlotte ending, i understad that it couln't be posible because of circumstances so it was the best solution at the moment.

Bastien is my least favorite character, just because i related so much to MC in his routhe and was very pissed with him for not doing anything for his own happiness, and for nothing really, considering how everything turned out in the end that they had to rush to solve their situation. i did rush myself trought this because i get very exasperated with people and characters who find every but for any kind of happiness they can find in his life, and was more disheartened after his little rambling at the end, i understad he does not regret it (Probably) but he did say what he said so there is that.

So for those who said that this was a shallow story at fist, i beg to differ, the romance was not fast, but the endings did seem very rushed, but i suspect it was because there was going to be a sequel, wich i can't wait for to se more of my two hubbies and what the others are up to. Even if you don't like a character romanticaly, you can still see them as friend, as i saw even the suporting characters (aka rivals) in such a light.

I am also looking foward to more comedy in the sequel as it was one of my favorite things in this game (and im a sucker for bad jokes, just ask batensan) and perhaps, CG'S where the character lips are actually touching *wink wink* Anyways, it's a great game and i would recomend it with my eyes closed! you should definetely give it a try!

As for the creator, love your game, probably im gonna love the sequel too, and never stop dreaming and doing what you do, making games is difficult, even as a main job or a diversion, so this game is an acomplishment, one you should be proud of, as a fellow who enjoys romance and has probably played almost all the otome, dating sims, yaoi, and visual novel out there i will say, even if you think it's cliché, go for it, i know there are many stories out there about the same damn thing, but anything yours you put in them will make the difference, and i can see in this game a lot of thing you put there, wich are yours alone, who make this game so good as it its, so thake risk, enjoy what you do, and remember that there is always someone out there willing to read that what you are working on!!

Also, take care of your health!!

thank you for this amazing game and i will see you soon, in rose of segunda torns of war! ;) until then, stay safe and be happy!

Totally random question, but did your sprite artist do the side character silhouettes as well or did you have someone separate do that?  I'm thinking about putting together a short project but a lot of the side characters would be black silhouettes and I really liked how yours looked!  If you don't want me contacting your artist though that's totally fine, but I figured I'd ask!

Hello! I bought this game on Steam 2 days ago. I have finished the four (Edit: five) romance routes and ended all with a happy ending, but I can't seem to get to the secret route (no new option on Day 1).

For you to be sure I got all four (Edit: five) endings, I will list the CGs I haven't got to prevent spoilers to anti-spoiler fellows XD I know how sucked it is to be spoilered -_-

I will use (x, y) coordinate (haha I feel silly). I haven't got the CG (4,2) in page one and (5,3); (1,2); and (2,2) on page two. Hope this can give you certainty that I have cleared the four (Edit: five) endings. But if this isn't enough, I can summarize the endings I got.

Do I have to pursue another endings? I know there are other endings aside from I have pursued. But if that's not the case, is there something I didn't do? I want to read Secret's route! X.X

Thank you for answering. And after I played all routes, I will write a review <3

Hey I bought a version of the game before it was avaible on Steam, can I get a game steam key?

I just started playing the game and it is brilliant so far, but after the second day it takes me straight to the credits and i'm not sure if i'm doing something wrong.  I would love to know if there is any way to fix it, thanks.

I was expecting to enjoy this, but it still managed to pleasantly surprise me! For a game set over the course of a few weeks, the romances are astonishingly convincing. (It helps that Iolanthe's home life is pretty unbearable, so all the eloping feels reasonable.) The dialogue was frequently quite clever, and I especially liked how the romance was understated without becoming lifeless.

I usually avoid otome games that allow too much MC customization, because that generally seems to mean either inconsistent characterization or a binary choice between being a pushover or a jerk. I like leads who have strong personalities, rather than self-inserts, so the more defined the MC is as a person, the better. But Iolanthe was somehow clever and refreshing no matter how I played her, which was lovely. (Even though I never could quite bring myself to make her leave her toothbrush behind, or sit around admiring posteriors when she could be helping the stablehand, so I'm sure I missed out on some options). It helps that no matter what you pick, she's never stupid or shy; it's just a matter of how willing she is to play the Court's games, and why she chooses to or not. 

And for once the flexibility of character actually feels necessary—the love interests are quite different sorts of people, so it seems fitting they'd have different types. Leopold, for instance, almost requires the "strong, cunning hellion" that's happy to speak her mind and wreck tea parties for fun and profit, while the more reserved "commanding, diplomatic scholar" feels like the woman the Prince needs in his life to help him navigate treacherous political waters.

I really liked the subtle changes based on your chosen traits, like how being commanding means you get an additional layer of badassery at the tea party when the servant fetches a chair for you without you needing to ask. I think the only time what I chose and what happened didn't match up was on Guillaume's route. I had Iolanthe say she didn't love Guillaume, but wanted to be queen still. Then in the next scene she promptly agreed to marry him even if he renounced his title, which felt...off. But fair enough, really, since picking that option feels OOC in the first place, given everything that comes before it on the route!

This is already too long, but I'd feel weird reviewing an otome game without mentioning the actual routes, so in brief:

Bastien: Adorable. The scene where he realizes that, even if he stays a steward, Iolanthe will eventually leave him, was wonderfully heartbreaking. I would have maaaybe enjoyed more opportunities for Iolanthe to deliberately fluster him, because his reactions are so cute when she does.

Guillaume: I'm a sucker for shy kids who are forced to act like the opposite. And his argument with Iolanthe is handled just right, by which I mean it's good that she gives him the cold shoulder until he apologizes properly. She deserves as much. Overall, I enjoyed watching the MC slowly draw him out of the mindset of a figurehead.

Charlotte: Darling. I just want to spirit her away from everything and make all her dreams come true, which is exactly how the route ends, so yay!

Sofia: Nicely bittersweet and realistic in how they resolve the main conflict. Sofia's a good counterpoint to Charlotte. I made Iolanthe a scholar for her route and it was wonderful seeing two intelligent, classy ladies bond inside the gilded cage they share.

Leopold: I am here for Mr. Tilney types, who know how dumb the social rules are but play to win anyway. His reactions to Iolanthe's troublemaking are priceless; the two of them are a power couple in the making. I did feel like Iolanthe got talked into participating in his plans too quickly, but eh. He's worth it.

Secret Route: A perfect finale and deliciously angsty. It really felt like they were off in their own world together. In terms of chemistry, it might have been the strongest of the romances.

In conclusion: great job! Now I'm going to hop on over to the sequel page and see what's cooking there.

I also made an account for the (initial) purpose of commenting here.  I see I'm not alone. :D

I started the demo and almost instantly thought "Nope, I need the full one". So I bought the game (on Steam) and boy, was I not disappointed.

It's captivating. A great idea, amazingly executed. I love all of it: the text, the artwork, the music... Oh, the music.

The character arcs feel fleshed out and — most importantly — believable. They're not too epic, sure, but I engaged with them, I empathized, I can't help but think of them as real live people — just not of this reality, but of another. That often happens when I read good books, so that one is a huge praise. 

I'm not usually one to play FxM romances (as a WLW in real life, I find myself way more inclined to pursue FxF romances in games too), but after reading comment after comment about how somebody adored this or that guy, I succumbed to my curiosity and... was also not disappointed, even though my expectations were really high at that point.

I haven't completed all the routes yet — I'm saving Charlotte for last and I'm not going for the secret route (I might actually try to please the King instead for once :D), but I enjoyed each end every one of the others. 

My favorite so far is Sofia, hands down. Bastien comes in very, very close second place, though. I won't go into detail here (might get carried away and go into spoiler territory), but whoa, I do feel for both of those struggles. And it was just the right amount of bittersweetness for my taste (in both cases, though for entirely different reasons, of course).

Also, as I mentioned earlier, I loved the music very much. Especially the bittersweet track that plays in the most "heart to heart" dialogues, I don't know its proper name, unfortunately. 

And I wonder if there's any way to download/buy the music as playable files (such as mp3, etc)? I personally would give the same money I paid for the whole game without hesitation, to be honest. I couldn't find even the pointers: the credit roll comes and goes very quickly (for me, perhaps, since English isn't my mother tongue), and there's no other mention of the composers in the devlog or elsewhere that I've been able to find.

I do hope you (or someone) can point me in the right direction.

I literally made an account so I could comment here.

SPOILERS ALERT

The secret route is the best  honestly. I was more surprised that they r blood related, coz usually if there is brother/sister relationship in otome they r usually not related. I was expecting him to say "oh you know we r not even related", that would ruin the whole impression from the route. It could be more better and emotional, also dramatic, the part that touched me when he was talking about his childhood. But I am already happy with you putting this route there. I want to say thank you so much for that. His connection was actually very noticeable when I was playing other routes. Especially, in Sofia's route when he wanted to marry Sofia so she could stay with MC. 

thank you! wish more games had routes like this