I'm Ligia Nunes (she/her), an award-winning Brazilian, writing sci-fi and fantasy diverse and inclusive stories filled with romance and humor. I believe in justice, in love, feminism, and in equal rights for everyone. If you're like me, then my books and games were written especially for you. ā„ I hope you'll enjoy them!
Two children raised together. One, a future King. The other, his whipping child.Ā Their relationship? It's up to you to develop.
Play it on itch.io! || Play it on Steam || All the content on Ko-Fi || Support me on Patreon and Ko-fi || Check my queer books! || All my links here!
MATHIAS'S HEART HAS BEEN bleeding since his father, the former King, decided to punishĀ you for his mistakes. As the youngest child of a lesser bourgeois, you were raised in the castle, between the King's cruelty, the Queen's friendship, and Mathias's kindness (or supposed kindness?).
Now, more than twenty Carnivals since your arrival, the King is dead and the Queen's sickness worsens each day. As the azure taint spreads in the kingdom and the Opalean Wars come to an end, it's Mathias's time to sit on the throne.
Will the docile Prince become a kind King, a violent Monarch, or a ruthless Tyrant? Will you have any say in it? And how much will your relationship change?
Develop your personality, see how your choices build, and change your bond with Mathias.
It's time to help him choose. Will your monarchĀ Love the Guard or Be the King?
AGE SUGGESTED; 16+ forĀ eroticĀ nudity, mild violence, swearing, and non-explicitĀ sexual scenes.
FEATURES;
150k+ words (3 out of 4 chapters developed + 1 Extra Story) in the public build
220k+ words in the supporters build (in Patreon and Ko-fi)
Black & White aesthetic
6 black & white CGs + 2 colored illustrations
One Love Interest with five possible types of branching relationships, non-romantic options included.
Possible romantic rendezvous with other characters while in Mathias's friendship route.
LGBTQIA+ friendly + representation (you can choose your gender and your relationship with Mathias)
Age suggested: 16+ for non-explicit sexual scenes, some soft swearing, and violence.
ABOUT THE GAME;
This game is my firstĀ prototype. I'm trying to see ifĀ I can give you the freedom to build your relationship with a character while also deciding how you feel about your past and present.
Our experiences (and the way we feel about them) help define who we are, so, in this game, I'd like you to decide yoursāand to face whatever consequences come with that choice.
This story will have 4 chapters. :)
ā„ā„ā„ā„ This game is free and still under development. Right now, you have 2 out of 4 chapters + 1 Extra Story. If you want to support the development of LtGBtK, please consider leaving a comment on the dev page, following me, and sharing this post!
You can also support me via ko-fi ! ā„ā„ā„ā„
Link in itch.io
CHARACTERS;
Mathias Jan Yvanson (LI) - The Crown Prince - 28 - He / His
You and Mathias were raised together. As you grew up, he would often read for you, treat your wounds, and he honestly thought he was protecting you while your whole life went up in flames.
Mathias is the future King of Opala, but something seems to be missing, and you're not the only one who sees it. With Mathias being the target of a ravenous court, it's up to you to give him the guidance and answers he needsāor to sit back and watch as the flames get higher. He may seem innocent and good, but there's an underlying layer of guilt shaping his personality. Will you enforce it, break it, or use it in your favor?
Mandreis Jay Yvanson - The Grand General - 26 - They / Them
Mathias's sibling and the-child-who-didn't-have-a-whipping-boy. Like you, Mandra was also a victim of King Elias's punishments, and it shows in the many scars they carry.
Everything Mandra does has a reason, and no matter how reckless, rude, or violent they may be, you can be sure of one thing: they'll have Mathias exactly in the place he should be, one way or another. Mandra was once the child who ran after you and Mathias. Today, they're the Grand General of the Opalean Forces, and the symbol of everything that could've gone rightābut didn't. Their intentions? Not even the Goddess knows.
Melike Jal Yvanson - The Ambassador - 22 - She/Her
Mathias's younger sister and the child-who-was-sent-away. Melike has been living in Safira as a hostage an ambassador for the past five years. She is considered The Royal Flower of Opalean nobility, and despite having stayed almost a decade away from home, she is still loved by the nobles and the people alike.
Also known as the āChild of the two Queens,ā Melike has always
been a constant in the Opaleans' lives. When Queen Yvana lost control, Melikeās missives from Safira, read out loud by criers in the public market, were the only thing filling her people with hope.
Melike is a gifted Arcano, attentive, gentle, and terribly intelligent--but she is also dangerous. She likes the metaphor about flowers and thorns, but, as her namesake indicates, she prefers the idea of being poisonous.
Queen Yvana Jal Yvanson - THE Queen - 53 - She / Her
The Queen was the one responsible for bringing you into the Castle, decades ago. She used to be sweet and good while you were growing up, but something changed and nobody knows exactly what. Now, as the Azure Taint consumes her, Queen Yvana seems to slowly go back to her former self. Be careful, though. Her gentle countenance hides secrets that go much beyond the black cherry wood forming her crown.
Doctor Helena Filtchen - The Spymaster The Royal Doctor - 56 - She / Her
Brutal when needed, incisive when asked, and always paying attention. Some people might think her long-lasting, romantic relationship with Queen Yvana left her too soft to keep acting in the shadows, but Dr. Filtchen is always ready to prove them wrong.
She's now focused on studying the Azure Taint and on finding a cure. If she'll find it in time or not, that's another story.
Master Mercurio - The Great Arcanos - ??? - He / Them
Nobody knows exactly where he comes from, but "Master Curio," as Mathias has always called him, is possibly one of, if not the most powerful Arcane Mage in all the Five Kingdoms. Nobody knows why or how Master Curio chooses their students or how many they are, but he is in Opala now to train Mathiasāand he better not waste the opportunity.
... And YOU! - The Dragon Commander
Child of a lesser bourgeois, you were raised in the Castle with everything a royal child could haveāplus a painful coating of scars that mask your back, arms, nape, and face.
Build your own Dragon Commander, your relationship with Mathias and the others, and discover the past that binds you all, so you can stir your present in the direction you want... and maybe decide the future of the entire kingdom.
LINKS TO THE GAME;
Itch.io | Ko-fi (if you want to support the development + read more about it! ā„)
You can also Sign my Newsletter if you want to receive news about ALL my projects. ;)
The Anhang Series: Book #1 (completed - winner of the Watty award 2020 in the sci-fi category) | Book #2 (ongoing)
Tags: Superhero, LGBTQIA+, Action, Romance
Villains are meant to stay away from Heroes, no matter how powerful--or hot--they are. But when a famous hero becomes a criminal and sparks start flying, can a villain resist?
Unemployed, overdrawn, ashamed, babysitting her 5-yo sister, and chasing a dream career that doesn't seem it'll ever work out, Mara meets a mysterious person bleeding on the street. The stranger asks for her help and promises to be a better friend than they'd ever been, but Mara never saw them in her entire life and she's about to call the police when the stranger... well... dies.
And yes, that would be weird as hell in itself, but things only get worse when the stranger comes back to life and shows Mara into a new world filled with monsters that need slaying, secrets that need keeping, truths that need unveiling, and a crescent evil that threatens everything she holds dear.
July's extra content poll #1--with an extra fun option!
Happy July, everyone!
I hope you're all enjoying your holidays or, if you're like me, your life as usual, hahaha.
June was a great month--even though I had a LOT of work to do--so I enjoyed this first week of July in a mix of studying, organizing, resting, and preparing:
I managed to complete my first "programming in Lua" course in preparation for my move to Light.VN (now I officially looove Lua),
I'm already re-creating WtDLtK on Light.VN. Still trying to get used to this new screen creation process plus the VERY different coding.
And I baked a delicious batch of brownies over the weekend + finally found the time to beat Dustborn ("Life is Strange" meets "Guitar Hero" meets "Saints Row," but a tad more serios. Lots of fun with queer characters and a good, touching story!)
But now, it's time to talk about this month's extra content, and I think I have a very fun idea I'd like to try. The 1st poll this month will have the usual Character x Trope x Mood, but I'm also adding a "fourth" option (in quotes cause there's a lot more than four options lol).
So let's go! The theme for this month will be "Beach Episode" cause i have sensitive skin, painful heat rashes all over, and if I CAN'T go to the beach, my characters will :')))) ā¤ļøššļøšŗ
(since Tumblr doesn't let me add multiple choices) Choose either (C) Character, (T) Trope, and (M) Mood OR............. š„š„š„ a patreon/ko-fi exclusive update with ~3k words forĀ Rise of the Bloodchemist!!! ;))))
ā¤ļøĀ You can also vote on PATREON or KO-FI for the multiple choice! ā¤ļø
drawing process for Lord MercĆŗrio's new sprite! (I might post the painting process later when i get to it xD) ā„ i had a lot of fun while drawing this one ā¤ļøš ft the other finished sprites (plus Val's that is still in progress hahaha)
Today's the last day to get "Love the Guard, Be the King" at a discount!
āļøIf you enjoy the Medieval/Fantasy/Romance combo, you might enjoy this Visual Novel! š²
You spent your life in the castle as a whipping child to the future King, and against all odds, you found friendship and love among the royal familyā¦ until a series of choices and mistakes led you the point you are today: weakened, lost, a rabbit in a nest of vipers.
But life has a way of turning the wheel, so when it's time for Mathias to sit on the throne, you'll be the one guiding him through the preparation for the Blooming ceremony.
Until everything goes wrong, and the steel in your hands, the air in your lungs, and the bonds you're re-shaping become the only thing capable of seeing your loved ones through a new day.
It's time to make new choices and decide, once and for all, if your power is really lost--or if, like a powerful Dragon, it was only sleeping, waiting for you to come back.
What choices will you make, Dragon Commander?
A Visual Novel game filled with romance, action, and intrigue. Create your Dragon Commander, befriend or romance the future King, and find t
July's extra content poll #1--with an extra fun option!
Happy July, everyone!
I hope you're all enjoying your holidays or, if you're like me, your life as usual, hahaha.
June was a great month--even though I had a LOT of work to do--so I enjoyed this first week of July in a mix of studying, organizing, resting, and preparing:
I managed to complete my first "programming in Lua" course in preparation for my move to Light.VN (now I officially looove Lua),
I'm already re-creating WtDLtK on Light.VN. Still trying to get used to this new screen creation process plus the VERY different coding.
And I baked a delicious batch of brownies over the weekend + finally found the time to beat Dustborn ("Life is Strange" meets "Guitar Hero" meets "Saints Row," but a tad more serios. Lots of fun with queer characters and a good, touching story!)
But now, it's time to talk about this month's extra content, and I think I have a very fun idea I'd like to try. The 1st poll this month will have the usual Character x Trope x Mood, but I'm also adding a "fourth" option (in quotes cause there's a lot more than four options lol).
So let's go! The theme for this month will be "Beach Episode" cause i have sensitive skin, painful heat rashes all over, and if I CAN'T go to the beach, my characters will :')))) ā¤ļøššļøšŗ
(since Tumblr doesn't let me add multiple choices) Choose either (C) Character, (T) Trope, and (M) Mood OR............. š„š„š„ a patreon/ko-fi exclusive update with ~3k words forĀ Rise of the Bloodchemist!!! ;))))
ā¤ļøĀ You can also vote on PATREON or KO-FI for the multiple choice! ā¤ļø
Hey I really enjoyed the LTGBTK game, itās one of the best VN I played. Iām struggling to get the achievement of toasting for a village - can you suggest how to get that? Thanks!!
hi anon! ā¤ļø oh wow, thank you so much! i'm so happy you enjoyed it! :)))
that one is a little tricky. i'll give you a hint and put the answer below the cut. ;)
hint: at the beginning of the intermission, don't be afraid to blackmail your prince... but know your limitations later!
while Matt and DC are playing cards, choose the option "It depends. What's in it for me?" and then ask Mathias for "Lands." Later in the chapter, when it's time to toast, choose "I'm... really terrible at toasts." and that's it!
I feel like this song captures exactly how my DC feels about Mand. (And I wanted to share a song in my native language)
Texting in English:
I want to do things that are not allowed
Things that are forbidden
I want the universe to unite
And then catch aflame
Ā
I want the fire to dance
I want it to escape the hearth
I want you to be the spark
And me, the flame
I want you just for today
Be my reward
Make my knees tremble
For the first time in forever
Make me feel flames licking at my nape
Let me feel wild at least for a while
I want you just for today
Be my reward
Make my knees tremble
For the first time in foreverĀ
Make me feel flames licking at my nape
Let me feel wild at least for a whileĀ
Stay up until dawn
I donāt want to sleep tonight
All the lines of your palms
I want to count
I want to know what youāre thinking
And I want to keep secret the fact
That I know your name so well
But wish to know it no more
I want you just for today
Be my reward
Make my knees tremble
For the first time in forever
Make me feel flames licking at my nape
Let me feel wild at least for a while
I want you just for today
Be my reward
Make my knees tremble
For the first time in forever
Make me feel flames licking at my nape
Let me feel wild at least for a while
I want you just for today
Be my reward
Make my knees tremble
For the first time in forever
Make me feel flames licking at my nape
Let me feel wild at least for a while
I want you just for today
Be my reward
Make my knees tremble
For the first time in forever
Make me feel flames licking at my nape
Let me feel wild at least for a while
hiiii, Niko!
oh wow, thank you so much for sharing this with me! I don't think i've ever heard a Czech song before. I *loved* it! those are powerful lyrics, btw š„ŗā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø Mand would be so so moved and so so tempted to do something about it
I don't mean this in a bad way, but is there any specific reason why most of the characters in LtGBtK have piercings? š¤š¤
hi, anon!
hahahaha i just find piercings very, very sexy :3 ā¤ļø design-wise, they're also so good to express people's personalities. i looove them š„ŗš„ŗš„ŗ
I released the new supporters' build yesterday, so you can already access the new version. I hope you'll enjoy it! It takes WtDLtK to 16k+ words, and every day closer to the first inciting incident that I've been dying to write! ;)))
In this one:
have a tense interaction either with Matt or Mand (depending on your romantic route)
interact with Mel and Kastian (with a bonus short thing if your Destroyer DC flirted with Kas in the first game)
choose if you want to interact with Esma and Alette and why
see Lord MercĆŗrio and Knight ValĆŖncia again
make a good first impression in your official meeting with a certain ambassador (or not)
start organizing Mathias's new council (while he focuses on Goddess-knows-what)
and receive your very first mission!
For this update, I also:
painted a new BG. The Command Tent will be more important to the plot than you can imagine, and i'm VERY excited about this!
finished and programmed Mathias's and Mandra's sprites
As always, thank you so, so much for your support!
Writing was very hard for me this month, with everything that happened with Ren'py, my decision to change game engines, and this wild weather, so I'm glad I managed to at least finish those 9k+ words. My objective for this month is to reach 15k. I believe I can do it if life stops throwing curveballs my way, hahaha. :) Wish me luck!
Also, if you played LtGBtK on Steam, please consider leaving a review! It would really help me reach new players and be part of bigger sale events on Steam. ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
I hope you're taking care of yourselves, drinking a lot of water, and resting as much as you can.
The Wedding is my first Visual Novel. You can now buy it! Demo | Steam |Itch.io
And thank you all for the support. š
Steam finally decided to behave, so I can post my emotional rambling, and youāll just have to endure it. š
Is it crazy to say that Iām more proud of The Wedding than When Life Gives You Lemons? Donāt get me wrong, I love both, and Lemons is probably the game that got me where I am since so many people resonated with it.
But as far back as I can remember, Iāve always wanted to make a Visual Novel, and now, four years later, with so much support from this community and a crash course in learning how to code in RenāPy, itās finally done. I finally published my first VN.
The graphics, the story, the characters... I love them all.
Micah holds a special place in my heart because I never thought I could create a character that sassy and still have readers fall in love with them. Cassidy was a last-minute addition and somehow became one of my favorite romances (sorry, Iām biased). Tara/Tariq is incredibly sweet, and their artwork with the bonnet is still one of my favorites.
And then thereās Danny and Taylor. All of them are so different, yet somehow they all came alive as I write every little scene and every little dialogue.
Yes, the launch was delayed on Steam because Steam needed to approve the page, and yes, I was kind of bummed out and was waiting before I made an official announcement.
But, Hey! It's finally available on Steam. š
This was a passion project; the game is nowhere near perfect, but I love it, flaws and all, and Iām incredibly proud of it.
Thank you all for the support. Thank you to all my Kickstarter backers. Iām so grateful to have an audience willing to read my silly little stories.
Hereās to more stories coming your way, however cringy they may be. š
Also adding some of my other finished games.
The Midnight Saga-Demo | Steam | Google | Apple
Insert-Rich-Family-Name-Demo | Google Play |Apple Store| Steam
It Takes Three to Tango Demo
When Life Gives You Lemons-Demo | Steam
Also... Big thank you to Dori for this beautiful Banner. š„°
Here is the full rec list to round off our 2026 Pride Spotlight event! Below, you will find a list of fantastic IFs submitted to us via the google form as well as corresponding author interviews for a few!
All Things Terrible and Beautiful by @atab-if
An Eater by @aneater-if
Dead Weight by @deadweight-if
Directive by @directive-if (interview)
FLESH REVIVAL by @fleshrevival (interview)
God-Cursed by @wings-of-ink
Herotome by @herotome
Juliet & Cinderella by @l-writes-things (interview)
Lament by @lament-if
Love the Guard, Be the King by @ligiawrites (interview)
Stygian Sun: Total Eclipse by @stygiansun-totaleclipse
If you've been waiting for an opportunity to get "Love the Guard, Be the King" at a discount, the Summer Sale is here! Yay!
You can now save on "Love the Guard, Be the King" both on Steam and Itch.io
AND, all of my books and short story anthologies are also 20% off on itch.io, including "The Lady of the Sand Manor" ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø If you're itching for more lore, background stories, and POVs, this is your chance!
