thechosengiraffewrites - Tumblr blog

thechosengiraffewrites · 7 days

Text

It's been a while!

Hello everyone! Long time no see! It's been a while since I posted...

So here's an update: https://itch.io/blog/705542/what-is-happening-updates-and-more

tl;dr: Life is truly kicking my ass and it's hard to complete anything. But I am trying to push through to be the best that I can! Hopefully I can start posting again soon!

#visual novel #indie game dev #indie game #vn game dev #indie dev

1 note · View note

thechosengiraffewrites · 2 months

Text

Changing - Cenric Afterstory

A/N: Some angst in these trying times

The kitchen was always filled with the best smells. From sweet, to savory, to everything in between, I couldn't help but get hungry as soon as I walked in. Cenric's head was down and his eyebrows were furrowed as he stirred a pot with vigor. I smiled and came up behind him, hugging him tightly. The light and sweet scent of sweat mixed with a deep scent of cinnamon wafted off him. I rested my forehead against his back.

Cenric didn't say anything. I could feel his hand wrap around mine. It's been only several months since the party. Things have definitely slowed down and it seemed like everything was perfect. The cooking lessons have continued, as have the picnic dates and visits to town. There wasn't much talk about our relationship or what we should do. We were just going with the flow. That's all that was.

"Working hard?" I asked, my voice soft.

He hummed and nodded. "Always."

I pulled away and stood next to him, looking into the pot. "Need a taste tester?"

"Sure! This is for the royal banquet that's soon."

"Banquet?" I tilted my head as I tried to go through the mental calendar in my head. "Oh! Right, the one with the council! You're gonna try something new?"

"Yep." Cenric grabbed a spoon and dipped it in the pot. He lifted it to my lips. "Open up."

I giggled and took a bite. The flavors burst in my mouth. The soup was flavorful and spicy. There was a light citrus flavor on top. The shredded beef was so tender and juicy. Cenric truly had a gift of cooking. Now, if I only had some tortillas, cheese… this would be perfect. I hummed happily as he fed me another spoonful. He chuckled to himself.

"You're so cute, you know that right?" He set the spoon down and kissed the top of my head.

"You're one to talk, Mr. Golden Retriever."

"A dog?!"

"A compliment!"

He rolled his eyes and ruffled my hair. "Alright, alright. Want to help me test out some more recipes?"

I shook my head and pouted. "I'd love to but I just wanted to stop by real quick. Lewis is keeping me busy with fixing my reputation among nobles."

Cenric frowned. "Oh. I was hoping we could spend all day together. You know, cook all day, teach you some things. Maybe some…"

I giggled as his face turned red. I stroked his cheek with my hand. "As much as I would love to ditch rubbing elbows with the rich folk and spend all day with you, I really have to do this."

I gave him a kiss before pulling away. He didn't say anything and went back to stirring the pot. He seemed distracted. But he was always distracted whenever he cooked. It's like his mind went elsewhere. I studied him for a second. He seemed… troubled. I sighed and kissed his cheek. His expression relaxed.

"I'll see you later, okay?"

"Alright."

***

I tried hard to get a single moment with Cenric. But it was like it was impossible. Every time I tried going to the kitchen, he was either too busy making a menu or Lewis had me off doing something else. It was frustrating not being able to see the one person that I wanted. And I could tell it was affecting him as well.

The dining room felt suffocating. Six people were stuffed inside the room. Otillia sat on the left side of Lewis while I sat on the right. The rest of the council squeezed next to each other. The conversation was drab. Something about new laws and revising the financial spendings of the kingdom. My only form of entertainment was getting a peek of Cenric as he sent out appetizers for us to eat.

"Lady Davinia, what do you think?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked over to an older gentleman with a scowl. I blinked and put on a fake smile. "I… I believe that King Lewis's ideas are most appropriate."

"Oh, please." The woman sitting next to me rolled her eyes. "She's barely paying attention. She's too busy stuffing her face."

I shrugged. "It's delicious."

Lewis cleared his throat. "Back to the matter at hand-"

"Dinner is served!" Cenric wheeled in a cart filled with food. My eyes widened and I bounced in my seat. He started to explain the dishes. "Today, we have a culinary journey. I studied the food from some neighboring countries and brought to you some staple dishes."

The councilman's nose scrunched as a plate was set in front of him. "We won't be eating what you served at the ball?"

Cenric smiled, though I could tell his jaw tensed. "No, we will not."

"Thank you for the food, Chef Cenric." Lewis said, staring down at his plate.

"I can't wait to-"

I watched in horror as the councilwoman pushed her plate away with a disgusted look. The rest of the council did the same. Otillia looked around, while Lewis gently set down his fork. This couldn't be good. I looked up at Cenric. His fists were clenched at his side, his smile strained. I cleared my throat and took a big bite of food.

"Mmm! Cenric, you outdid yourself. Delicious as always."

"Oh, you glutton." One of the council people rolled their eyes. "You like whatever is placed in front of you."

"Now…" Lewis's voice was filled with warning.

Cenric suddenly spoke up. "I would appreciate it if you all just took a singular bite. I worked hard on these dishes."

"Make me something more… palatable."

There was silence. I could feel the anger inside me boiling. Cenric worked so hard to create food that everyone would like. And yet, these nobles with their heads up their asses were insulting him! The audacity of it all. I slammed down my fork and stood up.

"You are on the council. Please treat the man who so graciously makes you food with respect." I said, my eyes narrowing.

"It's just food." The woman waved her hand. "Calm down. It's not even difficult."

I scoffed. Lewis tried to grab my arm, but I brushed him off. "It is not just food! Cenric's food is a delicacy. He works so hard, and you have the audacity to disrespect him like this?"

"It's fine." Cenric hissed. He turned away. "I quit."

Everyone watched in surprise as he stormed out of the room. I looked around as my heart pounded in my chest. Lewis groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. I straightened and smoothed the front of my dress. That went horribly. I had to talk to him. I made my way out of the dining room and into the kitchen. Cenric was pacing back and forth.

"Are you okay?"

He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. "I can't do this anymore."

"Hey, it's alright." I stepped closer to him. "They were out of line."

"It doesn't matter. The stress… I can't. I just can't."

"M-Maybe you just need some days off. We can spend some time together. I'll ask Lewis to cut me some slack and then you can get some rest. It'll be okay."

"That's not the point, Davinia! I can't stand it here! Everyone's expectations are too much and I know I'll never be good enough."

"But you're good-"

"No! Everyone just needs to leave me alone." He cut me off, shooting a glare my way. "That includes you."

He threw down his apron and stormed out of the room. I just stared at him in surprise. I had never seen him act this way. Even when he told me about his family and why he came here, he was never this distraught. I was such an idiot. My vision was so clouded by this bright sunshine that Cenric brought, that I didn't see the looming dark clouds that were appearing.

I bent down and picked up his apron. I squeezed it tightly in my hands. I blinked several times as my vision became blurry with tears. I sniffled and tried to steady my breathing. I had never seen him so angry before. The fact that it was directed at me hurt more than I cared to admit. Not like I didn't deserve it. I wasn't being good to him.

Cenric was nowhere to be found. It was as if he completely disappeared from the castle. My hands shook as I ran outside and started to look around. The castle grounds were large, but there was only so far he could've gone. Eventually, I found him sitting at the gazebo where we often sit together and eat. I quietly walked over and sat next to him. His shoulders were shaking.

"How long have you been feeling this way?" I asked softly.

He shrugged. "I don't know. I thought that after the banquet, everything was better. But now I just feel…"

"Alone?"

"Yeah."

My heart broke. His eyes were red from crying and he looked so… torn down. I reached out and grabbed his hand, intertwining my fingers with his. "I'm so sorry. I must've made you feel terrible."

Cenric sighed and squeezed my hand. "Do you… only like me because of my cooking?"

My eyes widened. "What?! Of course not!"

"It feels-"

"Cenric." I grabbed his hands tightly. "That is not true. Yes, I love your cooking. But I love who you are."

"My cooking…" His voice cracked as he started to cry. "It feels like that's all I am. I thought I was doing it because I love it, but now it's like I'm doing this just to see the satisfaction on people's faces. But all I'm met with is disgust. And now I'm disgusted with myself."

"Oh, my love." I whispered, hugging him tightly. "People here don't appreciate you. And they don't deserve your cooking. They don't deserve your hard work and care. I do think… I think that it would be best to quit."

"And? What do I do after?"

"Let's figure it out together, okay?"

Cenric nodded. "But what about the work you have to do?"

"Lewis will survive. Besides, I'm pretty sure I just marked myself as an enemy with my outburst."

He laughed and shook his head. "Thank you for that. And I'm sorry for my words earlier."

"It's alright. You were stressed. Just know that I'll always love you and be there for you."

"I love you too."

Things still felt grim. The future was uncertain. Cenric was practically shaking as he leaned against me. But it would turn out alright. I knew that Cenric was just someone who needed to live freely. Not in the confines of a castle filled with snooty assholes. And I'd do anything to make him happy again. As long as we were together, we can pull through. I believe it.

#visual novel #indie game dev #indie game #otome #otome game #dating sim #vn game dev #the villainess just wants to eat

6 notes · View notes

thechosengiraffewrites · 2 months

Text

A Honeymoon - Lewis Afterstory

A/N: Whooo! An afterstory for The Villainess Just Wants to Eat!! Enjoy <3

I took a deep breath as the wind blew my hair behind me, the sails billowing and propelling the ship forward. The scent of sea salt made me scrunch my nose as I stared out into the vast ocean before me. I had been at sea for two weeks now, and I was more than ready to see land. And, of course, my husband.

As the island came into view, I couldn't help but shake in excitement. It felt like it had taken forever for me to finish up work so I could meet him on his business trip. Did I need to go? Absolutely not. But I wanted to. I missed Lewis and I hated being cooped up in the castle for too long.

Once the boat docked, I ran down onto the pier without another thought. My eyes were focused on the man in front of me. His hair was blowing in the wind. Dressed casually in a pair of dark slacks and a dark blue dress shirt, he looked as handsome as ever. With a giggle, I hugged him tightly. He stumbled backwards and wrapped his arms around me.

"I've missed you." He murmured, kissing the top of my head. "It's been too long."

I took a deep breath. Lewis's familiar scent of strong tea and a slight woody scent filled me with happiness. "It's only been four weeks."

"Too long." He pulled away and gazed down at me. "Even a day without you is too much."

There it was. Lewis was never clingy before we got married. But the more time we spent with each other, the more he wanted to be near me. It was a surprise. I never thought he was the affectionate type, much less clingy. I suppose it's like unlocking the final trait of someone in an otome game.

Of course, this wasn't an otome game.

"How's work?" I asked as I reached out and smoothed down his hair.

Lewis frowned and crossed his arms. "It's fine. Boring, being stuck in all these meetings. Especially since my brothers are here."

Ahh, yes. I had the unfortunate displeasure of getting closer to Lewis's brothers. It's not as if I don't like them, but… They are all a handful. I felt bad for Lewis. With Finnley's passing, he had to take on the role of being the oldest. It stressed him. The twins were causing more than enough trouble and David's playboy activities made newslines. Which wasn't good for a royal family.

"Don't stress, okay? If you need help, I'm always here."

Lewis chuckled and pulled you closer. He kissed your cheek. "Thank you, my queen. But enough talk about work. This is our honeymoon."

It technically wasn't the honeymoon. It was really a business trip for whatever kingly duties Lewis had. But since we never got a honeymoon after the wedding, he thought this would be a good chance as ever. I wasn't complaining. I could never complain around him. I smiled as he dragged me off the pier and towards whatever he had planned.

"What's first?" I asked, squeezing his hand tightly.

"An adventure of a lifetime."

***

Lewis hated unnecessary spending. He spent days redoing basically the entire kingdom and how each section spent money. It was honestly impressive. So it surprised me when we got to the cabin we were staying in. Well, much less a cabin and more like a mansion. It was a large, two story building built with dark oak logs. To the left side of the house were horse stables. My eyes were wide and I couldn't even say a word before he led me inside.

The interior was just as breathtaking as the outside. A large fireplace was directly across the open living room. A couch and two comfortable looking chairs sat in front of it. I walked around, taking in everything. When I went to the kitchen, I gasped. There was a large gift basket filled with sweets. Next to the basket was a stack of books. I looked over at you.

"What is all this?"

Lewis shrugged, hiding a proud smile. "Just a wedding gift."

"Just a-" I scoffed and shook my head. "I can't believe this!"

"Don't worry. I have more planned."

"Oh, Lewis!"

I hugged him tightly, immediately burying my face in his neck. When I read anything that was even slightly romantic, I would always get a weird feeling. It wasn't like I was in a rush to get a partner, especially in my previous life. Being able to experience romance for myself felt so entirely different. It was like I was blindsided; tackled onto a big fluffy bed. Everything that Lewis did had me blushing and giggling. I only ever did that while reading!

He let out a hearty laugh before taking out one of the books. "This is a new release. It's the one that you've been excited about from that author you like."

"Oh!"

"And this-" He grabbed a box from the basket. He opened it up to reveal strawberry shortcake. "Is your favorite dessert. I bought this and several other desserts from the local bakery."

I sighed and took the cake from him. "You really went all out… I'm truly flattered."

"And that's not all. I also have a whole itinerary planned for the month that we're here."

There it is. I giggled to myself and set down the cake. It wouldn't be Lewis if he didn't plan everything out right down to the last second. As he excitedly told me about the whole entire month, I stared at him with hearts in my eyes. I truly, completely, loved this man.

"And then, at the end of the month, we'll-" He stopped talking. His face turned red.

I raised an eyebrow. "And then?"

"Nothing."

"No, what is it?"

He looked away from me. "It's nothing at all."

"You have a surprise, don't you? You hopeless romantic."

He scoffed and shook his head. "I am not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Agree to disagree."

***

The honeymoon was absolutely divine. We explored the kingdom. Lewis had to stop me from trying to buy every piece of food I saw. I had to stop him from trying to cling too tightly. Overall, it was a glorious time. The man knew me inside and out. Each activity he had planned was perfect for both of you. From picnics in flower fields eating the country's delicacies to reading in the expansive library, everything was more than perfect. But I couldn't help but become impatient at what Lewis had planned for the end of the month.

We rode the horses to a hill nearby our cabin. It had a large tree, perfect for gazing at the sunset. He helped me off the horse, my hand squeezing his tightly. "Is this the surprise? Watching the sunset?"

He rolled his eyes. "Have you been thinking about that our whole trip?"

"Maybe."

He sighed and kissed my cheek. I hummed happily. We walked over to the tree and sat down. His arm was wrapped around me, my head resting on his shoulder. It was like we were two pieces of a puzzle. I was nestled perfectly in his arms. And I didn't want to be anywhere else.

His hand ran gently through my hair. "Have you been having fun?"

I nodded and looked up at him. I pushed his glasses up his nose. "It's been absolutely perfect."

"I'm glad. I was a bit worried."

I kept my gaze on him. "And why's that?"

"I was worried you were mad at me." He shifted and looked down at me. He cupped my face and gave my nose a gentle kiss. "I've been working a lot since the coronation and our wedding. It feels like I haven't had time for us at all. And making you be on a ship for two weeks just for this honeymoon… I felt as if I was being neglectful."

"Lewis. I know you're busy. I'm satisfied with the way things are. Yes, I miss you, but I can always just stay in your office while you work or we can catch up while we eat. Not to mention we sleep together every night."

His face turned red and he cleared his throat. "I am glad, then. I want nothing more than for you to be happy."

"I am happy. I could never be-"

My words were cut off as Lewis pulled out a small velvet box. I stared at him as he opened the box, revealing a wedding band with a small diamond. My eyes were the size of dinner plates. What was even happening? My heart was pounding in my chest. It was almost deafening, the way it filled my ears. Lewis grabbed my hand.

"Wh-What–"

"We never officially got to do this. And I wanted to. For real. I love you, with all my heart. You're my everything. The reason I get up in the morning. I could not have asked for a more perfect person to spend the rest of my life with. So… Will you marry me?"

I nodded. I couldn't even speak. My lips trembled as he slipped the ring on my finger. I couldn't help but tear up. The pure thoughtfulness of this proposal was enough to make me want to sob for a week straight. It felt like I had been blessed with the most perfect man. I thought they only existed in fiction, yet here he was. A smile on his face. A man that is filled with pure happiness and love.

"Lewis… Oh my god, I love you so much."

"I love you too." He leaned in and kissed me gently. "And I will never stop. You're my soulmate."

I let out a sob and tackled him to the ground in a hug. He grunted, but wrapped his arms around me. Nothing could be more perfect than this. Lewis was perfect. Life was perfect. And I couldn't ask for anything more.

#visual novel #indie game dev #indie game #otome #otome game #dating sim #vn game dev #indie dev #the villainess just wants to eat

14 notes · View notes

thechosengiraffewrites · 2 months

Text

The Villainess Just Wants to Eat!! Full Release

It's finally here! The full release of The Villainess Just Wants to Eat has arrived just in time for Valentine's day. Enjoy two routes and over 23k words of sweetness!

Along with the game, we also have download goals for extra content. Check those out here:

#visual novel #indie game dev #indie game #otome #otome game #dating sim #vn game dev #game developers #indie dev

105 notes · View notes

thechosengiraffewrites · 2 months

Text

Ossan Jam 2024

The Ossan Jam 2024 (formerly known as Oji Jam) page is officially up!

Ossan Jam is a visual novel jam dedicated to old men. You must create a visual novel with an old man as the center of attention. This year, we’re taking a much more relaxed approached. Come join us and make VNs about old men!

#visual novel #indie game dev #indie game #vn game jam #game jam #vn game dev #game developers #indiegames #indiegamedev #indie dev

142 notes · View notes

thechosengiraffewrites · 3 months

Text

Official Release Date!

Mark your calendars and get those plates ready! You're in for a feast! The full release for The Villainess Just Wants to Eat!! will be on February 14th!

#visual novel #indie game dev #indie game #otome #otome game #dating sim #vn game dev #game developers

10 notes · View notes

thechosengiraffewrites · 3 months

Text

Game Dev Interviews Kick Off!

It's time! The first round of game dev interviews are ready to start! The first one will be with Andrea Saravia Pérez on February 6th @ 3pm EST! Make sure to save the date!

twitch_live

#indie game dev #indie game #game developers #game development #twitch streamer #twitch #interview

2 notes · View notes

thechosengiraffewrites · 4 months

Text

Game Dev Interviews!!

Hello all!! Want to talk about your games? Aspirations? Your plans for the future? How you make your games?

Look no further! I’ll be hosting game dev interviews on my Twitch channel. I’m looking for all types of devs, whether you’re a beginner or a veteran! Fill out the form below and I’ll be in contact!

Form: https://forms.gle/MFb1bxRJ88tURdcM9

#visual novel #indie game dev #indie game #vn game dev #game development #game developers #interview #streaming #twitch #twitch streamer

3 notes · View notes

thechosengiraffewrites · 5 months

Text

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!

I have an important update about the current state of things!!

To find out what is happening, please check here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/important-update-92844924?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

#patreon content #patreon #udpate #major update

1 note · View note

thechosengiraffewrites · 5 months

Text

Patreon Post: 3:00 AM Thoughts

A FREE Patreon post is now available! Get acquainted with 3:00 AM Thoughts, a kinetic visual novel exploring the effects of insomnia. This is one of the things I'm working on for National November Writing Month. It's going great so far!!