Hello, there!
Starting with the bug in case others scrolling past have run into this same issue: unfortunately, this error is because the update broke old saves. (Ack!) If you played Chapter 1 before the update went live, even a few hours before, the quickest way to remedy this is to use the chapter selection option to set your important variables again and proceed with Chapter 2.
Apologies for the inconvenience of replaying / remembering old choices, but hopefully if you finished both chapters, you've already tried this and it worked for you?
Now I can say tysm for the kind words - I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER to hear that you had such a unique and immersive experience playing this game! ♡
It doesn't sound weird at all: that you were able to live a moment of insight through Enmity while playing is incredibly inspiring! One of my biggest hopes was for the dialogue and your interactions with the other players / characters in Garden of Bones to feel as "real" as possible: the complexities of social dynamics and personality traits are lasting passions of mine. But it was just a hope, as although I try my best, I am not an experienced game-maker!
So... this really made me smile. It's also very cool to know that you got the balm scene with Queen Umyra, because not everybody does - it is dependant on traits you choose when you create your MC at the beginning of the game!
Thank you for taking the time to tell this story with me!
~ Efflo