To be clear, Oak isn't at a point where I would put anyone in a traditional secondary ML slot. That might change in the future but Max has absolutely zero interest in anyone but Riftan. One is a cold as hell priest and the other is just a jerk who is trying to ruffle feathers by hitting on Max. Neither are genuinely pursuing her. I would also say that a lot of the traditional formats and tropes I see frequently in other Korean novels/manhwas don't really apply as much as you would expect to Oak.
y'all I just made an account just so that I could put my feelings about this novel somewhere as well I finished catching up with the raw like last week but just can't stop thinking about Maxi and Riftan because they just feel so real to me Tbh when I was reading part 2 I felt like I was dying from thirst? lmao because there's not much interaction between Riftan and Maxi. While part 1 is mostly Maxi's pov, part 2 has some of Riftan's pov since they spend a lot of time away from each other searching about the secret behind the monsters and black magic (it is more adventurous and different than part 1 but has a lot of funny parts like the interaction between Ruth and Maxi and the other priest guy) Spoiler: spoiler so in more details, I think the saddest thing in part 2 was that Maxi is still jealous of Agnes and that she wasn't able to become strong like her bc her magic was mostly based on earth instead of fire. Riftan is traumatized by Maxi having a miscarriage in part 1 and does not want to get hurt anymore. but maxi doesn't know this. when maxi gets fed up with riftan avoiding her at all costs, she finally blows up which is kinda cute bc there's scenes like throwing pine cones at him but riftan says something really sad like "i've already shown everything to you, down to the bottom. what more do you want?" and then maxi realizes that he is hurt because of how she left him for Herself. riftan's pov is like he knows that he had to let maxi go but it was so difficult for him because it reminded him of her mother waiting for his father who abandoned him and his mom and he never wanted to be like that. so he kind of shields himself away from maxi bc he is afraid of getting hurt more. at first, i thought he was overprotective bc maxi was supposed to be the ~daughter of duke~ but part 2 shows that it is more than that. he thinks of her as brave, and "just like how he dreamt of her" but now his insecurity from status and his traumatized past is kind of keeping him away from giving his all to her like he used to. and also seeing the miscarriage... and how maxi almost died at the end of part 1. he is very scared. the latest raw is just when they are done with another war and maxi and riftan are going into a room together. i think riftan has loosened up by then bc the war is done and i really want them to talk now instead of just having sex like about their emotions and stuff and i think the author will let them do that!!!!!! but we just have to wait :"((( YALL REMEMBER WHEN maxi bought that little tassel thing that knights have on their swords when she went out to the market with hebaron and ruth (this has already been translated)? while this war is happening in part 2 riftan lends maxi his coat and she finds a little pocket which has that decoration thing. but it is stained with blood and doesn't have color because it;s so old. this is when maxi feels like riftan doesnt love her anymore because hes been avoiding her intentionally (remember, riftan said that he won't wait for her before she went to hogwarts). but seeing that she gets rly emotional learning that he is still keping this useless thing that she bought on impulse. when she gives the thing back riftan asks her if she knew that he wouldn't wait for her when she went to hogwarts... or if she just thought he would wait for her. maxi doesn't answer. and riftan just talks to himself saying he doesn't know which would be worse. after that, she makes a new decoration out of some threads she has and borrowed from her colleague she met at hogwarts. when she gives this to riftan, riftan apologizes about what he said the previous day about waiting. he also says that he hasn't been much of a help to maxi and admits to his overprotective nature. he says that he would have suffocated her from his overprotectiveness no matter what. then maxi says, how could you say that? and that she was just so sad that she couldn't do anything about the situation they were in with the court and stuff. she says that if she was even a litlte more stronger, they would have not ended up like that THEN she finally says that riftan was the one who made her want to change herself. she admits that she hated herself, but because of riftan, she was able to get out of her self-hatred feelings because he cared for her so much. she says that she finally have begun to like herself because riftan was there for her. then she gives the decoration she made. she says that she will make another one for her when they get back to anatol, and another one if this one gets old, and another one... then riftan makes her promise to always keep herself safe no matter what and goes into the front side of war AHH this was the most emotional part for me now in general, it's also kind of cute how Maxi is more up front about her feelings to riftan and now jokes around with remdragon knights and especially ruth. ik that translations didn't go in depth about ruth much yet, but the interaction between ruth and maxi are just so funny i jUST LOVE. and in the chapters about riftan's pov when he first meets ruth... it's pure gold. yall know that the author isn't done with this novel and i really wanna see the end too. im just gonna quench myself with the webtoon for now :~(
Thank you for the spoilers Both are afraid of losing each other this is sad hope they have a SERIOUS talk with each other and tell thier problems and how much they love each other i even from now can feel how riftan is so hurt from all this hope they will be happy forever they faced so many difficulties at young age till now They desevres to be happy And i love how maxi is going to be brave and strong she is truly is doing great and thats bcz of riftan and that gose as riftan too he changed bcz of her
Riftan mentioned before that when you saw Max shivering severely, that is, there is a meeting between them before the wedding, is he present in the novel or did the writer not write it in the additional chapters ? Thanks for all the previous translations
YAS this is what i’m hoping for too. NEVER HAVE I WISHED SO desperately for the characters to just be and happy ;-;
ah do you mean riftans pov when they get married? it’s in the chapter but actually the whole marriage thing is just so messed up Spoiler at first, as we all know mf duke of croix offers the marriage so that riftan can go to the dragon hunt instead. this is actually a political plan by king ruben (king of whedon). by offering croix this position which king ruben thinks he will reject obviously bc hes a sissy (i hATE HIM), hes trying to reduce duke croix's political power among the nobles by humiliating him. for riftan, by then, he has been to croix multiple times under the orders of king ruben since he was part of remdragon by that time which are the knights that solely serve the king. yall know that croix tried to take over dristan which is the region right next to whedon which caused a lot of conflict and therefore caused king ruben to send knights over there for compromise. so, riftan has been part of those knights who went back and forth between croix and dristan for compromise and that's when he met maxi for the first time after his childhood. until then, he has only been remembering her as the only source of good thing that happened in his whole life... and he also has asked ruth multiple times to do hallucination magic on him so that he could see maxi again. im crying yall. OK, so riftan sees maxi again and sees her multiple times while going to croix for compromise and also attends banquets held by the duke of croix for the guests. at first, he doesn't go to the banquets bc you know... he hates nobles. but later attends some just to see maxi. :''''''(((((( maxi always avoids riftan and we know that she thinks of him as scary in the beginning and also later in part 1 when she tells riftan this. riftan wants to talk to her but she avoids him also bc of stuttering and stuff. theres a part when he goes out into the woods feeling frustrated bc she keeps leaving the banquet after a short time (bc of duke of croix fuck u) and sees maxi reciting a poem that was assigned by her home teacher to fix her stuttering (fuck u again duke of croix. leave my maxi alone). thats when riftan realizes that she has a speech problem but this part it says something like, "really, that is a minor problem. i would pay all the gold i had just so that i could hear her voice." IM SOFT AND EMotional again just thinking about this. so he is still in love with her no matter how much he tries to forget her. no matter how much he remembers the words of his stepfather saying "people down low have to keep looking at the ground. never look above you." he is tortured by the class that divides him and maxi... and although he is a knight now, he does not dare to think any more than just looking at maxi because he is afraid of becoming like his mother. one day, he is at croix castle again bc of compromise. he is still unable to forget maxi. he just wants to do whatever he could for her and asks duke of croix if he could give the knight's honor (Geshyu? idk the spelling lol) to maxi. it's the lifetime knight's honor usually given to noblewomen. duke of croix thinks this is funny and says no. but realizes that riftan has some interest in maxi and starts plotting something to use maxi to get riftan to go to the dragon hunt instead... so he later asks how about a marriage with my daughter maxi and you become in charge of the dragon hunt. riftan refuses at first, because he thinks maxi deserves someone better (im getting emotional again). he thinks that he is not good enough for her not just because of class, but thinks that she deserves someone delicate and who will protect her and be nice to her. he keeps thinking about how she looked at him like he was a monster at banquets when they had eye contact and doesn't think she would be happy with him so he refuses. ( so until now i thought riftan just kind of used the dragon thing as an excuse to marry maxi, but realized that it wasn't and that just made me cri more). croix gets mad because that was his chance to get rid of his daughter he hates and get out of the dragon hunt thing. NOW, we have to track back and know that there was a time where riftan went back to his old house out of guilt for his stepfather and gave hella gold to the child that was there. he found out that his stepfather had created a family of his own and was still living in the small farm. evil croix found out who the stepfather was and put him in jail for stealing the gold. the child of riftan's stepfather went to riftan and begged him to get his father out of jail because he Knows that he is not guilty since he was the one who received the gold from riftan. riftan realizes that this is a big trap set up by croix because of his refusal to his deal. how they used the child, how the child knew just who to look for in the right place, etc. he gets mad that he did wrong to his stepfather yet again and feels guilty. he goes to croix and asks what he can do about this. croix says, marry my daughter, go to the dragon hunt, and i will let your stepfather go. the marriage can be done tomorrow and only after it is consummated, i will let your stepfather go. if not, he will be executed. riftan is torn and remembers that all he has done to his stepfather is bad things while he gave up most of his life for a family that wasn't even his own. he decides to accept the deal. remdragon knights are supportive of his decision (bEst comrades ever ily hebaron and uslyn (he gets better yall. i promise)). wedding happens the next day and they go into their ~room~ and consummate the marriage. during the wedding and doing the deed, Riftan is full of guilt at feeling sexual attraction and excitement towards maxi even at a time when his stepfather is in jail not knowing what's going on and he put the life of remdragon knights in danger by agreeing to go on dragon hunt. he is in love with maxi and have been for a long time, yet he does not show this... actually does not think he has the right to show this because of all the guilt caused by his situation! the next day, riftan's stepfather is released from jail and he asks gabel to escort them to a different town in whedon where they could live peacefully and goes to the dragon hunt. riftan's pov ends right before they are about to hunt the dragon. right before, he faces a golem who does hallucination magic on him and he spends some time in his worst and best memories before he wakes out of it and defeats the golem. he sees his dead mother inside a cave and then sees maxi hugging her dog. right before the remdragon knights are about to face the dragon, they spend some time resting and drinking and talking about reincarnation, like if they were to die in front of the dragon, what would they become? or what do they want to become? people say stupid things like brooms and hebaron asks riftan what he wants to be. riftan says "hair." hebaron laughs and asks if riftan is drunk. riftan chuckles and thinks to himself that he wants to be maxi's hair. if he got lucky, he would touch maxi's face or her lips. then it ends with riftan thinking that she is actually not in his dreams/hallucinations anymore. she is real and she is his wife. he thinks to himself now he has a chance to get to know her at last, even at the cost of getting hurt. HEH hope you enjoy. again, fuck u duke of croix
So many spoilers! I feel like I'm in spoiler heaven Going back and forth reading spoilers of their sad to happy moments makes the sad parts sadder and the fluffy scenes sweeter Reading spoilers from this thread never fail to pull on my heartstrings. My heart~ Thank you so sooo much for all the spoilers! @ainosz @ppoyoung @sweetaneng
THE CATS :'~(((( Spoiler the black one hides in her bag that she takes to hogwarts at the end of part 1 i love cats also yall the new webtoon chapter is out i live and breath under the oak tree some ppl say the name is bc riftan saw maxi under the oak tree when he was young, but according to the author, the meaning behind the title has not been revealed yet. she says that it is something symbolic and has to do with the oak tree being treated as sacred in the bible we'll see wHEN SHE COMES BACK
Sounds like more secrets to be uncovered. Huhu this novel is so good. Damn it! (Riftan's tone ) Praying for our dear author's good health.
I think this part have not been spoiled yet. Riftan is overprotective and kind of funny in this part. [MTL only so correct me if I'm wrong ] Spoiler so they need to go to another subjugation but Ruth is currently in another place. They need a wizard or a priest to be their healer. Maxi tried to get Riftan to agree to bring her but he would get so angry and told her that he would rather die than bring her. Riftan bargained with Aderon (the merchant Maxi bought the renovation materials from) for him to hire a wizard. He don't care how much it would cost and would even pay 10x the fee. Aderon told Riftan to wait for two days for the result. Riftan was angry at Maxi at this time because she kept on insisting to come as she can heal. He doesn't even go to their room to sleep. Maxi thought that if Riftan wouldn't listen to her then he would listen to the knights. She approached Hebaron and told him that she should go with them as going to a subjugation without a healer is very dangerous. The funny thing is every time Maxi would tell a knight that she should come with them their immediate answer would be, "The Lord will never permit it". Even their newly hired low-ranking wizard (Medrick) told her that. So two days have passed and Aderon could not find a wizard to go with them. The knights are in a meeting and Hebaron spoke on Maxi's behalf that she should go with them. Maxi was also on the verge of convincing the knights when Riftan came. Riftan got so angry that he and Hebaron are ready to fight but Gabel intervened. Maxi also told them that she does not only know healing but some defensive spells. One knight suggested that they should try the durability of Maxi's defensive spell. If her spell can withstand their blow, then a monster couldn't break her barrier. The knights agree and now Riftan can't disagree because it is a logical suggestion. They all went to the training grounds and was so surprised that Riftan was taking out his sword. Riftan insists that he should be the one to try it out but the other knights cried that even Ruth could not withstand his blow. It is unfair for the no.1 knight to test out Maxi's barrier. (Hahahahah riftan is so petty) Riftan allowed Maxi to pick the knight to test her barrier albeit begrudgingly. Maxi looked over the knights and looked at Gabel. In Maxi's eyes the other knights are full of muscles and Gabel is the thinnest of them all. (She was not very confident of her defensive spell here). Funny scene is Gabel asked her why she chose him. She just told him that he looks capable even though they all know her reason hahahha. Maxi put up a defensive spell and it did not break when Gabel struck it. Riftan then allowed her telling her to "Do whatever you want".
Spoiler: When Rifan sees Maxi read a poem Chapter He turned to himself, cursing himself. Before the Duke of Croix had a full conversation with the messengers, he planned to say a few words about the costs of a long-term conflict with Dristan's troops stationed on the border. However, the Duke of Croix rejected his request for an interview. He said he was too busy to make time for himself. Riftan stiffened his face in insult. No matter how much the Duke was, he had no right to deal with the king's vassals in this way. He tried to show disgust, but didn't want to cause a fuss, so he quietly turned away. The Duke of Croix apologized that he was occupying crossing the territory and was delayed even in requesting an interview with the messengers. They could not face the Duke until the third day of his arrival at Croix Castle. Obviously, the messengers showed their feelings of resentment and received very high pressure, with the duke declaring that Drystan's demand was to violate the lord's authority, just as he aroused the ire of such messengers. It even prompted Dristan to seek compensation for damages from the conflict. As a result, the sentiment of Dristan's messengers intensified and the negotiations were actually heading for catastrophe. Riftan recorded all the circumstances of his shift and sent a telegram to the general manager. Contrary to expectations, whether or not a conclusion was reached in at least three or four days, the negotiations no longer lasted more than a week. He hit his head as he blew across the west into the blue dawn sky. Duke Croix seemed unwilling to listen to Dristan's request. At worst, it can lead to all-out war. Riftan tried to imagine the fierce battle that would take place in his mind. If Dristan's royal forces intervene, Weddon will send additional reinforcements. If that happens, you will not be able to return to Anatol for at least a year ´no, maybe I will never come back ...´ Riftan's mouth twisted cynically and walked the wall. It was a war that even a single mistake could blow up the neck. He has seen countless powerful people fleetingly lose their lives many times, and he is not proud to say that no human being is stronger than him. Having taken the lives of others countless times, he was clearly aware that others could end their own lives. Riftan decided to send Anatol a telegram just in case, and quickly made his way through the gloomy forest of dawn. Suddenly, I found someone running from far away and stopped. It was not like a servant, as it was long enough to crawl on the ground. What the hell is a noble woman doing at dawn? Riftan, who looked at her with narrowed eyes at a suspicious thought, quickly stiffened. When the woman turned around, she clearly saw red hair flowing through her black robe. He was convinced that he was the only person in the world with that hair would be Maximilian Croix. His hair was different from the usual red hair. The rich, wavy hair is a dark reddish brown, almost purplish in the dark, and transforms to a flame-like color mixed with gold in the sunlight. Suddenly my heart beats fast and hits my ribs. It was the first time I saw her after coming to Croix Castle. Riftan was struggling between wanting to ignore her and wanting to know her. But I was only worried for a while. Riftan, motionless in his seat, followed her with a low groan. No matter how much was in the castle, he couldn't let her go alone in the horrible forest. Furthermore, she has already been seriously injured once. A slight anger arose when I remembered it coldly hardened by the poisonous teeth of a monster. Didn't you learn any lessons after going through something like that? Intending to pay firm attention, he strides, biting his teeth, but stops and looks around. Riftan narrowed his eyes. Maximilian did not seem to find him standing in the shade of a tree. He lifted something from his arms and began to stutter under his breath. ´what the hell are you doing´ Riftan frowned in a terrible, joyous voice. His voice intermittently mixed with the sound of the rustling of the leaves, the song of the birds and the dry wind that shook the branches. The voice was too small to clearly understand what he was saying, but at first glance, he seemed to be reading a poem. Riftan, who was listening to pick it up, looked puzzled. Maximilian was reading the same verse over and over with a trembling voice. Feeling frustrated with his voice, riftan suddenly realized that she was witnessing a very secret scene. He had difficulty speaking. He patted his mouth with shaking hands. I had heard her stutter several times before, but thought it was just sadness or tension. He wandered eagerly on his feet like a beast that has become impassable. I thought I had to leave this place gracefully, but it was impossible to leave her alone in a place like this. Riftan, unable to decide what to do, stiffened his shoulders. He stepped on the branches that fell to the ground. Maximilian, who was repeating a word over and over, like someone with a numb tongue, turned his head. Her eyes widened when she found him. Riftan fainted in frustration. Although he was a bit far away, I could clearly see that his little face turned pale with embarrassment. His narrow shoulders were stiff from insults and his eyes trembled precariously with shattered pride. He opened his mouth urgently. But I couldn't figure out what to say. He took a step back and touched his lips. "I, I ..." Maximilian, who had no idea what to do, as the person who showed his private parts, quickly turned and ran towards the castle like an explosion. Riftan, unconsciously trying to chase her, stopped tall. I wanted to catch her right now and make excuses that it was by chance, but I thought it was only making her more embarrassing. He fully understood how embarrassing it was to reveal his weaknesses to others. Riftan, looking at the forest path through which he had escaped, turned or turned, muttering harsh curses. There will be an opportunity to formally apologize sooner or later for spying at will. Now, it was best to give him time to make a decision. He walked limply toward the chambers. But until the negotiations were over, Riftan couldn't even find his shadow. He wandered the annex whenever he got the chance, in case he happened upon it, but eventually had to leave for the border without apologizing for the day's work. It was a terrible feeling. The negotiation did not pay off much and made the worst impression on Maximilian Croix. Riftan entered the bye season in a very bad mood. Amid the mounting tension of the war, his wounded eyes did not disappear from his mind. Why does only her pain come to life vividly? The world was overflowing with things even more miserable and painful. However, he felt a strong urge to comfort her. I wanted to get closer to her to give her a narrow back. Stuttering is actually a minor flaw. If I can hear you speak, I can even if I ask you to take out some bags of gold. Riftan laughed at his stupid thoughts. Behind her delicate appearance was a high level of pride. It was predictable just by looking at the face distorted by shame. You may be insulted by the fact that you dared to comfort her. Riftan tried with all her might to get rid of herself to get her out of his head. If those efforts worked, the teenagers' idle fantasies gradually faded. When the cold snap hit, a full-scale battle began as the predators in the corner immediately crossed the border. Unnecessary thoughts automatically disappeared from his head as the fierce battle continued that he couldn't be alert for a moment. He focused on leading the knights and subjugating the predators. However, the enemies attacked and fell repeatedly, and resources and manpower were quickly depleted in the continuous surprise attack. Even if he wanted to hunt down and finish off his enemies, he couldn't cross the border because he wanted to stimulate the royal army of Dristan. Finally, feeling in crisis, the Royal Knights of Whedon sent a messenger once more to persuade the Duke of Croix. They and Riftan visited Croix Castle again after two and a half months. This time, he visited the castle not only to guide the messengers, but to convey the will of King Reuben. He frowned, remembering the royal order to persuade the Duke of Croix to end the dispute as soon as possible. Their monarch had an extraordinary ability to undertake laborious work. "It's faster to go out in person" Riftan walked through the doors with a sigh of disgust. Croix Castle in the middle of winter gave a different impression than before. The vast mansion, rocked by dry, dry winds, felt somewhere gloomy, and the dense spruce forests that surrounded the left and right of the castle breathed a damp chill. Riftan, looking around, crossed the garden and quickly reached the front of the Great Hall. Letting the servants speak, he entered the fortress and his face stiffened from the treasure. He was also struggling with the conflict. This time he was planning to bring Duke Croix to the negotiating table. Dozens of subordinates have already been lost due to the man's unrequited pride. I wanted to refrain from using more meaningless battles. "I brought a message from the king to the duke" Riftan wept coldly at the butler who ran out to meet them. The butler, who was startled by their commanding attitude, bowed politely and led them into the reception room. Riftan led the knights up the stairs. Then, with the maids, he found Maximilian standing in Odokani at the side of the hall and his eyes widened. Having met her in an unexpected state, I felt dizzy as if I had been ambushed by surprise. "You are a great beauty" The voice heard from his side turned his head. Gabel Laxion looked at her admiringly. Riftan stared at him, feeling the nerves in his entire body on edge. As if he didn't feel my displeasure, Gabel said blankly. "I heard that the Duke's second daughter was born with an outstanding appearance ... it surprised me. Will you grow up to be the best beauty on the western continent in a few years? Riptan, who blinked distantly, looked back. Only then did he realize that it was not Maximilian Croix that impressed Gabel's admiration, but the girl with Iino's hair standing beside him. He frowned at the girl in a cold atmosphere that seemed to be made of ice. It was difficult for him to understand how Maximilian Croix was next to him and could draw attention to another woman.
Just some clarification This is from Chapter30 where Riftan first saw Maxi after coming back to Croix Castle and here he realized she stutters. The first time they've met since childhood happened several months before in Chapter23 where Remdragon knights stayed in Croix Castle for around a month.
Hello! I made this account to thank @ainosz for the translations ❤ thank you so much! I am just curious because some people here posted that they are caught up with the novel. I've been searching for english translations now but I couldnt see a site translating part 2. If you know any please let me know. Thank you so much!