I’ve really liked it so far, and I’ll patiently wait for updates. I do have some thoughts about a particularly weird way I tend to play IFs (at least on my first playthrough), but you already seem to have half a solution for it built into the story.
In my first playthrough of any IF, I usually pick stoic, logical, pragmatic, and emotionally detached choices. I like getting to know the characters while keeping my own character emotionally inaccessible, so I can make better choices later depending on which RO route I want to follow in future playthroughs.
My usual issue is that almost no one expects readers to choose the “solo” route, so most of the time (though I have found exceptions) we eventually get forced into scenes with one of the ROs being kind and supportive because the MC is going through a rough time. That can feel a little strange when my character never really became friends with any of the ROs in the first place.
That’s where your story already has the issue half-fixed: the MC deeply cares about their sibling, and that relationship could naturally fill that emotional role if we aren’t pursuing any RO routes.
Then again, I do tend to play in weird ways during my first run xD. But I also genuinely enjoy seeing how the story handles a character who rejects everyone. I mean, if the option is there, I’m going to pick it just to see what happens, right?
Other than that, I really love the story as a whole, and the premise is very interesting. Defeated rebellion survivors being forced to serve the king because he was merciful enough not to execute them all is such a compelling setup. Although some of the characters’ reactions toward us feel a bit soft at times, I can understand that it’s probably more along the lines of, “I trust my king and his decisions,” rather than, “How could you let those traitors live?”
I sound like I’m ranting, don’t I? Sorry, that’s really not my intention at all. It was a very enjoyable read, and if your goal was to keep a lighter tone and a feeling of “if you keep moving forward, you’ll get there eventually,” then you absolutely nailed it. That’s definitely the vibe I got while reading.