I didn't give it one star because of the very creative sprites, the decent music and the voicing effort. I didn't give it four stars because of implicit offensive controversial themes regarding women and romance. I'm especially exasperated with this game because the author is a woman. Now, let me explain. But be warned: this review contains huge SPOILERS.

+

—Skillful and clever art and style.
—Quaint music.
—Decent voicing.
—Creative sprites enhancing imagination.
—Interesting but poorly used plot ideas.

-

—Length: less than 45 min even if you don't rush.
—The central mystery in the form of a chess game is never really used in the plot.
—The voicing, though convincingly played, sounds out of place and non immersive.
—Romancing a Butler has never felt so dull. Don't expect an empowering romance.
—To reach the best ending, you have to play a demure and resigned girl ready to let the other characters decide of her life because, you love interest will loose interest in you as soon as you show a little shred of will.

Suggestions :

it would be so easy to add one or two scenes, there and there to explain why the Butler reacted more and more coldly to the protagonist everytime she took a real decision on her own. It could have avoided the game from feeling overall like a patriarcal assertive lesson. More precisely, there are three key points that could, and should have dealt without through dialogue.
1. The MC romantic advances: The game only had to mention that the Butler had already explained his situation to the MC and that she was putting his job on the line by disregarding his will.
2. The MC lying to her mother: Why would the Butler care and chance his decision because of that? The protagonist has very valid reasons to lie to her mother so i don't see how that makes any sense.
3. Her dress: There is so much potential with that option, metaphorical stuff, visual jokes, etc, yet even if ti has a huge influence on the Butler, that influence is never acknowledged. The result is that the Butler seems judgmental bout hos a woman is supposed to dress.

Also, there are at least one ending missing.
—A Good Ending: Perhaps something entitled "Pawn Into Queen" Just let the protagonist do there things : wear a red dress - sass the Butler : he behaves like a whimsical jerk, then is the one to call the MC silly and treat her like a child? - kiss him : mind that I didn't say "be kissed" by him - *then*, elope with him.
—Another Ending: maybe something along the lines of "You Swiped The Board" I don't know. But given how the Butler changes his feelings, it would have been more credible, and happy, for the protagonist to decides to run away from any marriage and begin a new life free from her mother's influence ; a live that that she could call her own. Now the Butler could tag along, but it would be on the MC terms.

Don't you think that is something important, even if this is just a visual novel? *Especially* if it is a romantic visual novel?

I guess that if I hadn't been expecting to love this game so hard, I wouldn't have ended so frustrated. Because, there are much worst visual novels on the internet. Al in all, it's still a nice itch.io game.