WOW I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS AT ALL
I'll start off with the art and writing. I absolutely loved the use of the black and white aesthetic - it was so subtly eerie and yet warm and nostalgic at the same time (I really think it played so nicely with the two "moods" of the game). The rough "charcoal"-like art looked SO nice. Frederick's sprite was absolutely adorable, especially his expressions, and the CGs were beautifully done. The writing was very well-done, with a fairytale-like quality to the delivery, and the way that certain twists and turns were hidden by the narration was REALLY brilliant in a way that I wasn't expecting.
===SPOILERS===
I really love how, over the course of the story, there are little hints dropped as to the MC's true identity, without being entirely clear until the very end. The way the MC is shocked that Frederick treats them normally, how he gives them normal food. Something that I didn't realize until my second playthrough is that, indeed, the MC also doesn't really "speak" - instead, most of what they communicate to Frederick can be conveyed through nods and shakes of the head. I can honestly say that while I was suspecting that the MC was a monster of some kind, the fact that they were a DRAGON makes so much sense, and is such a sweet concept for a game - the knight comes to rescue the dragon. There's a good variety of endings here, and I like how Frederick can either stay with you or leave with you - either offering you comfort in your lair or showing you freedom. Throughout the entire game, Frederick is a complete sweetheart, and it was painful eating him...(and casting the next "knight" in silhouette, not showing his face, was a very clever move - showing that the MC has completely lost their humanity).
This was such a well-done game, absolutely brilliantly conceived and executed. I am shocked that this was your first solo game, rose!!! You did such a great job, I had so much fun with it!