Are you looking for a captivating story of love, betrayal, and magic? Do you enjoy reading fantasy romance novels with strong characters, intriguing plots, and vivid settings? If so, you will love Under the Oak Tree, a popular Korean novel by Suji Kim that has been translated into English and is available on Webnovel⁶ and Goodreads⁷.
Under the Oak Tree is the story of Maxi and Riftan, two people who are forced into a marriage by circumstance but end up falling in love. Maxi is the daughter of a duke who suffers from a disability of stuttering, which makes her feel insecure and isolated. Her father, who is the lord of a small territory, despises her and treats her cruelly. He wants to get rid of her by marrying her off to anyone who would accept her, regardless of her feelings or preferences.
Riftan is a brave and loyal knight in the kingdom of Anatol, but he has a very low rank and is almost unnoticeable among the nobles. He has a dream of becoming a great hero and earning respect and glory. He is also secretly in love with the princess of Anatol, who is engaged to another man.
Maxi and Riftan are married by her father, who wants to use Riftan as a pawn in his political schemes. At first, Riftan doesn’t like Maxi at all and is indifferent to her. He only sees her as a burden and a nuisance. But soon, he starts to notice her kindness, courage, and beauty. He falls in love with her and vows to protect her from her father’s abuse. Their love story is just getting started when Riftan decides to go on the war.
He joins the army of Anatol, which is fighting against the neighboring kingdom of Zetian. The war is fierce and bloody, and many soldiers die. Riftan fights bravely and skillfully, and manages to survive the battles. He also performs a heroic deed that changes the course of the war. He leads a small group of knights to infiltrate the enemy’s camp and assassinate their king. He succeeds in his mission and returns to Anatol with the king’s head. He is received with a triumph. He won the unwinnable war for the kingdom and now he is the most popular man in the whole kingdom. Every girl wants him, including the princess, who is now free from her engagement. But he is in love with Maxi, who is waiting for him at home.
When he was gone, Maxi also tried to learn magic from Ruth, his advisor and friend. Ruth is a powerful mage who knows many secrets and mysteries. He taught Maxi how to use her latent magical talent and how to control her stuttering. He also helped her to improve her self-esteem and confidence. Maxi became a strong and independent woman, who could stand up for herself and others. She also made many friends and allies, who supported her and admired her.
But when Riftan found out about her magic, he was furious and upset with his wife. He didn’t trust magic and he feared that Maxi would become corrupted by it. He also felt insecure and jealous of her new friends and admirers. He accused her of being unfaithful and dishonest. He didn’t understand her and he didn’t listen to her. He hurt her with his words and actions.
After that, their marriage started to get bitter and complicated. They had many conflicts and misunderstandings. They also faced many dangers and enemies, who wanted to harm them or separate them. They had to overcome many challenges and obstacles, both internal and external. They had to learn how to trust each other and communicate with each other. They had to rediscover their love and passion for each other. They had to fight for their happiness and their future.
Under the Oak Tree is a story that will make you laugh, cry, and feel. It is a story that will touch your heart and soul. It is a story that you will never forget. I am sorry I can’t tell you anymore because of the spoilers. It’s best that you read it yourself, Cheers!