CABFE'S PROFILE

First, I want to thank you for taking the time to play my game and write a review. It contains a lot of useful feedback which I hope I can use to enhance the game.

Indeed, the first act of the game (childhood) may be too long. Actually, it was a little shorter in a previous demo but a tester found that it felt too quickly done. And he was right; romance rarely go perfectly well from day one. That ended in an extended childhood part with a deleted scene added.
Now it feels too long... I know you can't please everybody but maybe I can find a middle ground someday.

Also, this is an uncut demo. So the first act represents half of it whereas it'll be much less in proportion in the final game, of course. But still, it's one hour long.
I know I have the (bad) habit of having a slow pace. I don't like when things are rushed but, again, there should be a middle ground.
The easiest way would be to simply add an option at launch to skip the whole childhood part and go straight to the adult Ian.

There are hints in your review that you didn't read or remember some elements (like the regicide thing where you suspect Ian's father to be the target. He's always called Count and not King). But make no mistake in what I'm implying. if you didn't read or remember, it's because my dialogs were not interesting enough to catch your attention. So this is on me and I need to fix it.

I'll continue working on the rest of the game before actually redoing the demo parts. First, because I want it to be done and second, that'll be less recent in my mind and I'll be more able to spot what's wrong.

This is my first game and there's certainly room for improvement. I've fixed a few things just reading your review so, thanks again!
As for the cakes stories between the children Ian and River, well, as you said they're 10 and hardly know each other. So that's the only thing that went into their mind at the time.
As adults, they no longer spend their time talking about cakes, promised ;)
Anyway, if you don't like her, you can choose to break up with her as well.