Under the Oak Tree

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

The daughter of a duke, the stuttering Maximilian, married a knight of lowly status at her father’s coercion.

After their first night, her husband departed for an expedition without another word.

He comes back three years later, this time as a famous knight in the whole continent.

How would Maximilian face him on his return?

Associated Names
One entry per line
Utot
상수리나무 아래
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Living As the Villainess Queen (10)
Predatory Marriage (9)
The Duke’s Imposter Sister (9)
I Don’t Want to Be Loved (8)
I Should Have Read The Ending (8)
I Raised A Black Dragon (6)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Read!!!!
  2. Reading
  3. Josei KR Romance favourites
  4. BEAUTIFUL COVERS
  5. Smutt~~

Latest Release

4 group(s) hidden due to dead links. Click here to show all releases.
Write a Review
169 Reviews sorted by


Empathatic
Empathatic rated it
May 31, 2022
Status: Completed
*Final Edit*
Sooo... the translations have been removed because the books have been officially translated and are available on Amazon (at least I think that's where you get them). I'm here because I just want to put in my final two cents after finishing everything.
These books are tr*sh and are overrated. There is no true *romance* here, only smut. The justification for Riftan acting badly? Magical brain-damage. I'm not even putting a spoiler warning for this because it's just ridiculous and anyone going in should know about it. I... more>> cannot understand why so many people defend these novels. The only thing I can come up with is that they've read so many tr*shy harlequin romance novels that they have Stockholm syndrome from it. If you like brain-dead smut that has no resolution to frustratingly bad relationships and no justice for a female lead constantly abused, go ahead. Be my guest. If you prefer ACTUAL character development and story with a bit of smut, don't read this.

*Edit* I'm seeing a lot of people saying you can't criticize the story unless you've read to at least chapter 50, or 100, or even further. If you have to read that far in a story for it to be good or for a character to start developing, then it's poorly written. And I've read a lot further. It does get better, but not by much. And Riftan doesn't really become a likeable person either. */End edit*

I'm giving this two stars because, at the very least, the story the author chose to write fits the setting. But there's a lot to hate here.

First, there's no warning, so I'll put that here. Maxi is r@p3d and s3xu@lly assaulted in chapter 2 & 3. It's not ambiguous. It's very clearly r@p3. Lines that struck me were:

"As his wife, she was his possession and at his mercy."
Riftan: "I won't stop once we begin"
"She could not believe that something so grotesque was happening"
"She Felt a strange sense of emptiness. Eyelids aflutter, she stared blankly at the ceiling. What had just happened to her?"
Riftan immediately following it all: "Why are you crying?"

These two chapters set the tone for the rest of the story. It's sm*t, but it's the kind of sm*t that goes back to the days your Grandma purchased romance novels from the book rack in the back of a department store. The ML is forceful; shoving, grabbing, pulling, pushing, twisting and glaring at the FL. The FL is abused by her father and sold off as a bride, losing her v**ginity on her wedding night, and not understanding why or what happened. For the setting, this is something to be expected, however the readers are meant to be enjoying this part. The sm*t is done in detail, and care went in to wording it so that Maxi doesn't seem too resistant. The author very clearly wants o set the ML up as a Knight in Shining Armor, but the first three chapters make it clear that this "romance" will be entirely one sided. Riftan never stops being aggressive and possessive. While Maxi should be a character the readers sympathize with, and hope to see her come out of her shell, the author pushes that off as long as possible to make sure everyone understands how Strong and Assertive™Riftan is. There's moments where you expect understanding and kindness, or at least sympathy out of the ML, but what you're often going to see is yelling, aggression, and glaring.

While these traits might work well with the setting, as a romance it falls completely flat. It's hard to get behind and sympathize with a character who starts out r@p1ng the FL. It's even harder when they never show any remorse or attempt to change their behaviors.

As for the people that would argue that I don't understand the setting, I clearly already said I do. It just doesn't work well as a romance, and especially not as sm*t. It's fiction, there's even magic, the author could choose to handle this romance any way they want, and they chose r@p3, imprisonment, humiliation, and abuse as the core themes of their "romance"and "smut". Be warned going in reader, the first few chapters aren't for the faint of heart. <<less
12 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Brand New Fan
Brand New Fan rated it
May 4, 2021
Status: c25
From what I can tell about the readers that do not like this story, theyq have a hard time accepting deeply flawed characters. Max has been abused since birth by everyone including maids. Riftan is plagued with self doubt. His need to be accepted wars with the knowledge that he may never be accepted and it kills him that the women he loves my never accept him. So she is unable to explain her feelings because it is all normal to her that she is viewed as useless. He is... more>> also unable to explain himself because he is harder on himself than others are on him and he often lasses out in anger but just verbally with her. he feels she looks down on him but that is because he does not understand how she was raised. Neither is able to put themselves in the others shoes and the love you see right there in front of them is agony to watch them try to reach. I feel the author is amazing in creating these characters and is very gifted in their writing.... about everything😜. <<less
11 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
daviemae
daviemae rated it
May 14, 2020
Status: c41
This is among my favorite Korean web novels.

The thing that I love the most about it is that the author writes some believably realistic characters. Once you are able to see what they’ve been through, especially the FL, you’ll get to understand why they think and act the way they do. FL really tugs at your heartstrings and I find myself genuinely rooting for her character growth throughout the story (it might be a little slow but it’s there). ML is probably my favorite among the novels I read. He... more>> is a very well-written character that I truly find endearing.

Do not let the beginning of the novel phase you. I myself, found it frustrating to read because of how weak the FL is and how ignorant the ML seems. But moving forward, I realized that author did so the readers can firmly grasp the beginnings of the journey towards character development for the two.

Overall, it is definitely worth the read.

PS The comment section over at wordexcerpt is gold. <<less
11 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
0agneska0
0agneska0 rated it
January 11, 2022
Status: c271
This novel is phenomenal. Those who get it- get it. Those who don't- don't. I started reading for smut, stayed for great plot and setting. The way I cried or couldn't even read some parts because of how real it felt- some psychological issues are triggering. Trauma, abandonment issues, the way that attachment styles influence whole relationship of Maxi and Riftan. And the thing is- it is unweiled slowly. It shows DEPTH. Yes, there are really toxic aspects here and there, but it all makes sense. Also- self-development of characters?... more>> Impeccable! As much as heartbreaking certain events are- I believe that in the end they're for greater good. Also, the setting- knights, sorcerers, dragons and other magical creatures just add to everything. I lack words to describe how obsessed I became with this novel. I'm waiting for updates every single week. I highly recommend it. <<less
10 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
gravemonera
gravemonera rated it
December 11, 2021
Status: c257
first off, while the censoring can be distracting, this is a phenomenal translation. Kudos to the translator (s) !

Thé improvement in Maxi as the series progresses is fantastic. ML, however is not fantastic. He seems to alternate between, yelling at her for trying to help, locking her up away from the world, deliberately withholding information or actively preventing things, which she does to feel useful and help him. Not cool my guy. Some of his behaviour in later chapters comes off as downright abusive and I am absolutely not cool... more>> with his hissy fit tantrums. <<less
10 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
atheistmofo
atheistmofo rated it
September 19, 2021
Status: c192
Edit: I want to change my rating to 2 stars.

Spoiler alert!

The female protagonist suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of her father and thus feels worthless and ashamed because she doesn't have the knowledge nor skill to behave fitting of her station as a nobel's daughter. At the same time she is quite prideful and spends a lot of time trying to fit the expectations she assumes others have of her. Though the author tries to tell us, that she did not in fact grow up as a pampered... more>> nobel lady (stammering, abuse, isolation) there is nothing that convinces me otherwise. You can in fact suffer terrible abuse and still be very much privileged.

The ways in which she chooses to prove "everyone" otherwise only make her appear annoying, pampered, naive/ignorant, self-centered and cowardly. She repeatedly puts her own decisions before those who very obviously know better than her and puts herself and others in danger. She also constantly underestimates the strain and danger of certain situations, because she doesn't want to leave her husband and is consequently shocked and overwhelmed when danger hits her. The only thing she can do at this point (c196) is heal others and use defensive magic, in every other aspect she keeps on being a burden to the people around her which she overlooks for selfish reasons. When she achieves something (good for her!) she's disappointed at the missing changes in the treatment of others around her, although she keeps on behaving cowardly and whimsical.

I understand the female lead to a certain degree and do hope she gets over her trauma, but I am very much annoyed with her missing self-awareness as she is in fact a pampered nobel lady just with a troubled past. It doesn't change the fact that she never had to do any kind of work nor suffer the daily discomforts of being poor.

In conclusion: The female lead is annoying af, s*upid/naive/ignorant/selfish, lacks self-awareness and is just boring in general. At this point it is fair to say that I hate her, though I am very much biased as I quite favor shameless characters like Wei Wuxian of GDC (he's also lacking in self-awareness, but not ignorant, annoying nor naive)

I'm dropping this novel which is a shame as I liked the worldbuilding and other characters like the magician. <<less
10 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
khvan
khvan rated it
April 1, 2020
Status: c10
Not impressed at all. The female lead is a miserable, spineless creature, who is oppressed by her father, does nothing but shakes in fear for her useless life in front of anyone and anything.
10 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
ayyk1205
ayyk1205 rated it
February 9, 2021
Status: c106
IT’S THE BEST KOREAN NOVEL I’VE EVER READ!!! The author is really great at writing this story! Its really amazing to read a romance but full with war against monsters and all. The writer can make us the reader hooked by seeing how the characters planned the war without making us boring and lost track of romance. That is surely a great skill! I love how the FL and ML loves each other even though they both have many flaws. They keep feeling insecure about themselves and the character development... more>> sometimes felt a little bit slow but it is worth the wait since later the characters itself will be amazing. I love seeing the two leads fight each other in their love quarrel, its sweet and cute^_^ this novel makes me felt a rollercoaster of emotions because it could make my heart broke, felt my stomach is full of butterflies, made my mind explode because of the nerves. 10/10 would recommend! Although the author is still in hiatus because health issues, I do really hope she will comeback and continue this amazing story! <<less
9 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Tastastix
Tastastix rated it
December 12, 2021
Status: c257
10/10 translation, +1 star for it. The characters (or rather one specific character) kinda trigger me, so I needed to stop. This series starts off promising enough, I like that our FL is a woman starting from below ground zero. She's rightfully timid, terrified, and ignorant given her upbringing (and lack thereof). Her character develops incredibly well, and her fears and anxieties are understandable in my book.

But the ML is getting to me.

... more>>
Spoiler

Riftan is kind of a blockhead in the beginning, which is forgivable, but he slowly spirals into a manipulator, whether he is aware of it or not. He has his own traumas, which I understand, but his threat to Max when she wants to leave to both protect him and to improve herself hits a little too close to home for me to keep seeing him as a decent ML. Max knows that their codependency will eventually ruin them. She loves Riftan so much that the thought of leaving him to wait for her after all that she's already "put" him through tears her apart. She isn't mentally or emotionally strong enough to leave without drowning in her guilt, but she still has enough reason and spine to do it anyways and had me applauding her. Riftan, on the other hand, makes it appear that Max doing anything away from him and his immediate protection is hostility towards their love and peace. He wanted a wife at the beginning, but as Max slowly comes to find herself, Riftan devolves more into wanting a doll-wife instead of a wife of equal standing.

[collapse]

It just seems that with every development of our FL, the ML devolves.

But this could just be my own prejudices against those type of people.

I might come back at a later date and edit my review after the plot and characters develop some more, but for now... I need to take a step back and breathe. <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
jen0905
jen0905 rated it
January 7, 2021
Status: c104
I totally agree with some of the other reviews; yeah the beginning can be a little frustrating, but if you try to understand where Maxi is coming from, you can see past all of the miscommunications between the characters. Just stick with it! I promise it gets better!
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
yuki_no_hana
yuki_no_hana rated it
November 13, 2020
Status: c100
The story is good if you are looking for some smut. I have read the first 100 chapters of this series but I didn't find anything memorable enough for me.

The MC is very bland... she doesn't do a lot except get banged by her Husband... honestly at the latest chapters where she does start taking control over some decisions her husband is not cooperative. In this case the second ML does good job of exposing her to real world problems...

The world building is poorly done... so many characters that could... more>> have made the plot interesting where not introduced in their palace we got more boring knights who don't fight...

There is also no reason given for why ML fell in love with MC or why we should love any of the characters... All in all the story is very slow and not very different from others in its genre. If you like the prototype of MC (stuttering and shy type) I think you will like "DEVIL IN WINTER" by LISA KLEYPAS. <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
nanceqn
nanceqn rated it
April 15, 2020
Status: c24
Be still my heart!!! OMG this is an amazing read so far. So sweet yet so sensual I love it. The two MCs are absolutely precious and you just know their love is gonna be an unbreakable one.
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Empress M rated it
January 5, 2020
Status: c4
4 chapters in, I already kinda dislike it.

Very biased father, timid MC that’s always stuttering, and the ML.. I don’t even know how to describe him. Overbearing? Forceful? Not enough content for me to form an impression of the sister so far.

At least 9/10 of the sentences the MC has said, she’s stuttering. And when she isn’t, she only says a few words.

Don’t like this kind of MC, sorry.

2/5. Translation quality is good.
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
HitchHiker
HitchHiker rated it
February 1, 2022
Status: c195
Started off quite well. I liked it well enough to begin with to read almost 200 chapters. But after a point, it became boring and repetitive. So I had to drop it. Also, the characters I like the most in the novel were Ruth and Princess Angela.

Maxi got on my nerves way too much with how she kept trying to sprint while learning to crawl. The way she ran off to treat people at the location of a wyvern attack while the attack was ongoing when she has has zero... more>> defensive skills and can't even dodge or get out of the way was annoying. She basically just gets in the way of other people but still insists on doing it anyway. I felt like I would lock her up in a room and tell her to sit in a corner and reflect on what she had done. She keeps complaining how Riftan puts himself in danger but doesn't let her do it which is just s*upid considering how much more experience he has. He didn't go off and fight the red dragon on day one after becoming a knight. It felt like a toddler who wants to do complex gymnastics without even learning how to stretch properly. On top of that, she faints at the sight of blood and screams when she sees a toad, just learnt how to ride a horse, but insists on going on a trip to subjugate monsters. It's obvious she will keep getting in the way and delay the group and trouble them with having to protect her. On top of that, it's different from having a sub-par healer in the group because she is the wife of the commander and so gets special treatment.

Not a terrible read but it drags too much and the best characters have very little screen time. <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Wolve2k
Wolve2k rated it
June 9, 2021
Status: --
I'm really starting to get feed up with horrible parents and their abuse, its overused, it seems no author can overcome that mountain so let's just write the parents as monsters (sometimes both sometimes not). The overpowered beautyful ML. The meek FL. And her name argh "Maximillian" could you choice a more female name just adding a l to a male name ain't gonna make it sound female, and just sounds s*upid, half the time I had a androgynous little boy in my mind.

In the third chap. there is a... more>> few phrase:

Some maid to the FL - "You have to accept everything your husband does as submissive, "
In middle of the their first night (aka its r*pe time) the ML to FL : "Why... are you crying?" "Don't avoid me."
The s*x scenes... don't make me laugh. has the author ever had a woman or man in his/her life?! (Edit: not sure if the author is female or male) It all reads way to forced and unnatural.

It reads more like a brainwashing story than a love story, she has to make it work or she will be punished.
The abusive way of how he interacts with her. Blaming her for everything, there is nothing redeemable about him "your MY Wife, you do as I tell you". She gets hurt, sleeps for a whole day is a mess and after feeding her she has to please him "Don't be so embarrassed. Our marriage wasn't normal, as you said, but it was inevitable. Now you have to get used to me." "This is not our first time." The f*ck is wrong with this idiot? Inevitable? Yeah right you want a hole to release in, we get it. Its objectification in the purest form, in some aspects his worse than her father.

People what like abusive (seen as love) behaviour might enjoy this.

This goes all under the category "things you shouldn't read"

Basically the FL is a mess so you just have to root for her (and by that I really mean you start to hope the ML dies a horrible dead and a real hero comes forward), the ML other than looking hot there is nothing really, his not even 2 dimensional, his 1 dimensional. <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Skite
Skite
May 2, 2021
Status: --
The good:

The main couple remind me of Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre: neither one is perfect, in fact, they're pretty flawed, but, somehow, they're perfect for each other.

Riftan, our big, ol' gruff and brutish warrior with foul mouth, endless libido, and an inferiority complex over nobility, completely and absolutely adores his shy little wife, and it is the most precious thing. He thinks his little plain Jane, (for Max is not a traditional-looking female lead,) is the best, sexiest, and most beautiful woman to walk the Earth, is completely... more>> baffled no one else really thinks so as well, and is going to get her every pretty thing he can think of and dr*pe her in it.

He is observant and adjusts to her well, without losing himself. Like, he doesn't stop being a sweary, grumpy knight through the Power of LoveTM, but is sensitive to her and considerate in his own way. At the beginning, for example, he thinks she is disgusted to have a lowborn, poor husband, and is afraid of him. And he's mad about it, because who wouldn't be? But it only takes a day or so for him to figure out he's wrong and it's just her being her, adjust accordingly, and attack having the best relationship possible with all the grace of a giant dog bowling over the houseguest. Timid and unsure Max, with her stutter and childish, average looks and abilities, slowly blossoms under her husband's persistent, (if brash), attention and comes to adore him right back, finding everything he does "lovely".

And they don't hide it! Hyper masculine Riftan uses rose soap and proudly, just because his wife likes it.

The s*x scenes are steamy and stay interesting. No boring repetition, or cringe. Lots of varied scenarios, no icky abuse or the like. Max may be shy, but she enjoys s*x a lot, which is so nice to see in the land of Asian novels where the woman is expected to perpetually hate and fight against it, even when it's s*x with her husband. I'm going to say Riftan is determined, not r*pe-y, and definitely knows what he's doing. So you get the strong, take-charged-ness you might want, without feeling yucky about finding it attractive, and we don't have to sit through 100+ chapters of them not doing anything despite being married and attracted to each other. Both characters grow together and it's lovely to see.

The bad:

This story is absurdly long, and goes off on an unruly tangent the author seems to lose complete track and control of as it warps into a completely different novel. Suddenly, it isn't a romance with two people getting to know each other and finding their strengths working together to make a new home and family. It's some epic magic fantasy adventure saga where Max is now a badass wizard and off saving the country and they're separated for years and most of what you liked about it (and most of what made the two of them work) is gone. <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
gwenivy639
gwenivy639 rated it
May 6, 2020
Status: c38
At first the scene starts with abuse, explicit stuffs (I want more), and then the fluff. Maximillian (FL) kept her situation back when she was in Croix Dukedom to his husband, Riftan, who's treating her with outmost care!!!Fudge!!!He is the no-filter Male Lead that doesn't show the cliché moves of what a male lead should do!!! Maxi's character progress was quite average. It's not the type of progress that independently moves with the plot's flow but with the help of Riftan. I hope atleast she would be able to get... more>> out of her cocoon and I also hope that Riftan would continue to be smooth and rough, all at the same time???[Instead of using b**st or manhood, use 'member' or 'mountains', as an alternative or something??? That would be worth it!!!] <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
_dreamlesscloud_
_dreamlesscloud_ rated it
May 2, 2020
Status: c35
The beginning was a rough start but the latest chapters started getting fluffy. I like how the ML dotes on the FL in his own ways. She wasn't the most confident character but she's getting better. I read somewhere that she'll become a badass. I can't wait for when their misunderstandings clear up and they start communicating with each other. By then, I feel like I'm gonna get diabetes considering the latest chapters left me with sweet and heartwarming feelings. Maybe heartburn, then.

I'm glad I stuck with this story and... more>> I have a feeling I'll stick 'till the end.

(I'd like to thank the commenter/s (can't remember who exactly but...) who persuaded readers to continue reading on when people started complaining about the main leads (≧艸≦*) And let me just say that the cover really made me click on this to start reading? My favorite painting, The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, seems to be inspired by it. What a lovely picture to look at!)

Thank you to the translator who picked this up! Keep up the good work (≧y≦*) <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Cruthos98_Man
Cruthos98_Man rated it
April 28, 2020
Status: c32
Most of the times we have problematic male leads with terrible pasts and a confident MC that will heal his heart. But in this novel, it's not the case. MC has been abused from when she was young leading to extreme insecurity and anxiety--she stutters, she overthinks, she thinks lowly of herself. She was never given love or care and her father abused her, even maids scorn her.

Seriously, you'll want to root for Maxi. She is a pure soul who just deserves love and warmth. And here comes in our... more>> male lead, Riftan. At the beginning, readers might strike him for being aggressive and unsympathetic. But over the later chapters you'd realize he is someone who is insecure and soft behind that tsundereness. There's a lot of personality in the characters in this story and a fantasy world so fleshed out before your eyes through beautiful descriptions.

Now about SMUT, it's intense, sometimes it's soft... You'll really just have to read it for yourself to know.

Those who are wanting an overpowered, confident female lead taking over the world will not like this story, but if you are like me, who is interested in the growth of an insecure woman to that confident female lead who can stand up for herself despite her tragic past, then this is a novel to dedicate your time for.

I wish to grow with you, Maxi. Fighting! <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Chapptwin
Chapptwin rated it
April 9, 2020
Status: c20
I really LOVE THIS NOVEL!!!

I don't know why some of the readers have a low rating for this novel. I know that the MC is weak, submissive and having difficulty in communicating (which causing a lot of misunderstanding between the ML) becuase of his abusive father. But they shouldn't just judge the MC by only reading a few chapters.

The MC is starting develop her self-confidence and also their relationship with Riftan.

... more>>
Spoiler

Maxi will be a strong woman because she will be a magician that can support her husband, Riftan, from any situation even in war

[collapse]

<<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Leave a Review (Guidelines)
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.