The Kingdom of Thestria is ruled by one of the most tyrannical leaders in its recorded history, a man known to his people as The Iron King. You just know him as Father. Rebels grow in number daily, destabilizing the kingdom and tempting foreign invasion, while disgruntled nobles threaten civil war. With your coming-of-age ceremony just around the corner, everyone wants something from you, the only heir to the throne. Will you help your father crush the uprisings for good, band with the rebels, usurp the throne for yourself, or abandon it all for your own dreams?
Features
- Play as a prince or a princess
- Crush the rebels, join them, usurp the throne, or abandon it all to pursue your own dreams
- Romance a prince, a princess, a maidservant, a guardsman, a noble, or no one at all
- Bribe, threaten, charm, reason, or fight your way to your goals
- Be careful: your decisions will determine not only your fate, but that of an entire kingdom.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Holly, I studied writing at the University of Victoria and have been freelancing for years now. About a year ago I started getting more serious about writing fiction specifically. I specialise in speculative, clean fiction and have a few short stories coming out this year (one was published just today actually, more info in link at bottom).
I’ve pretty much always been obsessed with video games and have enjoyed CoG games for the last few years. I’m really excited to finally dive into my own CS project.
I’m actually working on this game in collaboration with some of the folks at Silence & Starsong magazine, more authors may be added to the “by” line as time goes on.
Content Warnings
Violence (not super graphic), alcohol and drug use, an abusive father, optional attempted forced relationships players can attempt to use their power to coerce an RO, culminating in an attempted rape later on, but this is (a) completely optional and easily avoidable, (b) will not be in any way glorified, and (c) will not be graphic or successful.
Romance Options
All romances in this game are heterosexual and low spice. You start the game betrothed, but there’s no rule that you have to go through with it, or that you have to romance anyone at all
Connor (female PC’s betrothed): the noble prince. You’re expected to marry him, but ultimately the choice is yours. Beyond the political advantages of such a union, he’s a kind and caring man who genuinely wants what’s best for both your kingdoms, and he may prove to be more cunning than he first appears.
Nora (male PC’s betrothed): You’re expected to marry her, but ultimately the choice is yours. But it may not be a bad option. On first appearances, she’s everything you’d expect from a princess—polite, beautiful, and graceful—but there’s a lot more to her than meets the eye. She fights fiercely for those she cares about and possesses a keen mind and a great deal of wisdom.
Garrett: your loyal guardsman. You grew up with him and know that he would die for you in a heartbeat, but is it just duty that binds you, or something more? He’s a strong and capable warrior, but with a surprising depth that he shows only to a few. Such a romance would, of course, be strictly forbidden, but you’re a princess—can’t you do what you want?
Mirabel: the feisty maidservant. You grew up with her at your side and she knows you perhaps better than anyone else. She goes about her duties obediently, but anyone with eyes can tell there’s a fire brewing in her heart. But your difference in station isn’t the only thing keeping you apart—Mirabel has a secret, one that she won’t share with just anyone. Is your love enough to hold you together despite everything against you?
Lady Evangeline: the cunning and seductive noblewoman. She knows everything about everyone and knows how to best make use of that information. A dangerous enemy and a powerful ally, she is sure to keep you on your toes. You may be betrothed to another, but Evangeline has never been one to follow the rules. With her at your side, what won’t you be able to accomplish?
Lord Justin: the charming, fun-loving, and totally frivolous nobleman. He despises the rigidity of the noble court and is constantly bending rules in his effort to have just a little fun. A total lady’s man, it’ll take someone exceptional to win his heart from all the other noblewomen. Unless, of course, you like things casual. Either way, he’s a must to have on your side if you want a break from a stifling life as a royal.
I have a couple more ideas for ROs and am open to ideas, but for now this is what you’re getting.
Progress
Currently, IKH is two chapters long with an estimated 9 chapters. For the most up-to-date reports, check out my Patreon. Free members get regular, abbreviated progress reports while paid supporters get sneak peeks and more.
Completed:
- Chapter 1 complete draft
- Chapter 2 super rough draft
In progress:
- Chapter 2 major revisions
- Chapter 1 minor revisions
A note on AI
My words are my own. I had some complaints about a placeholder AI image I had as cover art and while I never intended to publish the game with that (or any other computer generated images), I replaced it with a simpler Canva image so as not to give the wrong impression.
I do, however, use AI for research purposes and then fact check elsewhere when necessary.
Changelog
1.09 (December 24, 2025) PATRONS ONLY
- Rough draft intro to Chapter 2 is now up
1.08 (June 12, 2025)
- New option to thank Garrett/Mirabel at end of chapter
- Fixed: typos throughout
1.07 (May 28, 2025)
- Updated dock scene and ending
1.06 (May 19, 2025)
- Updated flight scene
1.05 (April 25, 2025)
- Fixed: various typos
1.04 (April 16, 2025)
- Fixed: Nora addressing male PC as Connor
- Partially updated flight scene
1.03 (April 10, 2025)
- Expanded introduction scene with Connor/Nora
- Fixed assorted typos
1.02 (April 7, 2025)
- Expanded carriage scene
1.01 (March 28, 2025)
- Fixed error after meeting Nora
- Fixed assorted typos
Feedback Requests
High-level feedback:
- What do you think of the characters?
- What would you like to see more of? Less of?
- What choices do you wish you were able to make but couldn’t?
- What direction do you hope this game takes?
- What are the strongest and weakest points of the game thus far?
- How likely would you be to play the next chapter?
Low-level feedback:
- Are there any glitches or continuity errors?
- Typos, awkward phrasing, etc.
I’m very new to CS, so no advice is too obvious 
Important Links
Demo
Feedback Form
Author Info
Patreon
Polls for funsies on reply 82
